Instagram creators, keep an eye out for potential profile cards

Instagram is doing limited testing for some creators, and this time the new feature is a different (and quite aesthetically pleasing) way to share your profile.

These new profile cards (you can see an example of what they might look like on Threads) are designed to look something like digital business cards for creators. They feature a profile photo, bio and other profile information on the front. And when you "flip" to the back, there's a QR code that, when scanned, takes someone directly to your profile.

(It should be noted that you can, in fact, scan QR codes when you're already on your phone. Simply take a screenshot of the QR code, open it in your photo app, tap on the code, and it should pull up the link for you to visit.)

The idea behind these digital profile cards is to give potential followers, collaborators, brand partners and other connections a way to easily view your content and see what you're all about. They definitely highlight the importance of designing your Instagram profile and feed to clearly reflect what you do and why people should follow you or want to work with you.

Instagram is not what it used to be. It is flooded with accounts all trying to compete for likes and views and, if they're lucky, some real-world cash. It is not as easy as it may have been in the past to grow an account or even get large numbers of followers at all. Simultaneously, creators have to find ways to both set themselves apart while adhering to trends and "feeding" the algorithm.

Perhaps these new profile cards could provide a new way to encourage growth and engagement. If they ever make it out of testing, we'll just have to see how effective they truly are.