If you’ve looked at a magazine ad lately, you may have seen QR codes in one corner that invite you to snap the code with your smartphone to get more information. QR codes have become one of the hottest trends in marketing. If you’d like to get on the trend, follow these tips to use these codes in your printed marketing materials.
6 Reasons to Use QR Codes
There are several good reasons to use QR codes to enhance your marketing efforts. They’re an effortless way to expand your reach and offer valuable information to your customers.
1. They’re quick
Instead of telling clients to go to a website, use QR codes to get them there instantly. Most people have smartphones, and a quick, simple tap of the phone can take them there in a moment.
If you want your customer to fill out a form, read instructions on using your product, or get a recipe using your product, you can do it instantly with a clickable code.
2. They’re error-free
Inviting customers to your website is a fantastic way to expand your reach, but typing a full URL address is time-consuming. A misspelled word or the wrong file extension (for instance, using .com instead of .net or .gov) can result in a failed attempt.
With QR codes, there’s no chance of an error, and there’s no need to memorize a website address. Your client or customer just points their phone at the code. It’s easy and error-free.
3. Customers can save the information
Once a customer taps on the QR code with their phone, they’ll have it saved. The next time they need the information, it’s right there at their fingertips.
4. You can track your results
Analytics are the key to any marketing campaign. With QR codes, you’ll have instant, ongoing access to the results of your marketing. You’ll know when they scanned it, how often they scanned it, how long they spent on the website, and where they were when they scanned it.
These codes allow you to conduct so-called event tracking, which tells you exactly how people interacted with your website. Did they stay to learn more, did they fill out the requested information, and did they show signs of being engaged with the content? You can learn all that just by attaching these codes and following your results.
5. You can offer rich, engaging content
The best part about using QR codes is that they encourage real engagement with your website, product, or service. You can add videos, graphics, photographs, animated features, and more to draw people in and keep them interested.
What call to action do you want from your QR code? You can ask the reader to sign up for a rewards program, subscribe to a newsletter, or buy your product.
To increase your chances of success, the content you offer should be substantive. Companies have used these codes to direct consumers to safety information about the ingredients in their products. Others have used them to counter negative information that has come out about their products or company. These codes allow customers to learn the facts they need to make informed decisions.
At the same time, you want to keep your readers engaged. Using a QR code, you can direct them to a well-designed, engaging website with everything they need to complete a call to action.
6. It’s easy to do
Online code generators make it easy to add a code to any brochure, newsletter, print ad, flyer, or catalog.
Tips to Printing with QR Codes
Make a good impression
A scannable, easy-to-use QR code is a good reflection of your company or your product. You’ll make the right impression on your potential customers with a high-quality code that works every time.
Save time and money
If you print a faulty QR code, you’ll have to redo it, and that means having to print your materials again. Save money from the start by printing a functional code that is easily scannable, fast, and reliable.
Boost user engagement
User engagement is the goal when you invite people to your website. This also raises awareness of your brand name. Once the customer hits the QR code, it should take them to a website that encourages this engagement. A well-designed, professionally printed code ensures that your users will complete the tasks you’ve set for them.
Create your content
Always be sure that your QR code links to useful, relevant information. You don’t want a customer to reach a page that’s irrelevant, dead, or–worst of all–related to one of your competitors.
Your content will also guide the type of code you use. If it’s information that doesn’t need frequent updating, you can use what’s called a static QR code. If the content requires regular updating, use a dynamic QR code.
Get the Most from Your Printed QR Codes
Add instructions
Many people are unfamiliar with QR codes. To help them, add simple instructions to the top or sides of your code:
- Turn on your smartphone camera.
- Open the camera, and focus it.
- Tap the camera to snap a picture.
- The website will appear on your mobile phone as a photo.
- Tap the photo, and go to the site.
Choose the right printing format
When printing QR codes, use high-resolution formats. They will allow you to print your code on materials of any size without losing detail. You can print your codes on brochures, banners, or posters while keeping them at the right resolution. The best formats to use for exporting them are SVG, EPS, and PDF.
Choose where to attach your code
You can attach a QR code to any surface that does not crease, stretch, or fold. To work properly, the code must be on a flat surface.
This gives you an enormous range of choices. You can attach QR codes to:
- Business cards
- Brochures
- Catalogs
- Flyers
- Product labels
- Book covers
- Magazine pages
- Mailing labels
- Instructional inserts
- Bottle caps
- Reference materials
- Shipping boxes
- Posters
Add some color
When you design a QR code, add some color, patterns, shapes, and other design elements. Although many QR codes are black and white, they can get lost in a sea of black and white text. Use color to make your QR code stand out. Some code generators allow you to add your logo and corporate colors.
Don’t overdo the design to the point where the code is too muddled to work or isn’t recognizable as a QR code, however. Add a pop of color, and make sure your code is readable.
Code Generators
You can find online QR code generators that allow you to make codes with ease. There are free code generators, but they only allow you to create static QR codes. If you need dynamic codes, you must sign up for a paid subscription from a code generator.
Here are the top QR code generators:
How to use a code generator:
- Open the generator.
- Upload your artwork and other materials.
- The generator will create a code for you.
- Customize the code with your choice of colors, patterns, and logos.
- Test the code with your smartphone to make sure it leads to the right place.
- Download your QR code in a high-resolution print format.
- Attach the code to your printed material, and submit the files to your printer.
Crack the QR Codes
Adding QR codes will enhance your marketing efforts and increase your brand awareness. Generating a code is the first step, and the second is getting it professionally printed. At Dazzle Printing, we can help you produce marketing materials that help you stand out.
