What is a QR code, & how do they work?
Quick Response Code (QR code) is a 2-dimensional barcode type developed in Japan originally for its automotive industry. It is not a useful and remarkable marketing tool as to how we see it being used today.
In this generation, QR codes are incredibly and popularly incorporated in business, marketing, and advertising and are known to provide a digital dimension to any goods, products, services or items once scanned, which boosts customer engagement.
A QR code content is accessible using smartphone devices during a photo mode or an installed QR code reader app. To access its content, you only got to move your smartphone camera towards the QR code and click on the notification to read the content related to the QR code.
How to make a QR Code with a logo?
- Choose a credible QR code generator with a logo online with a logo.
- Determine what type of content you’re promoting
- Enter the vital data in the box provided to generate your QR code
- Custom-design your QR code
- Tap the “download” button & choose between “Static” or “Dynamic.”
- Test your QR code and confirm it leads you to the right address you entered
- Deploy
- Track the performance of your QR codes
- Edit your QR code marketing campaign
QR codes provide multimedia content
Unlike barcodes that merely provides alphanumeric data in a product, QR codes cater to multimedia content like:
- URL
- V-Card
- File
- Social media
- H5 editor
- WIFI
- App stores
- Multi-URL
- MP3
- Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, Email & Text
The flexibility of QR codes is what makes them a skillful tool to use when it comes to any sort of marketing.
A QR code is generated by using a QR code generator online. There are two types of QR code: Static QR code and Dynamic QR code.
Static QR code Vs. Dynamic QR code
The data embedded in a static QR code can’t be altered once generated. Furthermore, it does not allow you to track the scans’ data and merely leads you to one URL. The info encoded in this type of code is typically stored in its graphics. More data you put, the more stretched & pixelated the dot gets. It’ll shrink the dots in the corner of your QR code that carries its info, making it difficult to be scanned.
If you’ve more data to store, it’s better to switch to a Dynamic QR code.
Dynamic QR code is editable & trackable; thus, it is ideal to use in marketing. It allows you to uncover in-depth and valuable data of your scans, like:
- Number of total scans
- Unique visitors
- Average scans per day
- Location of scans
- Device type (iPhone/Android)
QR code tracking is essential as it lets you analyze & gauge your QR code marketing campaign’s overall success, enabling you to formulate new strategies and plans from time to time and what you can do more to improve.
When you generate a Static QR code, you can’t switch to a Dynamic QR code as both are different.
How to make a QR code?
Here’s how to make a QR code in nine steps:
Step 1. Firstly, choose a credible QR code generator online with a logo
Internet is filled with thousands of QR code generators, but how sure you’re with its credibility? Choosing a trustworthy QR Code generator is a must as you will be compromising your data. There are ample QR code generators online, such as QRTiger, Tec-it, PiiComm.ca, QR Code. App spot, QRickit and plenty more
But the excellent QR code generator to use should be secure, continually updating, responsive customer support, accurate conversion tracking capacity, and multiple design options.
Step 2. Determine what sort of content you’re promoting
I case I were to choose, which one from the QR code generators mentioned above I’ll use, I would select QRTiger as it offers you many QR code solutions or ways to choose from. In QRTiger, you can choose 15 QR code solutions for your marketing requirements.
Step 3. Enter the vital data in the box provided to generate your QR code
The data required to generate your QR code will differ depending on the QR code solution you’ll create. Just enter the info in the box that corresponds to your campaign.
Step 4. Custom-design your QR code
Advanced QR code generators will let you customize your QR code by:
- Choosing various design patterns
- Customizing eyes at the corners
- Adding a logo or images of your brand or product
- Set colors
It’ll help your QR code stand out from other Qr codes. Moreover, you can still design your QR code even if it is static.
Step 5. Download your QR code & choose between “Static” or “Dynamic.”
Static QR codes are suitable for one-time use & personal use, but if you wish more out of your QR code marketing campaign, you require to switch to Dynamic QR codes. You can alter the data behind your QR code and re-adjust your marketing campaign in real-time, & redirect users to different content.
Step 6. Test your QR code & make sure it leads you to the right address you entered
Before deploying your QR code, confirm to test it and correctly lead to the right address. Moreover, you need to verify that your QR code is scannable.
Step 7. Deploy your QR code
A QR code unseen doesn’t serve its purpose. Once you’re done testing your QR code, deploy it in various media types like magazines, billboards, product packaging, and social media. Furthermore, you can also display it in public places or locations with many people to scan your QR code. Again with their mobiles, it’ll depend on what sort of strategy you want to use.
Step 8. Track the performance of your QR codes
Track the data analytics of your QR code is merely offered when it’s Dynamic. You can follow-up on your QR code marketing campaign that is necessary to gauge if you’re reaching the leads you want.
Are you getting enough scans? Which campaign isn’t performing well? What are you able to do to enhance more? What proportion of traffic are you getting from a selected campaign code? If you do not keep track of your QR code, you’re just likely leaving all of the sales opportunities to your competitors.
Moreover, you can connect the QR code generator to Google Analytics for more powerful tracking & data results.
Step 9. Edit you QR code
One of the advantages of employing a Dynamic QR code is, it’s not only trackable but also editable. You’ll change the info behind your QR code and re-target your marketing campaign anytime you would like to re-print your QR codes. You’ll update the knowledge behind the QR code and redirect your audience to a particular landing page. You’ll do that, albeit your marketing campaign is running!
What sorts of QR code features are you able to make?
URL QR Code
For instance, you can generate a URL QR Code for your website or any landing page you want your scanners to be redirected. It is the simplest way to drive traffic to any website & advertise your business.
V-Card QR Code
A V-Card QR Code is an upgraded sort of business card that enables you to share more in-depth info about you to your clients conveniently. There is ample information you can include in a virtual card like:
- Name, organization, title
- Phone (work, mobile, private)
- Fax, Website, Email
- Street, Zipcode, City
- State, Country
- Profile picture
- Personal description
- Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter,
- Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube
Once the V-card QR code is scanned, it’ll display all of the knowledge listed above, and your clients can instantly reserve it to their smartphones! A digital card will cause you to more memorable, increasing your chance of future contacts.
File QR Code
File QR code displays PDF, Png, Jpeg, MP3, or MP4 files immediately to users’ smartphones when scanning your QR code.
Furthermore, they can also choose to save the info. This sort of QR code solution is useful & convenient for cataloging or any info you like to share with your customers.
Social Media QR Code
A social media QR code shows up or displays all of the user’s social media platforms like:
- Youtube
- Quora
- Snapchat and many more
In case you’re a digital marketer or a social media influence, using a social media QR code makes it simple and easy for your followers to follow you on your social media accounts and increase your social media presence.
H5 Editor
H5 editor is perfect for brands, products, or services that want to make a straight web page about the goods they offer. Briefly, your customers will find more detailed info about what a person, a business, or a company has to offer via H5 editor QR code.
It is easy to create, & you can update the content any time you want.
WIFI QR Code
A WIFI QR code enables you straight access to the internet without typing the password. It’s recommendable for a business establishment such as hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. It creates a better user experience & improves quality service also.
App Store QR Code
For instance, if you make an app QR code for your website, it’ll instantly redirect your scanners to the Apple App Store, Amazon App Store, or Android play store to install your app. They will be redirected to a specific play store relying on their devices.
An App store Qr code can be an incredible mobile application marketing technique.
Multi-URL QR Code
Multi-URL QR code is specially made for businesses & companies that want to run marketing campaigns globally. In case you own an online store, or if you’re an international businessman, a muti-URL QR code will assist you in catering to your various audiences from different types of cultures. According to his geographical position, time, & country, the scanner will be redirected to a specific website.
MP3 QR Code
You can link up an MP3 QR code to a soundtrack, a podcast, or an audio tour. It is useful for DJs, music events, & places such as museums, galleries, & tourist spots. An individual can scan the QR code & listen about a specific subject right away, which is way more interactive & engaging.
It can serve as an alternative for folks who like to listen to the audio file instead of reading, especially when they’re in an art gallery.
Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, Email
You can even grow your social media accounts by generating a QR code for each one of them.
Seven tips to improve and enhance your QR code marketing campaign
1. Make the landing page optimize for mobile-only
Forget the desktop. The clicks will not come from desktop computers. Optimize it for smartphone devices- means that it should load at the most in 4 seconds. No bootstrap libraries or anything Javascript heavy makes it beautiful, easy-to-read, and purposeful. A landing for mobile should be under 1mb for these cases (including scripts & images).
2. Add your images or logo of your brand
Make your QR code a part of your brand. A customized QR code with another logo of your brand will generate more scans. Branded QR codes end in up to 80 percent more scans than monochromatic QR code colors.
3. Add a Call-to-action
To have a “call-to-action” in your QR code is essential as it will prompt folks to scan your QR code. Let your customers know why they must scan your QR code. A call to action could be such as: “scan to watch a video,” “scan to play a game,” “scan to avail discount,” & plenty more.
4. QR Code Sizing
A QR code provides a digital dimension to your artwork, so confirm it is scannable. The size of a Qr code will vary from your advertising environment. It’ll be different in product packaging, posters, billboards. But a Qr code nearby is at least 1.2 inch (3-4 cm) in dimension to be scanned. The further you’ll place the QR code, the larger the size should be.
5. QR Code Placement and Positioning
Qr code must be the highlight of your products & place it in areas effortlessly scannable and noticeable for your target audience so your scanning rate will improve and increase!
6. Customize your QR code
A custom-design Qr code is eye-catchy & can pique your customers’ interest instead of a black & white Qr code. Make your QR code stand out by customizing it as per your brand, aim, & purpose.
7. Use Dynamic QR code
Dynamic QR codes are editable and trackable, making it convenient to use when it comes to marketing. Furthermore, you do not need to re-print your QR codes, enabling you to save money & time!
Final Verdict:
QR codes, when implemented correctly, are often a game-changer! It is usually won’t misunderstand traditional & digital marketing, making them a competitive tool to use. Bridging the offline world to online is a crucial aspect of modern marketing.
QR codes can unlock information and supply excellent opportunities for users to find out about or interact with a product, company, event, etc. This technology advancement is right for tech-forward businesses and marketers trying to find new ways to enhance their marketing and generate sales.
However, creating a QR code isn’t enough. Choosing the most straightforward QR Code generator online to help you reach your marketing goals is one-factor determining factors that will make or break your QR code marketing campaign.
