Summary: In this article, we’ll be discussing benefits, tips, and common mistakes people often make when it comes to adding QR codes on flyers. We’ll show you how to avoid issues such as expired QR codes, scanning problems, and so much more.
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We’ve all been seeing our fair share of QR codes recently, most commonly on flyers. Odds are you’ve seen at least one flyer with a QR code over the last several years. You could be seeing them on daily basis and not even realize that they’re there! Whether they’re on billboards, on posters at the subway stations, or even in your mailbox. It is becoming a rarity to come across a flyer without a QR code these days. After all, QR codes are great, and they truly are revolutionizing communications between businesses and their customers.
Let’s dive in and show you how to create QR codes for your flyers (or other marketing materials) and how to avoid the most common mistakes people make. No one wants to print hundreds or thousands of print material with a QR code that doesn’t work.
What are QR codes and why are they on flyers?
What’s a QR code? A QR code (quick response code) is a scannable square containing encoded information designed to be displayed to the end-user when scanned (almost all the latest smartphones have QR code scanning capabilities). You cannot read or decode a QR code without a QR scanning capable camera.
Why on flyers? Flyers are a classic marketing tool, combining them with QR codes elevates their effectiveness. A QR code on a flyer allows you to offer an immediate CTA (call to action) for the end-user. They simply scan the code and are immediately presented with the encoded information. Typically a URL to a page or a profile page.
Benefits of Using QR Codes on Flyers
There is no doubt QR codes are important on flyers, or any marketing materials to be frank. QR codes are transforming the way businesses are marketing their products and services. To give you a better understanding, below is a chart of U.S. smartphone owners scanning a QR code. This chart only shows the scanner usage and not the actual number of QR code scans:
Now that we know the QR code usage continues to rise, let’s point out a few benefits QR codes provide you when used correctly. Here are our top picked benefits to consider when adding QR codes to your flyers:
- Bridging Offline to Online: QR codes simply transform your static marketing material into an instant interactive gateway. QR codes allow your customers to instantly access your services, product details, videos, menus, or anything online.
- Enhanced Engagement & Conversions: Imagine being able to send your customers to the desired destination on your website with a simple scan. Before QR codes, your customers would need to type in your full website URL and then perhaps navigate to the inner pages. QR codes bypasses those extra steps and sends them directly to your desired destination.
- Tracking Analytics: Most QR code generator allow you to track the QR code scan numbers and other details. This information can be beneficial as it helps you determine how many people are scanning the QR code and where these customers are located.
- Versatility & Creativity: QR codes give you endless possibilities when it comes to what you link to. A local restaurant can link to their menu to order food, or a hair salon can link to their booking page. The possibilities are endless with QR codes.
How to Generate & Track QR Codes Performance on Flyers
Besides the convenience, certain types of QR codes (dynamic QR codes to be exact) offer you the ability to track scans, send people to different pages depending on certain conditions, and be able to change the destination URL without having to reprint the QR code. Here are few things to consider when generating a QR code for your flyers:
- Reliable QR Code Generator: It is crucial to use a reliable QR code generator. Avoid the ones with the tricky trial periods as those QR codes work at first and eventually expire, forcing you to pay hefty sums to restore the QR code.
- Dedicated Landing Page: Having a dedicated landing page for your flyer is a good idea especially if you plan on tracking the performance of the flyer. This is tremendously helpful especially when your goal is lead capturing. You’ll know the source of the lead is from the flyer.
- Personalize the QR Code: Personalize the QR code where it fits your brand, however, don’t overdo it where the QR code is hard to scan. Always follow best practices on how to design and size your QR code. We’ll touch base on this in the next section.
Tips for Designing Effective Flyer QR Codes
Let’s talk about designing effective QR codes for your flyers. There is no point of putting a QR code on a flyer if no one scans it. Below we’ll list several points on what you can do to ensure your QR is well placed within your flyer.
- QR Code Placement: Ensuring a prominent placement for your QR code is crucial. You want to ensure the QR code is placed in a conspicuous place and not hidden. Avoid having the QR code surrounded by a lot of text as well. Always leave a margin of blank space around the code so scanners can easily pick it up.
- QR Code Size: The recommended minimum size of a QR code on physical material is 1” x 1” (2.5 x 2.5 cm) to be exact. Anything smaller than this and the scanner will have a hard time picking up the QR code.
- QR Code Format: Ensure your QR code is in a scalable image format such as .SVG or .PDF. Many of the free QR code generators only provide you with a .PNG or other low resolution formats which will cause the QR code to pixilate when printed and virtually becoming unscalable.
- QR Code Design & Branding: Changing the color and adding your logo to the QR code is completely fine. However, it could backfire if not executed correctly. Pay very close attention to the color aspect of the QR code. Always ensure the QR code has a sharp contract, there is a reason why they are typically black in color on a white background. If the color of the code itself is not too different from the background, then the scanners will have a very hard time scanning the code.
If adding your logo to the QR code, ensure the logo has a high resolution by using a scalable format for the logo (such as .PDF or .SVG). This ensures the logo on the QR code scales with the QR code without pixelating or losing quality when being printed. - Clear CTA (call-to-action): Ensure your call-to-action is very prominent and visible. There is no point of just putting a QR code on your flyer if there is no message or instructions on what to do with it or why to scan it. Most QR code generators typically offer you the option to add a frame around the QR code. Within that frame, you can add your CTA message to encourage scanning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
We’ve seen many mistakes being made on a regular basis, whether on flyers or other print materials. These are easily avoidable mistakes; we’ll outline some for you to avoid as well:
- QR Code Too Small or Too Big: Ensure the QR code is not too big or too small. Size affects how fast a phone can scan the QR.
- Poor Contrast: Try your best to have the QR code in solid black color and on a white background. Leave a plain background matching color of 10-20 pixels margin/padding around the QR code to maximize visibility. We recommend checking your contrast ratio, the higher the better.
- Call-To-Action Missing: Remind your customers to scan the QR code. Most QR code generators offer frames with text or other scan indicators. Utilize these to encourage scanning.
- Accessible Webpage: Ensure the webpage you’re linking to is accessible and can be accessed by mobile devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Provide a strong call to action, place the QR code visibly and mention any incentives you’re offering for scanning the QR code.
This is only possible if you use a dynamic QR code. A static QR will not allow you to change the link once printed.
To much glare may hinder the camera’s scanning ability. We strongly recommend making a flyer that is not too glossy so it does not interfere with the scanning capability.
Comparing Traditional Flyers vs. Flyers with QR Codes
Let’s compare the difference in flyers between those with a QR code and those without a QR code. The chart below outlines the advantages of having a QR code on your flyer:
| Aspect | Traditional Flyers | Flyers with QR Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Engagement | Limited | Higher |
| QR Scans Tracking | Hard (often requires surveys) | Easy (with QR scan analytics) |
| Content Capacity | Restricted to only flyer space | Potentially unlimited, online content |
Conclusion
Adding a QR code to your flyer can without a doubt increase your conversion rate and boost your engagement. This can be very beneficial to your sales and bottom-line. There is a reason why over 95% of flyers now contain a QR code. Still skeptical? We invite you to try out Otix’s QR code generator and create a QR code for your flyer today. You’ll be surprised and amazed by how much of a difference a QR code can make to your marketing efforts.
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