QR Code Marketing Ideas 2024: How to get started

You are a brand that is investing in traditional print media promotions.  It could be newspapers, magazine advertisements, outdoor advertising, or other creative print-based campaigns.

No matter what digital marketing pundits say, these traditional marketing practices still bring a lot of sales.

But there’s just one problem with print media—it’s not actionable alone. That means taking action such as visiting a website or downloading an app. To do it, people have to pull out their smartphones and type the website link or the app name. And finally, visit the website or download the app.

Since it is a long marketing process, many people simply don’t put in the effort. But does that mean print media is not suitable for promotions? Well, no!

Print media is more personal and has a longer attention span than digital media.

So all that you need to do is—make it easier for your audience to take action. How? Using QR Codes.

You probably know what QR Codes are, but if you do not, the next section briefly explains what they are. Keep reading!

A. What are QR Codes

QR Codes are 2D barcodes that store alphanumeric information. You would’ve seen a QR Code being used for payments and inventory tracking. Similarly, marketing is yet another use case of a QR Code.

B. Why are QR Codes essential for marketing

QR Codes are very essential for marketing for several reasons. All that end-users need is—a smartphone to scan the QR Code. Let’s understand how:

• Instant Access to Info: No more typing long sentences to get information! Just scan a code, get details on sales, see a menu, or anything you want. Easy for them, easy for you.
• Track What Works: See how many people scan your QR Code. Figure out which campaigns are blooming and which are not. Adapt and win!
• More Engagement, More Reach: QR Codes can unlock games, hidden content, or even AR experiences. Keep people interested and engaged so that they keep coming back for more.
• Save Money: QR Codes are cheap to make. Plus, you can stick them on things you already have, like flyers or packaging. Stretch that marketing budget!
• Versatile: Print media, online posters, business cards – QR Codes fit anywhere, making them perfect for contactless marketing. Reach your audience wherever they are.

Now you might think—how will a QR Code help me in my marketing campaigns? And the answer is—by making your print media promotions actionable. Let’s take a look at how this innovative marketing QR code marketing strategy works.

C. QR Code marketing strategies and their impact

1. Engaging customers with Interactive QR Codes:

Unique QR Code ideas can be gateways to immersive experiences that grab attention and keep customers coming back. 

QR Codes for engagement is an extensively common use case in almost every industry. For example, consumer electronics, healthcare, and food service industries.

Due to limited space on the product packaging, QR Codes help businesses share detailed product information. They allow you to engage your potential customers with relevant product-related information. For example:

• Product information (raw materials, ingredients, sourcing, sustainability, etc.)
• How to use the product (recipes, features, etc.
• How to install the product (video instructions)
• Safety instructions (Allergies, health hazards, child safety, etc.)
• Legal documents (terms and conditions, side effects, etc.)

Also, businesses can add QR Codes as a point of attraction to a product. For example—on Valentine’s Day 2015, Tussock Jumper Wines placed a QR Code on the neck of its wine bottles. The buyer (gift giver) could then scan this QR Code to personalize it by adding images, video, text, etc.

In addition, Kitkat added a QR Code on the packaging of chocolates, creating a unique packaging to engage customers. This QR Code, when scanned, redirected buyers to watch a video on YouTube as part of their QR Code video marketing strategy while they took a break.

Nowadays, options like Augmented Reality (AR) let customers virtually interact with your products in their environment. Imagine trying on clothes with an AR filter, or seeing how furniture would look in their living room.

Another unique way to engage with your audience could be pairing up QR Codes with drones. This creates buzz and makes your marketing campaign stand out.

2. Driving targeted traffic with strategic QR Code campaigns:

This is the most popular use case of QR Codes – driving traffic from offline print media to the brand’s website. Or any other relevant content for that matter.

They, in fact, come in handy when your marketing message has evoked the audience’s interest. Then the next thing you must do is—get the audience to take action. The QR Code helps you do just that.  You simply have to link the QR Code to your website address. When scanned, the website will open on the end-user scanning device,  thereby increasing website daily visitors.

And just like you drive traffic to your website with a QR Code, you can use it to promote your YouTube channel too.

Earlier in 2016, Ready Player One’s movie trailer had a QR Code. This QR Code redirected people to the official website of the film.

In 2017, a Finland-based global food packaging specialist—Huhtamaki—came up with a new idea. Here, they decided to use QR Codes on single-use paper cups. The QR Code, when scanned, redirects customers to promotional content or websites.

Expert tip: Make sure your potential customers have a reason to visit your website. To do it, you need to have a clear marketing message. You can do it by telling them about what incentive they have for visiting your website.

The key to successful QR Code traffic generation lies in thoughtful placement. Here are some high-impact ideas:

• Embedding QR Codes that link to instructional videos, usage tips, or even hidden recipes related to the product adds value and encourages repeat use.
• Incorporating QR Codes in magazine ads, billboards, or bus stop displays that link to targeted landing pages with special offers or in-depth product information relevant to the ad’s message promotes interactiveness.
• You can integrate QR Codes on posters, flyers, or badges at conferences or tradeshows. They can provide instant access to event schedules, speaker bios, or downloadable presentations.

3. Increase your social media following

In your advertising, add a QR Code that leads your potential customers to your social media pages. That way they have an option to immediately Like your Facebook fan page or Follow you on Twitter, helping you to easily perform relationship marketing with QR codes.

This is especially useful for small businesses that communicate via social media and want to make the most of mobile marketing. That’s because QR Codes don’t need large marketing budgets.

So when a customer likes your services, say by visiting your store or stall, she can see the QR Code to follow you easily.

Many large businesses too use QR Codes in digital marketing to gain social media followers. They even give the customers an incentive to follow the business online. For example:

Get a daily deal on our Facebook page. Scan to Follow us now

In 2017, the authorities in Ethiopia and the Great Ethiopian Run organized ‘Because She Can’—an all-women-run. The run used QR Codes to gain followers on Facebook.

4. Enhancing customer experience by making print ads actionable

Print ads by themselves are limited by space. They can grab attention with visuals and a catchy message, but providing a lot of details or next steps can be tricky. QR Codes bridge this gap and turn print ads into actionable tools by:

• Overcoming Space Constraints:  A QR Code itself is small and can fit almost anywhere on a print ad. But it holds a ton of information – a website address, a discount code, or even instructions.  This lets you provide more depth and avoid cluttering the ad itself.
• Seamless Transition to Digital:  People are on their phones all the time. A QR Code in O2O (offline to online) marketing removes the friction of manually typing a web address. With a scan, they’re instantly transported to the relevant website, landing page, or social media profile. This makes it super easy to take the next step you want them to take.
• Measurability (with Dynamic QR Codes): Not all QR Codes are created equal. Dynamic QR Codes allow you to track how many times they get scanned. This provides valuable data on the effectiveness of your print campaign and helps you understand how well your ad is converting viewers into website visitors or social media followers.

So basically, QR Codes play a key role in phygital marketing by turning static print ads into interactive gateways to the digital world. They provide a clear call to action and make it effortless for viewers to take the next step in their customer journey.

5. Get reviews for your business 

If you have a business, you know how important it is to have reviews for your company/business on Google. Potential customers use these reviews to decide whether they’ll buy your services or not.

But getting your customers to review your services is not that easy. They’ve to follow a series of steps to submit their review. Hence, most of them simply don’t do it.

By making it easy for them to submit their reviews, you’ll see an increase in the response rate. This will help improve your business rankings online and boost your sales through QR Code interactions.

A Feedback QR Code is what you need here. When scanned, it redirects customers directly to the review page, making it easier to improve customer service using QR codes.

6. Distribute m-coupons from print advertisements

Let’s say your target customer visits a mall with friends. While some of them are busy window shopping, she finds a QR Code in the mall on one of your promotion creatives. It’s a surprise Christmas gift from your brand. She scans it—well because she is curious and who doesn’t like surprises. In an instant, she is the owner of a 30% discount m-coupon.

You can use a QR Code for Black Friday promotions the same way, it helps in offering exclusive deals that grab shoppers attention during the busiest shopping season.

One can easily create an m-coupon landing page with the Scanova QR Code Generator.

In 2018 Amazon started using its custom QR Codes—Amazon SmileCodes. These SmileCodes give discount deals and offers to customers. And customers can scan them using the Amazon app. One can find them on the delivery packaging of products ordered from Amazon.

Like this, you can create QR Codes for lucky draws, gifts or special coupons to engage your customers with dynamic online content. This will not only help you stand out from all the marketing noise but also help in increasing brand recall.

7. Increase your downloads for your mobile app

Do you have a mobile app for your business? Then you’d want your target audience to install it on their phones. And to enable that, you’ll have to run promotions.

You can run digital campaigns to get the job done. But though digital content is readily actionable, it has a very short attention span. On the other hand, while print media has a longer attention span, it’s not actionable or trackable.

Here, a QR Code can help you ramp up your promotional effort. Simply add an App Store QR Code to your promotional material. When scanned, they’ll be redirected to your app on the relevant app store. This depends on their phone’s operating system, increasing app downloads.

In case you want to redirect them to a particular page within an app, an App Deep Link QR Code can help you out.

8. Generate leads with QR Codes

Looking forward to generating leads from your promotional effort? QR Codes are up for the game.

They offer the lead generation feature. When your end-users scan the lead magnet QR Code, they get prompted to fill out the lead generation form. Once they do it, they can see the actual content encoded in the QR Code.

You can also consider using a QR Code in your email marketing campaigns to easily share your lead form and attract more responses.

All you need is a dynamic QR Code generator to do the job.

9. Help people know your business’s exact location

It’s common for businesses to get people to visit their brick-and-mortar stores. While you will add your store/office address to the promotional material, you can go a step ahead to help people actually reach you seamlessly. How?

With a Google Maps QR Code for location based advertisement. When end-users scan it, it redirects them to the encoded location on the maps application on their smartphone. No need for them to manually type your address in the app to locate your business.

Say you’re a farmer, you can use a QR Code in agriculture to help people find your farm’s or your store’s exact location.

10. Easily share your contact details

As a marketer, you know how important it is to build a network of valuable contacts. Hence, when you meet potential prospects, you give them your business card hoping that they’ll save you as a contact.

But there’s a problem. Recipients need to open the contacts app on their phone to type their contact details. And only then, they can save you as a contact. Since this is a long process, many business cards end up in the trash.

But a VCard QR Code on your business card can help you surpass this problem. When recipients scan it, it will show all your contact details with a button to save your contacts. They can simply click the button to do the needful. A much simpler process, right? And the simpler the process, the better the results.

D. Other popular QR Code Marketing use cases

The thing with QR Codes is that you can engage your customers in a little over a million ways. Here are some other unique ways to get started:

1. Offline referral marketing

Offline referral marketing directs people from offline to online content.

For example—Kate buys a watch that has a concealed QR Code. She scans it and registers with the brand. When she wears the watch to her office, one of her colleagues likes it and wants to buy the same watch.

So Kate shows her the QR Code and asks her to scan it. As her colleague scans it, she gets a 20% discount and places an order.

Hence, Kate gets her incentive for helping the brand sell its product.

Offline referral marketing helps businesses convert word-of-mouth marketing to sales. One can think of it as ‘invite only’ marketing, but offline. If you’re a business, you can even conduct referral tracking to get insights into how to improve your referral program.

2. Create a giant QR Code

Why stick to the conventional route of printing QR Codes in print media or on product packaging? Marketers can grab customer attention by creating a giant, scannable QR Code.

You could use flowers, colors, paper, plants, etc., to create a unique QR Code.

One such example of QR code in marketing is soon to be set in the island nation of Tuvalu. Vincent Huang, a Taiwanese artist, is set to create a QR Code mangrove on the island. This is to raise awareness of how climate change is affecting the island. On scanning, the QR Code leads to a page listing the ill effects of climate change.

Scanova’s team created the first ever QR Rangoli, to wish its customers on Diwali. Scanning the QR Code leads to a page with festive wishes and a discount coupon.

As I said, these are just a few ways to engage your customers. Depending on what content you want to show your audience, there are 23 types of QR Codes you can create.

3. Share audio files

If you have a podcast, audio guide, or a recently launched song, you’d like to share it with your audience.

In 1989, David Huron, a professor at the School of Music at Ohio State University wrote a paper—“Music in Advertising: An Analytic Paradigm”. In this paper, he wrote that music can serve the overall promotional goals in one or more of several capacities. And his words hold true to this day.

Audio QR Codes can help you share the audio files seamlessly. Your audience just needs to scan the QR Code to enjoy the music. And again, it helps increase your overall conversion rate.

4. Share event details

Say you have an upcoming event where you’d display and inform about your business and products. And you need to do promotions for this event.

What better way to do it than QR Codes? QR Codes not only help promote your business but also add detailed event information. How? Via Event QR Code.

Event QR Code allows you to share your event complete information such as date and time, venue, and more. Moreover, it gives you many customization options with an option to get the guests to RSVP.

And this strategy works for online events too, like using a QR Code for webinars, making it super easy for people to register and get all the info they need.

E. Tracking your QR Code Marketing campaigns

I am a big fan of this saying:

Making decisions without metrics is like driving with eyes closed

Gregory Ciotti

Tracking the success of a campaign is necessary for further optimization. Especially for a marketer.

The good news is that with QR Codes, you can track the performance of your campaigns easily. All you need to ensure is that the QR Code Management tool you are using allows you to create Dynamic QR Codes. And, obviously, it must have QR Code tracking available.

Tip for Scanova users: Scanova not only provides QR Code tracking but also allows integration with other Analytics tools. For example Webhooks and Google Analytics. Hence, you can get all your campaign performance data in one place. It also offers a feature called event tracking. It allows you to see how your audience is interacting with the encoded content after scanning it.

F. Some popular QR Code marketing campaigns

Here are a few standout examples of marketing campaigns that have successfully used QR codes:

1. Burger King

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Burger King came up with various promotional campaigns. The aim behind them was to attract and engage customers. One of those were QR Codes in TV advertisements. These ads featured a floating QR Code. If a viewer could scan the QR Code, she’d get a free Whopper on the next purchase on the Burger King app.

2. Netflix

Netflix used QR Codes to spread the word about their series Gilmore Girls reboot. To do it, they printed Snapcodes on 10,000 coffee mugs which led to millions of views on Gilmore Girls-inspired photo filters.

3. Instagram

Instagram has introduced QR Codes which can be fully customized by the user. And users can scan them using Instagram’s built-in scanner. When scanned, the QR Code leads end-users to see your Instagram profile. Hence, marketers and businesses are using them to increase their followership.

4. Amazon

Amazon has been using QR Codes for a while. It could be for various use cases. For example, driving web traffic, offering personalized gifts, and providing product information.

Recently, Amazon introduced Amazon SmileCodes on the product packaging. When scanned, they help customers avail coupons and discounts on their future purchases. They also provide product information. And help people retrieve the security code for their Amazon locker.

With such QR Codes in their loyalty program, Amazon keeps customers engaged and coming back for more.

5. Samsung

As you know, a closed store means customers come to the doorstep, see the closed storefront, and go back. This leads to the loss of potential business. To tackle such a problem, Samsung used QR Codes in a store that was being renovated in front of an Apple store.

At that time, Samsung risked losing customers to a competitor. So, they used QR Codes to grab customers’ attention.

Here, Samsung turned their closed store into a wall full of QR Codes. Each QR Code gave customers a unique virtual experience on their phones. 

This strategy was so successful that they got more traffic than when their store was open. That’s right. These QR Codes were scanned more than 11,000 times. That’s huge.

6. Dunzo TV campaign IPL Finals 2022

Recently, Dunzo, a quick commerce business, displayed a TV advertisement during the broadcast of the Indian Premier League final 2022.  This ad was quite different than traditional ones. Why?

Because it appeared as a TV screen glitch and invoked a nostalgic memory of old televisions and antennas.

A part of this ad had a QR Code with the text—” Inconvenience is Regretted, Convenience is not”. When scanned, it led to a webpage with details about Dunzo and a button to download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store directly.

This ad led to a sudden crash of the Dunzo app. Why? Because out of 10 million people who were watching the tournament, many of them actually scanned the QR Code. The campaign was hence, massively successful!

7. Being’s poster IPL

It is common for fans to have posters to support their favorite team. Being, a mental health startup, leveraged this opportunity in one of its promotional campaigns during IPL 2022.

They printed a QR Code on a poster along with a message—Mental Health Matters. When scanned, it took people directly to Being’s mobile app based on their smartphones.

And since the stadium was filled with hundreds of people while getting aired digitally too, it was a great success. And the best part was that the campaign generated a high impact at a low price.

STAY UPDATED

ON QR TECH

No spam guaranteed | Unsubscribe anytime

Subscribe

8. Volkswagen

Volkswagen wanted to ensure that people didn’t see ads from competing brands. And there are two ways to do it.

One is to buy all the ad slots in a three-minute ad break. But that is very expensive. So, what Volkswagen did to avoid that was very unique.

Volkswagen first identified the slots where their competitors were advertising. Then they bought the first ad slot in that ad break. This ad showed a QR Code on the screen for a straight 30 seconds.

When scanned, the QR Code led people to a live racing game. And the best part was that this game ran throughout the ad break.

While ads from competing brands were airing, people were busy playing Volkswagen’s live racing game. And that’s how Volkswagen succeeded in beating its competitors with a single QR Code.

9. Budweiser

Budweiser launched a campaign—’ The Drop’ to celebrate 100 Days to the FIFA World Cup 2022. In this, they dropped hundreds of red prize boxes for fans in major cities all around the world. These red boxes include signed memorabilia, a year’s supply of Budweiser, and the grand prize of a trip to the tournament.

But Budweiser couldn’t share the boxes’ locations with everyone. So, they used QR Codes to identify true football fans. Here, they made QR Codes appear everywhere across the globe. From Mumbai’s Football arena in Andheri to the iconic Wembley stadium in London, they were everywhere.

When scanned, the end-users were able to register for this campaign. 

Once done, Budweiser was able to share its coordinates with only registered people. But here’s the catch—they sent the coordinates of these undisclosed locations only a couple of hours before the drop of these boxes. This way, they kept the adrenaline pumping while ensuring crowd control.

In addition, they partnered with famous footballers such as Messi, Neymar Jr., and Sterling to promote these QR Codes via their own social media handles. 

With over 10 million impressions on social media, ‘The Drop’ has become one of the best campaigns of this season.

10. Nike

Nike also uses a QR Code on its website to help online shoppers download the Nike app easily. 

As people scan it, they are directed to the Nike app as per their device’s OS. Hence, this makes it easier for online users to download the Nike app.

11. Walmart

In 2013, Walmart and Procter & Gamble placed QR Codes at all the bus shelters in Toronto. This was to encourage people to use their time more productively while waiting for the bus.  When scanned, people get redirected to the Walmart online shopping portal. Here, they could order groceries and other utilities while waiting for the bus.

12. Adidas ‘QR to Qatar’

In September 2022, Adidas launched a scannable ad film ‘QR to Qatar’. It featured their brand ambassador Ranveer Singh, an Indian actor.

Upon scanning the QR Code, users could participate in the live raffles. The raffles had various prizes, such as a free trip to attend the FIFA World Cup.

STAY UPDATED

ON QR TECH

No spam guaranteed | Unsubscribe anytime

Subscribe

13. Thums Up’s ‘Stump Cam’

In Sep 2022, Coca-Cola’s Indian brand Thums Up launched a QR Code based ‘stump cam’ campaign.

Scanning the QR Code gave audience the exclusive access to match footage and content.

14. DBS Bank QR Code gift cards

In Jan 2022, DBS Bank released a series of Chinese New Year QR Code gift cards. It was an alternative to traditional red packets and new notes.

Counted amongst the best QR Code advertising campaigns, it aimed to reduce carbon footprint.

The DBS QR Codes were made of eco-friendly paper. After use these gift cards were recycled at recycling points.

15. Coca-Cola’s QR Code packaging for the blind

This is a unique effort that definitely is one of the best QR Code marketing campaigns out there.

In December 2022, Coca-Cola partnered with the Royal National Institute of Blind People(RNIB).

Through this collaboration, they created accessible packaging for blind and partially sighted people.

They placed a QR Code on the product packaging.  Upon scanning, it redirected users to an audio with information available on the package.

16. BoAt’s ‘Rock in India’ campaign

boAt celebrated the continuity of its ‘Make in India’ initiative with the ‘Rock in India’ campaign in Jan 2023. For the uninitiated, boAt is an India-based consumer electronics brand

It was one of the best campaigns of QR Code marketing in India. Talking of it boAt narrates the story of a new era of its products. 

The brand also highlighted the power of Indian-ness and uniqueness from the rest of the world.

boAt even launched an interactive print ad with a special QR Code. 

On scanning, it took the end-users to boAt’s 1 crore ‘Made in India’ milestone campaign.

17. KitKat’s #LoveBreakLingo packs

KitKat took Valentine’s day product packaging to the next level. You ask how?

Well, they added a QR Code to their packaging. Scanning the QR Code helped users send personalized messages.

These messages could be sent via WhatsApp using the #lovebreaklingo with other people.

18. Mahindra’s ‘Together We Rise’ QR Code campaign

This one again deserves to make it to our list of the best QR Code marketing campaigns.

The ‘Together We Rise’ campaign was recently unveiled by Mahindra Group. 

They created an advertisement with a poem written from the viewpoint of future generations. It communicated the idea of corporate responsibility. 

The brand released a print advertisement to promote this campaign. It included a QR Code that took the audience to YouTube where they could watch the TVC.

The ad had kids as consumers of the future whose views on how business is run should be valued. 

Its aim was to raise awareness among corporations about the importance of a sustainable future.

19. Cadbury Celebration’s #ShopsForShopless campaign

This campaign was launched during Diwali 2022 to support and empower the street hawkers.

The Cadbury Celebration’s package had a QR Code. When scanned, it enabled consumers to promote and setup a virtual shop for their local hawkers.

Consumers could then go on to add details like vendor name, phone number and images on the website. 

After registration, anyone could shop for the products via a phone/video call or an SMS.

STAY UPDATED

ON QR TECH

No spam guaranteed | Unsubscribe anytime

Subscribe

G. How to create QR Codes for marketing

Now you know all about QR Codes in marketing. The next question—how to create one?

I. Create QR Codes one by one

If your use case doesn’t require hundreds and thousands of QR Codes, this is the right choice for you. This option offers you a wide range of QR Code categories to choose from. For example, Event QR Code, Website URL QR Code, Product QR Code, etc.

To create one, you simply need a QR Code generator. You can find various QR Code generators online.

But comparing each result to find the best one is a tedious process. For your convenience, here is a detailed comparison of the best QR Code generator available online. You can go through it to find the best one for yourself.

Once finalized, you can go ahead and create your own first QR Code. To help you get started, here’s a step-by-step guide on it.

II. Create QR Codes in bulk

In case, you want to create QR Codes in bulk, then you can go ahead with this option. 

To do it, you’d need a bulk QR Code generation service. It allows you to create up to 100,000 QR Codes in one go. Thus, it eliminates the need to generate QR Codes one by one.

Bulk QR Code generation service offers a variety of choices. For example, Website URL QR Codes, Simple Text QR Codes, Serial Code QR Codes, and VCard QR Codes.

To make use of it, you simply need to upload a data file in XLS, CSV, or XLSX formats. And this file needs to have all the data to be encoded in the QR codes. Once done, you just have to wait for the QR Codes to be generated and download them in a zip folder.

III. Create QR Codes programmatically

If you want to integrate QR code generation into your own information system, QR Code API can help you do it. 

It allows you to generate QR Codes programmatically in real time. Hence, there is no manual intervention required to create the QR Codes.

IV. Considering QR Codes for your marketing? 

You’re familiar with free online generators but now see paid options.  This might make you wonder, “Why pay for something that used to be free?”

Free generators are still available for basic needs like website links or contact info. Scanova’s free tool even lets you create 15+ types! These are called Static QR Codes, essentially barcodes with simple data.

However, free generators have limitations.  For professional needs, marketers often use Dynamic QR Codes, which offer more features. While some “free” generators claim to offer them, there’s a catch (explained later).

This is where Scanova comes in. Many brands trust Scanova for their marketing and QR Code needs.

What people say about us

H. Tips for effective QR Code implementation

1. Design Tips for Eye-Catching QR Codes:

• Stand Out from the Crowd: Make your QR Code visually appealing to grab attention and encourage scans. Here are some strategies:
• Embrace Color (Strategically): Utilize high-contrast color combinations that complement your brand palette and ensure readability against the background. Avoid clashing colors or excessive gradients. Think about foreground and background elements – a light QR Code on a dark background (or vice versa) typically works best.
• Shape Up: Experiment with shapes beyond the traditional square. Consider rounded corners, geometric designs, or even custom shapes that align with your brand identity. However, ensure the core QR Code structure remains intact for proper scanning. Don’t get too creative; prioritize functionality over excessive design flourishes.
• Brand It Out: Incorporate your logo or brand colors subtly within the QR Code for branding. This reinforces brand recognition and creates a cohesive visual experience. Consider using a micro-logo or brand pattern strategically placed within the code without compromising readability.
• Keep it Simple: Avoid overly complex designs or excessive clutter. Remember, the primary function is readability. A clean, well-defined QR Code with a clear call to action (CTA) will outperform an overly artistic one that’s difficult to scan.

2. Best Practices for QR Code Placement:

Strategic placement is crucial for maximizing scan rates. Consider these factors:

• Target Audience: Put your QR Code where your ideal customers are most likely to see it. Tailor placement to specific demographics or campaign goals. For example, on product packaging targeted towards young adults, you might consider using a trendy color scheme or incorporating a popular social media icon within the QR Code design.
• Scannability Matters: Ensure the QR Code is a suitable size for scanning at the expected viewing distance. A billboard QR Code will need to be larger than one on a business card. Use a sizing guide to ensure optimal readability across different mediums.
• Clear Path to Scanning: Place the QR Code in a well-lit, uncluttered area with ample space around it. Avoid placing it on busy backgrounds or surfaces that might cause glare, such as reflective glass or metallic surfaces.
• Call to Action (CTA) is Key: Provide a clear and concise CTA alongside the QR Code. Tell people what they’ll gain by scanning (e.g., “Scan for exclusive offer” or “Get instant access”). Craft compelling CTAs that pique their interest and motivate them to take action.

Bonus Tip: Test Your QR Code! Before deploying your QR Code, ensure it scans properly on various devices and screen sizes. Use a free online QR Code scanner to verify functionality. This will save you time and frustration down the line.

STAY UPDATED

ON QR TECH

No spam guaranteed | Unsubscribe anytime

Subscribe

I. FAQs: QR Code Marketing Ideas

1. What kind of information can I store in a QR Code?

QR Codes can hold a variety of information, including:

• Website URLs
• Contact details (phone number, email address)
• Plain text messages
• Social media profiles
• VCard (electronic business card) information
• WiFi network credentials
• Location coordinates
• Event details (calendar invitations)
• Payment information (for example, Bitcoin addresses)

The amount of data a QR Code can store depends on the version and error correction level chosen when generating the code.

2. How can I design an eye-catching QR Code for marketing purposes?

Choose colors that make the QR Code stand out from the background. Consider adding your brand logo or colors: This can help with brand recognition. You can use rounded corners, geometric designs, or even custom shapes, but ensure the core QR Code structure remains readable.

Avoid overly complex designs or excessive clutter. A clean, well-defined QR Code with a clear call to action is best.

3. Where are the best places to put QR Codes?

The best place to put a QR Code depends on your target audience and campaign goals. Here are some general ideas:

• Product packaging: Link to instructional videos, usage tips, or recipes.
• Print and outdoor advertising: Include them in magazine ads, billboards, bus stop displays, or even transit tickets – link to targeted landing pages or store locators.
• Event collateral: Integrate them on posters, flyers, or badges for event schedules, speaker bios, or downloadable presentations.
• In-store displays: Place them near product displays, linking to customer reviews, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive product bundles.
• Receipts: Include a QR Code for easy review submission.
• Social media posts: Use them to drive traffic to specific landing pages or promotions.

4. How can I track the success of my QR Code marketing campaign?

There are several ways to track the success of your QR Code campaign:

Use dynamic QR Codes: These allow you to track the number of scans, scan location, and even the time of day scans occur.

Include UTM parameters in your QR Code links: This can help you track traffic sources in Google Analytics or other analytics platforms.

Run a short survey after the user scans the code: This can help you gather feedback on the user experience and the effectiveness of your campaign.

5. What are some creative ways to use QR Codes in marketing?

• Run interactive scavenger hunts: You can hide QR Codes around a location and have users scan them to collect virtual items or unlock discounts.
• Offer exclusive content: You can link QR Codes to behind-the-scenes videos, product demonstrations, or early access to new products.
• Augmented Reality (AR) experiences: Integrate QR Codes with AR apps to allow users to virtually interact with your products.
• Social media integrations: You can also link QR Codes to fun, branded social media filters to encourage user-generated content.

By using QR Codes creatively, you can create engaging and interactive marketing campaigns that capture attention and drive results.

That’s it. That is all you need to know about how QR Codes are used for marketing. In fact, a lot of marketers are already using QR Codes in their campaigns. So, get started today and add the dimension of the QR Code to your existing print media and outdoor campaigns.