New Year’s Eve is all about celebrating the end of the holiday season with a bang.
Brands take this opportunity to surprise their customers with amazing deals, heartfelt messages, and more. And why wouldn’t they?
Lendingtree.com predicts that around 91% of New Year’s Eve celebrators are going to make holiday-related purchases this year. Now this could be anything from food and beverages to event props.
What better way to surprise your audience than with a New Year’s QR Code?
Keep reading to learn how you can add a modern twist to your holiday campaigns and festivities with ease.
A. Quick Look at New Year’s QR Codes
If you’re here, you likely already know about QR Codes. But for those who don’t, QR Codes are simple black-and-white squares that can be scanned with a smartphone camera.
Unlike traditional barcodes, they can link to a wide range of content like websites, feedback forms, Google Maps, and more.
This contactless technology is being used everywhere, and here’s why they’re perfect for your New Year campaign:
Quick and easy: QR Codes are incredibly easy to use—both for creating and scanning.
With just a smartphone, people can instantly access the desired information, making the whole process effortless for both hosts and guests.
Eco-friendly alternative: Ditch the paper! Whether it’s invitations, greeting cards, or tickets, QR Codes let you go digital.
Along with cutting on waste, it’s also an appealing factor to the LOHAS customer segment (people who prioritize healthy living and sustainable practices).
Interactive and engaging: QR Codes can link to interactive experiences, like discounts, RSVP forms, or even multimedia content.
They allow you to create more personalized and engaging moments for your guests, all with a simple scan.
Fits any purpose: QR Codes aren’t limited to just one use case.
Whether you’re sending a New Year’s greeting, giving out digital gifts, or running a special New Year promotion for your business, they can be used creatively in many ways.
B. 10 Creative ways to use New Year’s QR Code
Looking for some fresh New Year QR Code ideas? Here are 10 creative ways you can use QR Codes to add excitement to your New Year’s celebrations!
1. Promotions and discounts
Use a coupon QR Code for the new year to take people directly to a page with all the details they need about your latest offer.
Fun Fact: According to statista.com, 59% of people in the US made a New Year’s resolution to save money in 2024.
Offering special deals around this time is a great way to help them kick off that goal!
2. Fulfill New Year’s requests
You can ask people to make a special New Year’s request through a QR Code form. This way, they can submit their ideas or wishes for your brand, and you can gather valuable leads.
Later, you can even choose a few of those requests to implement, which creates a personal touch.
3. Conduct a giveaway contest
Instead of the usual social media post for a giveaway, why not use a whole landing page that shows everything about the contest? And no, you needn’t hire a website developer to do so.
You can do it easily (within minutes) yourself using a QR Code. We call it a Landing Page QR Code.
Check out this sample of a custom landing page QR created for give with Scanova.
This New Year’s QR Code can be shared across different channels, such as social media, email newsletters, or print to expand your reach.
It’ll streamline the participation and you’ll have a neat database of potential customers to retarget later.
4. Event invitations and RSVPs
New Year’s Eve is a popular time for parties. If you’re hosting one, use an event QR Code instead of printed invitations or texts. It offers several advantages over traditional invites:
- Add multimedia content to make the invitation more engaging.
- Plan in advance by collecting RSVPs right away.
- Share the event’s exact location using Google Maps.
5. Event organization and guest management
Planning a large event? You can use a ticket generator to create and send digital tickets like these.
A QR Code ticket can simplify things by allowing quick entry authorization, so your guests can get in fast and enjoy the night without delays.
6. Personalized New Year greetings
Everyone loves a thoughtful New Year’s greeting! With QR Codes, you can share multimedia greetings like images, videos, or even audio messages. Imagine sending a thank-you video or using a celebrity shout-out for extra excitement!
And if you want to take it to the next level, you can even use Augmented Reality (AR) QR Codes. This adds a layer of interactive multimedia to the real world through a smartphone camera.
In the real-life example section ahead, you can see how huge brands utilize this technology with QR Codes.
7. Run donation campaigns
Start a donation campaign to kick off the New Year. People love beginning the year with a good deed, and a donation QR Code makes it easy for them to contribute to your cause.
8. Improve social media engagement
Planning a holiday social media push? A social media QR Code makes it easy for people to access all your platforms in one go—no need for them to search for you manually.
9. Boost foot traffic at your store
If you have a physical store and want more visitors, use a Google Maps QR Code. It’s a simple way to give people clear directions to your location and make the most of in-store offers.
People won’t have to search for your store from street to street, they can just open it in Google Maps for easy navigation.
10. Loyalty programs and gift cards
Don’t forget about your loyal customers! Use New Year’s QR Codes for gift cards or exclusive discounts to make them feel appreciated and strengthen your relationship with them.
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C. How to create and customize a New Year’s QR Code with Scanova
Creating this small square of information might seem daunting, but it’s truly as easy as it gets. Just follow these steps:
1. Open Scanova on your phone or desktop
2. Select the type of QR Code category you want to create
3. Enter your content and hit Continue
4. Name your QR Code and pick between static QR Code(which can’t be changed later) or dynamic QR Code(which you can edit anytime after it’s made).
5. Click Create QR Code. That’s it—your New Year’s QR Code is ready!
6. Now, you can either download the classic black-and-white version or customize it. Just click on the pencil icon below your QR Code to make it holiday-themed by changing the pattern, colors, and background.
Note: You can try all this with a 14-day free trial (no credit card required). Just remember, you’ll need an active subscription to keep your QR Code working after the trial.
D. Real-life examples of New Year’s QR Code campaigns
1. PayMe using AR in the lai see giveaway campaign
Image source: behance.net
PayMe, HSBC’s payment platform for Hong Kong citizens, launched an AR campaign for Lunar New Year from February 1-29, 2024.
People at Causeway Bay could scan QR Codes on billboards to see an augmented reality version of PayMe’s mascot, PayMeow.
Those who scanned the QR Code with the PayMe app got a voucher they could use at over 63,000 merchants.
2. McDonald’s Lunar New Year campaign with Karen X. Cheng
Image source: corporate.mcdonalds.com
For Lunar New Year 2024, McDonald’s USA collaborated with renowned creative director Karen X Cheng.
They created an AR Instagram filter that showed the transition from the year of the tiger (2022) to the year of the rabbit (2023). You could access this filter via a QR Code customized with McDonald’s branding.
3. NBC Chicago’s ‘Chicago Trivia’ 2023
On New Year’s Eve, NBC Chicago ran a special trivia for their viewers. Anyone who tuned in to watch the “A Very Chicago New Year” show on NBC 5 Chicago at 11 pm got a chance to scan a QR Code.
This took them to a website with all the trivia details. The person who answered all 10 questions correctly won a prize of $2,024. A smart way to boost their TV ratings and website traffic, right?
Check out the brands that trust Scanova for their QR code solutions:
E. Best practices for New Year’s QR Code campaigns
1. Select the right type of QR Code
Start by figuring out your goals, and then choose the right type of QR Code for New Year’s campaign.
For example, if your goal is to generate more website traffic, go for a website URL QR Code. If you’re looking to boost social media engagement, opt for a social media QR Code.
2. Use dynamic QR Codes for more flexibility
Dynamic QR Codes offer flexibility because you can edit the content without changing the QR Code itself.
This allows you to update information or fix mistakes during the campaign without having to reprint anything, saving both time and money.
3. Personalize your QR Code
More brands are shifting from the basic black-and-white QR Codes to branded ones. A personalized QR Code immediately signals to people that it’s not just any generic code; it has a specific purpose.
Along with adding colors and your logo, be sure to include a clear call-to-action (CTA). A simple CTA like “Scan to follow” or “Scan to download” helps guide users to the next step.
4. Track and analyze performance
If using dynamic QR Codes, make use of analytics to track the success of your campaign.
Monitor scan rates, locations, and device types to gain insights into how well your New Year’s QR Code campaign is performing and adjust strategies if needed.
5. Test your QR Code
Before launching your QR Code to the public, make sure to test it first. Scanova provides a “test QR Code” option before downloading.
So use it to ensure that everything is working properly and that your data is being recorded accurately.
6. Optimize the landing page
Make sure the page your New Year’s QR Code links to is easy to use on mobile devices. It should load quickly and offer a smooth experience for everyone.
That way, your audience can enjoy what you have to offer without any hiccups!
7. Provide value
Make sure that scanning the QR Code offers some real value to the user.
It could be exclusive New Year discounts, event details, or fun interactive experiences like digital greetings or countdowns. Offering a tangible benefit will encourage more users to engage.
F. FAQs: New Year’s QR Code campaigns
1. What will I benefit from the use of QR Codes in my New Year campaign?
QR Codes are a real breeze when it comes to making contact with your target audience. If you want to offer a special discount, invite people to attend an event, or entertain them with some interactive content, just scan the QR Code.
Plus, you can go digital, which is not only eco-friendly but also practical.
2. Do I require specific software for creating New Year’s QR Codes?
Nope! You don’t have to create some high-tech software for it. With platforms like Scanova, you can easily create a New Year’s QR Code in a few clicks.
It’s that simple: pick the type of QR Code you want, add your content, and customize it according to your theme.
3. Can I change the content of my QR Code after my campaign has started?
Absolutely! Using dynamic QR Codes you can update content whenever you want even after launching your campaign.
Such a super-convenient feature is useful if you really need to correct something or change the message without reprinting it.
4. How do I make sure people will scan my New Year’s QR Codes?
A plain call-to-action may be exactly what you need to bring it all together. Give something like “Scan for a New Year’s surprise” or “Scan for special deals.”
As you can see above, personalize your New Year’s QR Code by adding festive colors or even including your logo to really make it pop.
5. What if my audience doesn’t know how to scan New Year’s QR Codes?
Most smartphones these days come equipped with a scanner for QR Codes with the camera, so it really isn’t that difficult. Just for your own satisfaction, include the little note on it saying, “Open your camera and point it at the QR Code to scan.” And no one will be left in suspense about what to do.
Wrapping up
New Year’s is the perfect time to surprise your audience and leave a lasting impression, and QR Codes make that easier than ever.
Whether it’s for interactive greetings, exclusive offers, or engaging events, these little squares can add a modern touch to your holiday campaigns.
So, kick off the year on a high note and engage your audience with a New Year’s QR Code!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments, and we’ll get back to you!