QR Codes whether used on marketing materials, print ads, product packaging, or event materials are an effective way to engage customers. However, to fully utilize their worth, it is critical to monitor their effectiveness and comprehend user interactions.
In this guide, you will learn how to track QR Code scans and will have the expertise to drive engagement with your target audience and more.
So, let’s get started!
A. What is QR Code scan tracking
QR Code scan tracking refers to monitoring and analyzing the activity generated by scanning QR Codes. This includes capturing data on when, where, and how often a QR Code is scanned, and the device used for scanning.
B. How to track QR Code scans with Scanova
To know how to track QR Code usage with Scanova, you must first create a QR Code. Follow these steps to create one:
1. Go to Scanova. Click on Create QR Code
2. Select the Website URL category from amongst other QR Code categories.
3. Enter the link you want to encode in the QR Code. You can also go for Advanced Settings in the same step
4. Here, you can tick the Conditional Redirection and select the redirection method—Country, Device, and Operating System
5. Once selected, click on Add Condition followed by selecting the required field and the corresponding URL
6. Now, click Continue
7. On the page that loads, name the QR Code and click Create QR Code
8. Next, you’ll see the preview of the QR Code along with the Edit Design button
9. If you click on it, you’ll see two QR Code designs—a Custom Logo and a Custom Background Design. Custom logo design allows you to add a logo and color to your QR Code. On the other hand, a custom background design helps you place a QR Code on any image
Note that a customized QR Code attracts more scans than a black-and-white one. Hence, to attract maximum scans, design your QR Code.
10. Once your QR Code is ready, you can preview it after you design it. If everything looks fine, proceed to download.
11. To download the QR Code, create an account. Here, Sign Up to get started with a 14-day free trial.
12. Once you Sign Up, click on the download icon. A pop-up will appear prompting you to specify QR Code image size and format. Once you enter the details, click Export
That’s it. Your website URL has now been converted to a QR Code. Simply test it once before you go ahead with mass-printing. Wait for some time before you take a look at the analytics.
Follow these steps to track your QR Codes
A couple of days after your campaign has gone live, you can start monitoring the analytics. Here’s how:
a. Log into your Scanova account.
b. From the menu bar on the left, click on Analytics option
c. Next, you can select the QR Code(s) and the period for which you wish to monitor the statistics.
d. Once completed, click Get Analytics
You’ll then see a report that looks like this:
That is it. You will then be able to see the tracking data.
C. Which data can you get via QR Code tracking
Using Scanova’s QR Code Generator, here’s what you can get:
1. Analytical data via Scanova account
It enables you to monitor the data using the following parameters:
a. Total visits
It allows you to check the total number of times your QR Code has been scanned within a given time limit.
b. Scans organized by time period
It’s a lot more thorough analysis. You can examine the number of visits for a day, a week, or a month over a specific period.
c. Scans using QR Code/tags
Assume you’re employing many QR Codes as part of a single campaign. You can use different names and tags to assist you in distinguishing between their particular performances. This allows you to easily track their scanning activities on an individual basis.
d. Demographics
Demographics allow you to see where your QR Code was scanned from. You may find information about the scans’ nation, state, and city here.
e. Visits with exact geolocation
It allows you to trace the actual GPS location of each scan. That means you’ll obtain the location coordinates, full address, and zip code information for each scan.
So QR Codes are now widely utilized in shipping and logistics to track the movement of goods.
This data will only be available if the end user permits access to her location.
f. Visits from devices
Here, you can see which devices were used to scan your QR Code. Mobile phones, tablets, and personal computers are among the examples.
g. Operating system and browser
This option allows you to track the operating system of the device used to scan the QR Code. It covers iOS, Android, and Linux, among others.
Furthermore, you can see which browser was used to scan the QR Code. For example, consider Mobile Safari, Chrome Mobile, Chrome, and TwitterBot.
h. Handset Scans
You can acquire this information by going onto your Scanova account. You can also export it to XLS and PDF formats. As the name implies, it lets you see which handsets your target audience uses. For example, the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Nokia.
2. Analytical event tracking data
a. Engagement rate
The engagement rate provides a concise overview of your audience. It is the ratio of all actions (clicks) to total scans received on all specified QR Codes within a given time.
b. Total engagement
This option allows you to track the overall number of scans and events. Events are clicks on buttons like ‘Sign-Up’, ‘Register Now’, or ‘Click Here’. However, the overall number of scans only includes those with event tracking enabled.
c. Engagement by QR Code
This option keeps track of a specific occurrence using a Tracking ID. You can create your tracking ID when you create the QR Code.
3. Data tracking using integrations
It allows you to make the tracking procedure easier. How?
You do not need to log into your Scanova account every time you wish to monitor metrics.
You can simply utilize a third-party tool of your choice to accomplish this. And Scanova allows you to link your data with two of these tools:
a) Google Analytics
As previously said, integrating the data with Google Analytics is convenient.
Simply browse to your Google Analytics account and acquire all of the information you need. There is no need to log into Scanova separately.
b) Webhooks
This option allows you to provide the target URL where you wish to save the data. So we can say that Webhooks serve as a link between data and the software where you want to preserve it.
For instance, suppose your data is in JSON format. You can direct it to a specific URL, such as Zapier.
What our customers think about us:
D. Advantages of QR Code scan tracking
1. Measurable impact.
Track effectiveness: Easily track the effectiveness of your QR campaigns, including scan counts, locations, device kinds, and more.
For instance, McDonald’s QR Code Campaign.
In Japan, McDonald’s began using QR Codes on food packaging to convey nutritional information. They measured the effectiveness by counting scans, locations, and device types. This data enabled them to better understand client engagement and dietary preferences across geographies, allowing them to customize marketing and menu offers accordingly.
Instant insight: Access real-time statistics to instantly determine how effectively your QRs are doing.
For instance, Nike’s real-time data dashboard.
Nike used QR Codes in their in-store displays so that shoppers could scan them and instantly get product information and reviews. They had a real-time data dashboard that monitored scan activity, allowing them to alter marketing campaigns on the fly to increase engagement and sales.
2. Customer comprehension
Behavioral insights: Understand when and where your clients engage with your QR Codes, providing behavioral information.
Example: Starbucks QR Code Payments
Starbucks introduced QR Code payments into their app, allowing users to pay swiftly while earning rewards. By evaluating when and where these QR Codes were scanned, Starbucks obtained significant information about consumer behavior, peak periods, and popular locations, which helped them improve their service and marketing.
Demographic data: Gather and analyze demographic information to better target and personalize your marketing efforts.
For instance, Sephora offers personalized beauty advice based on demographics.
Sephora placed QR Codes in its stores for customers to scan and obtain individualized cosmetic advice and product recommendations. Sephora was able to tailor marketing campaigns to specific client groupings by gathering and analyzing demographic data from these scans, hence enhancing personalization and customer happiness.
3. Campaign refinement
Test and Learn: A/B test various QR designs, placements, and URLs to determine the most effective techniques.
Example: Coca-Cola’s A/B Testing with QR Codes
Coca-Cola conducted an A/B test on various QR Code designs and positions on its bottles. One set provided QR Codes that led to a sweepstakes entry, while another guided people to an interactive game. By analyzing engagement rates, Coca-Cola identified the most effective technique and tweaked its campaign for maximum impact.
Data-driven adjustments: Use analytics to fine-tune and improve your campaign, maximizing engagement and ROI.
Example: Amazon’s QR Code Packaging.
Amazon included QR Codes on their packaging, which directed customers to instructional videos and product data. They employed analytics to determine which videos were the most popular and which items had the highest engagement. This data enabled them to make data-driven changes to their content and marketing tactics, hence improving customer experience and increasing revenues.
4. Enhanced user experience.
Seamless access: Make it quick and easy for users to interact with your brand, improving the overall experience.
Example: Disney’s Interactive Park Maps.
Visitors to Disney’s theme parks can scan QR Codes to access interactive maps, ride wait times, and special deals. This seamless access to information improved the entire user experience, making trips more fun and productive.
5. Cost efficiency
Little investment: Creating and tracking QR Codes is inexpensive, giving excellent value for a little cost.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, many local restaurants implemented QR Code menus to decrease physical touch and printing costs. This low-cost technology enabled them to easily update menus and deliver a safer dining experience, demonstrating outstanding value for a minimal investment.
Maximized ROI: Focus on high-performing programs to better allocate your marketing spend.
Example: Home Depot’s QR Code Product Displays.
Home Depot’s product displays used QR Codes that directed customers to detailed product information and tutorials. They improved their marketing spend allocation by focusing on high-performing QR Code campaigns, which resulted in increased engagement and sales without requiring considerable additional investment.
6. Eco-friendly
Reduced printing: QR Codes can assist reduce the demand for printed products, thereby boosting your sustainability initiatives.
For example, airline boarding passes.
Airlines like as Delta and American Airlines have switched to digital boarding passes with QR Codes, greatly eliminating the requirement for printed credentials. This change not only reduced expenditures but also aided their sustainability efforts by reducing paper consumption.
7. Geotargeting
Location-specific marketing: Use geolocation data to give highly relevant offers and information, increasing campaign effectiveness.
For example, Burger King’s “Whopper Detour” Campaign
Burger King’s geolocation data-driven campaign was extremely successful. Customers within 600 feet of a McDonald’s were notified via the Burger King app that they could get a Whopper for a penny by scanning a QR Code. This creative geotargeting strategy increased app downloads and drew significant traffic to Burger King restaurants, demonstrating the value of location-specific marketing.
E. Analyzing QR Code data: Key metrics to watch
Several key metrics can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your campaigns and user behavior. Here’s what you can monitor:
1. Total scans
The total number of scans indicates how many times your QR has been interacted with. High scan counts suggest strong interest or visibility.
Consider a marketing campaign where a clothing brand includes QRs in their print advertisements.
By tracking scan counts, they notice a particular ad in a popular fashion magazine consistently receives high scan numbers compared to others.
This indicates strong reader interest in that specific product line, prompting the brand to allocate more resources towards similar campaigns and products to capitalize on this heightened engagement.
2. Unique scans
This data shows the number of unique devices that have scanned your QR. Further, this data will help you to differentiate between new and repeated users.
Here’s a real-life example of this scenario:
Imagine a tourism board using QR Codes in their promotional materials to offer virtual tours of local attractions. By analyzing scan data, they determine that a high percentage of unique devices scan the QR Codes during a specific holiday season.
This data helps them differentiate between new tourists and repeat visitors, allowing the board to tailor follow-up marketing efforts. They focus on converting new users into repeat visitors by offering personalized travel tips and special discounts, thereby enhancing overall visitor satisfaction and boosting tourism revenue.
3. Geographic distribution
Understanding where your QR scans occur helps tailor local marketing efforts and reveals geographic areas with the most engagement.
Imagine a retail chain employing QR Codes in stores for discounts and customer feedback. Through scan data analysis, they find that QR Code engagement peaks in urban areas over rural ones.
Armed with this insight, the chain refines its local marketing strategies, concentrating efforts on urban centers to optimize promotional campaigns and enhance engagement with its city-based customer base.
4. Device information
Gaining insights into the types of devices and the OS used for scanning the QR can help guide optimization for different platforms.
Consider a restaurant implementing QR Codes for contactless menu access. Analyzing scan data reveals a substantial number of customers use iPhones running iOS.
With this insight, the restaurant optimizes its QR Code menu to ensure fast loading and seamless display on Safari, thereby enhancing the user experience for iOS users and boosting overall customer satisfaction.
5. Referrer data
Knowing how users arrived at your QR Code (e.g., through a specific webpage, email campaign, or printed material) helps identify the most effective channels.
Imagine a tech startup launching a new app with QR Codes distributed across various marketing channels—website, social media, and printed flyers.
By tracking QR Code scans, they discover that scans originating from their Instagram bio link significantly outnumber scans from other channels.
This insight leads them to focus more on Instagram as a primary marketing channel, optimizing content and engagement strategies to leverage this effective pathway for driving app downloads and user engagement.
6. Retention rates
Monitor how many users return after their initial scan, indicating ongoing interest and engagement with your brand.
Consider a coffee shop chain that offers loyalty rewards through QR Codes on receipts. By tracking return visits through subsequent scans, they identify a pattern where customers who scan for rewards tend to return within a week to redeem them.
This ongoing engagement not only boosts customer retention but also allows the coffee chain to tailor promotions and loyalty programs to further enhance customer loyalty and satisfaction.
7. Error rates
Track any failed scans or error messages, which can help identify and address technical issues that might be hindering user experience.
Considering a real-life example, an e-commerce platform uses QR Codes on its packaging for customers to access product information and reviews.
By monitoring scan data, they notice a significant number of failed scans reported during peak sales periods.
Upon investigation, they discovered that poor lighting conditions in warehouses were causing QR Codes to appear unclear, leading to scan errors.
Addressing this issue promptly improves overall customer experience and ensures reliable access to product details, enhancing customer satisfaction and retention.
8. Campaign comparison
Compare the performance of different QR Code campaigns to identify which strategies are most effective.
Let’s understand this through an example:
Here’s a real-life example of this scenario:
An electronics retailer runs multiple QR Code campaigns in-store and across digital platforms to promote new product launches.
By comparing scan data from each campaign, they find that QR Codes placed strategically near product displays generate significantly higher scan rates compared to those used in email newsletters.
This insight prompts the retailer to allocate more resources to in-store QR Code placements and optimize digital campaign strategies to replicate their success, thereby maximizing overall engagement and sales.
Brands that trust us:
F. Integrating QR Code tracking with marketing strategy
Including QR Code tracking in your marketing strategy can greatly improve campaign efficacy and provide useful information about customer behavior.
Here’s a strategy for effortlessly incorporating QR Code tracking into your marketing efforts:
1. Create clear goals and metrics
– Define objectives: Begin by defining precise goals for your QR Code initiatives, such as driving traffic, increasing sales, or improving brand engagement.
– Establish KPIs: To track progress, select key performance indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to your goals, such as scan rates, conversion rates, and engagement metrics.
2. Select Dynamic QR Codes
– Flexible options: Use dynamic QR Codes for quick tracking and upgrades without the need to reprint. This versatility guarantees that your campaigns remain nimble and responsive.
3. Create engaging QR Codes
Brand integration: Keep your brand consistent by customizing QR Codes with logos, colors, and eye-catching pictures that appeal to your target audience.
Clear call-to-action: Use simple and effective CTAs on QR Codes to drive scans while also clearly communicating the benefits to consumers.
4. Strategic placement
Targeted locations: QR Codes should be placed where your target audience frequently visits, such as on product packaging, print ads, posters, or digital platforms.
Contextual relevance: Place QR Codes in circumstances that encourage users to scan, such as delivering exclusive material, discounts, or special promotions.
5. Monitor and analyze data
Utilize Tracking Tools: For detailed information, use QR Code generators with extensive tracking capabilities or interface with analytics tools such as Google Analytics.
Key metrics: To assess campaign performance, regularly check indicators such as total scans, unique scans, geographic distribution, device kinds, and conversion rates.
6. Optimize for success
Data-driven decisions: Use QR Code analytics insights to improve and optimize campaigns in real-time. Experiment with varied content, places, and incentives to increase engagement and conversion.
Continuous Improvement: Use A/B testing to determine the most effective QR Code tactics, then iterate based on performance indicators.
7. Integrate across channels
Multi-Channel Promotion: To increase reach and engagement, promote QR Codes through many channels such as social media, email campaigns, offline materials, and events.
CRM Integration: Link QR Code scan data to your CRM system to expand customer profiles, increase segmentation, and tailor marketing campaigns.
8. Enhance the user experience
Mobile Optimization: Make sure that QR Code landing pages are optimized for mobile devices so that consumers have a seamless and delightful experience.
Personalization: Customize material available via QR Codes depending on user choices or tracked behaviors to increase relevance and encourage repeat engagement.
9. Evaluate ROI and effectiveness
Evaluate Performance: Determine the ROI of QR Code campaigns by comparing expenditures to generated income or other desired outcomes.
Benchmark Success: Regularly compare campaign performance to industry standards or past efforts to assess success and discover areas for improvement.
10. Ensure compliance and security
Data Protection: Follow privacy standards while collecting and using customer data via QR Code scans.
Security Measures: To prevent unwanted access to QR Codes, include measures such as password protection or expiration dates.
G. Common pitfalls in QR Code tracking and how to avoid them
When using QR Code monitoring in your marketing strategy, you must be aware of typical mistakes and how to avoid them.
Here are some common difficulties and excellent practices for ensuring your QR Code ads are effective:
1. Bad QR Code design
– Issue: QR Codes are difficult to scan owing to bad design, low contrast, or incorrect size.
– Solution: Before deploying the QR Code, ensure that it has a high contrast with its background, utilize proper sizing (at least 2×2 cm), and test it on various devices and lighting situations.
2. Lack of a clear call to action
– Issue: Users may refrain from scanning the QR when they don’t understand the benefits
– Solution: Make a clear and appealing CTA, citing the benefit. For eg, “Scan for Discount”
3. Faulty or expired links
– Issue: QR Codes with faulty or outdated URLs can annoy customers and diminish brand confidence.
– Solution: Test your QR Codes regularly to ensure that they link to active, relevant content. Use dynamic QR Codes, which allow you to change the destination URL as needed.
4. Not optimizing landing pages
– Issue: For mobile devices, this might result in poor user experience and high bounce rates.
– Solution: Make sure all landing pages and material accessible via QR Codes are mobile-friendly, allowing for a consistent experience across all platforms.
5. Lack of analytics
– Issue: Not tracking and analyzing QR Code scans can result in missed opportunities to inform marketing strategies.
– Solution: Use QR Code generators with built-in tracking and analytics, or interface with solutions such as Google Analytics to measure scan metrics and user activity.
6. Security and privacy concerns
– Issue: QR Codes that capture personal information without sufficient security measures might result in data breaches and compliance concerns.
– Solution: Use HTTPS on landing pages, data encryption, and comply with data protection standards such as GDPR. Clarify privacy policies for consumers.
7. Poor placement
Issue: QR Codes are placed in regions where they are difficult to see or scan, such as low-traffic areas or hard-to-reach locations.
Solution: Place QR Codes in high-visibility, easily accessible areas. When determining where to place anything, take into account user behavior and the surrounding surroundings.
8. Lack of testing
– Issue: Deploying QR Codes without rigorous testing can result in unexpected errors that impact the user experience.
– Solution: Thoroughly test QR Codes on a variety of devices, operating systems, and situations to confirm their operation and usability.
9. Insufficient user incentive
– Issue: Low perceived value may discourage users from scanning QR Codes.
– Solution: To enhance engagement rates, consider offering real incentives for scanning, such as discounts, unique content, or registration into a contest.
H. Advanced tips for maximizing QR Code scan insights
To effectively optimize insights from QR Code scans and exploit this data for improved marketing campaigns, consider these advanced tips:
1. Segment your audience
– Create multiple QR Codes: Create unique QR Codes for different segments of your audience or marketing platforms. This allows you to track and compare performance across demographics, locations, and promotional channels.
– Personalized material: Tailor the destination material to the relevant audience segment. Personalization can result in increased engagement and conversion rates.
2. Use UTM parameters
– Detailed tracking: Add UTM parameters to the URLs contained in your QR Codes. This allows you to track the source, medium, and campaign, offering more precise information about user behavior.
– Campaign comparison: Evaluate the performance of several campaigns, channels, or promotional approaches to determine which strategies are the most effective.
3. Perform A/B testing
– Experiment with variations: Make multiple variations of your QR Codes with varied designs, CTAs, and locations. Keep track of the variations that perform best.
– Data-driven decisions: Use the results of A/B testing to make educated decisions about future QR Code initiatives.
4. Incorporate geolocation data
– Location-based insights: Use geolocation tracking to determine where your scans are originating from. This information might help you target your marketing efforts to certain locations or populations.
– Localized campaigns: Create region-specific promos and offers using the location data from your QR Code scans.
5. Track real-time analytics
– Immediate feedback: Make use of real-time tracking of QR Code scans to receive immediate insights into your campaign’s performance.
– Rapid adjustments: Using real-time data, make quick changes to your campaigns, such as modifying content, altering CTAs, or shifting marketing focus.
6. Interact with interactive and dynamic content
– Rich media: Use QR Codes to access interactive material such as videos, quizzes, and augmented reality experiences. This can boost engagement and create a more memorable user experience.
– Dynamic QR Codes: Use dynamic QR Codes to update with fresh content without modifying the code itself. This enables constant content refreshment and relevancy.
7. Leverage social media integration
– Social sharing: Allows you to easily share your QR Code content on social networking networks. Track how frequently and where your material is shared to broaden your reach.
– Influencer collaborations: Work with influencers to promote QR Codes and measure the effectiveness of influencer marketing on your campaigns.
Summing Up
Tracking QR Code scans is more than just a technical task; it’s an effective approach to obtain comprehensive insights into your target demographic and optimize your marketing efforts.
Understanding the important KPIs and implementing advanced tracking strategies will help you transform your QR Code campaigns into data-driven powerhouses that drive engagement and conversions.
Stay ahead of the curve by constantly trying, assessing, and changing your strategy. As technology advances and consumer preferences change, so should your QR Code strategy. Keep your campaigns active, your material relevant, and your objectives clear, and your QR Code tracking efforts will yield outstanding results.
Ready to begin tracking your QR Code scans? Dive in, apply these tactics, and watch your engagement skyrocket!
Always go for a reliable QR Code service provider for your business and marketing needs