How To Create An Effective QR Code That Will Be Clicked on?

What is a QR code today – only a baby does not know. This trend has appeared in marketing through mobile devices and the web, where car codes are now found everywhere – both in print and online. 

At a rapid pace, this promotion tool is replacing its predecessor, the barcode, with up to 4,000 characters instead of 250.

In marketing, this is one of the most convenient ways to interact with the audience. Next, we will tell you about how to make a QR code, what are its distinctive characteristics, what opportunities it opens up for owners and users, and why it is needed in marketing.

What is a QR code, the history of its appearance, and its popularity

QR code is an abbreviation from the English language Quick Response, which means “quick response”. The need for it arose in the 80s when the previous analog of the QR code could not meet the high requirements in the Japanese industry. The invention of such a tool was necessary for the Japanese to mark cars. 

First of all, the kuar was needed to store a large amount of information in it. So, the Japanese company Denso Wave 1994 introduced the world to a two-dimensional barcode. Attempts to make it popular until 2011 did not bring very noticeable results, since mobile devices did not have continuous access to the global network, and cameras did not differ beyond their capabilities. 

Now cuar codes are bar codes familiar to us, however, somewhat modified. Any useful information is encrypted in them.

Statistics on the growth of the use of the QR code in 2018-2024

Poll Statista, earlier in the US it was predicted that in 2020 about 11 million families would have to scan a QR code. This would mean an increase in the use of QR codes compared to 9.76 million households in 2018.

However, this was the scenario before COVID hit the world. The pandemic has opened the door to the huge success of contactless technology (QR code as a leading player). It is expected that contactless trading will gain momentum. According to a Gartner report, by 2024, 80% of the order, checkout, and payment services will be contactless. And, of course, QR-coding technology will help them in this.

The growth of the use of the QR code has been increasing over the years following the trend. For data Bluebite, from 2018 to 2019, the following surge in QR code usage was recorded:

• 28% increase in QR code coverage

• 26% increase in the number of interactions;

• 35% increase in the number of interactions with a single object.

It is even more interesting to observe the growth in the number of interactions with a single object. This means that people scan the same QR code more than once. This speaks of the benefits and user confidence in QR codes. And, of course, about their future.

Coupons and the target audience of the QR code

One of the most popular use cases for cuar codes is to make payments and offer discount coupons in printed promotional materials. So, in 2017, about 1.7 billion coupons were received using QR codes, and in 2018 – about 3.27 million. It is assumed that by 2022about 5.3 billion coupons will be paid using QR codes. Impressive, right?

Also, an interesting aspect of the study’s target audience is QR codes. If you are a marketer, then you probably know how important the target audience is for any business. What age groups do people who scan QR codes belong to? Mostly between the ages of 24 and 54.

According to research by Scanlifein 2015, the age group with the highest percentage of people scanning QR codes was 34-44 years old.

Since then, QR code scanning features have been added to popular apps among the younger generation such as Snapchat, Pinterest, and WeChat. This shows that the age distribution in 2021 is likely to shift towards the younger generation.

Where can I use the QR code?

Let’s think about why we need to create QR codes? For many purposes. Now they are used in United Airlines boarding passes. In China, elderly people are given badges with codes so that they can return home if they suddenly get lost or forget their data. The Japanese and Austrians leave barcodes on tombstones to quickly get information about the deceased. And Koreans can order groceries right at the subway station using a virtual storefront with a QR code.

In marketing, the use of QR codes helps:

• Promote the brand by increasing its awareness;

• Expand the audience of the web resource by sending new users straight to the product description or the site registration form;

• Provide up-to-date information about promotions and special offers;

• open a product catalog;

• Send messages about the updated product and receive feedback from users in SMS marketing;

• Track activity indicators on the resource page;

• Provide partners and customers via a QR code with contact information for communication, the ability to call;

• Compare prices for goods on different trading platforms;

• open a map with the location of the owner’s office;

• offer to install the application so that customers do not have to waste time on manual search;

• Direct users to social networks if they are interested in a product, service and want to receive updated information about them;

• Provide payment receipts;

• Get wifi settings.

Important! Everything that can be encoded into a QR code should be useful and convenient. The user is not required to think about how to make or use a QR code.

 Where is QR code encryption useful?

Active users of social networks appreciate the simple and convenient use of resources. Therefore, it is useful to learn how to make a QR code for a profile link – for example, a Facebook page, and create a QR code in infographics and education.

Why do you need a Facebook Page QR Code?

The data about the site participant will be encrypted in the QR code for the profile link of the Facebook page. The QR code reader will redirect the user to the profile page. This is convenient because:

• Allows you to quickly exchange contacts;

• Provides interaction with the audience;

• Makes it possible to instantly familiarize customers with the type of activity of the entity, the list of services, or products.

You can encrypt both a personal profile and a business page on a Facebook page. With this promotion tool, you can display additional information – links, images, text, etc.

Before you encrypt the link and create a QR code to go to the site, choose a convenient and free online service. You can do this step by step: copy the link to the profile, paste it into the text field, adjust the design of the “squares” and generate it – you’re done.

Using a QR Code in Infographics

It is very convenient to create and use a QR code to encrypt a digital signature. Most users save information in a visual form, distributing the image on the network without links to the site. And if you link a branded link, the infographic also reflects where it leads. The same thing happens with the car code – if they are used together, then all the tools point to one site. Convenient, isn’t it?

QR codes in education

This tool makes the learning process more efficient. You can encode:

• Tasks for individual or group performance;

• Multimedia files;

• Communication with services for access to the electronic library;

• Useful links to specific tasks;

• Practical training in the form of a team game;

• Information that did not fit on thematic stands and posters.

If, for example, there is only one computer in the classroom, then students install it on their smartphone or tablet and at the same time get access to information. It is important that it is easy for students and teachers to find or create QR codes so as not to slow down the learning process.

How to make a QR code: learning how to correctly generate, design, and scan codes

Encoding information can be done in several ways: if only numbers are used, this is digital coding. The use of additional letters or symbols refers to the alphanumeric code. Before you make your own QR code, choose a service where you can generate it. Quar code on any of them can be created in a couple of minutes by following just three steps.

Services for generating QR codes

Finding a company that will help generate a QR code is not difficult. In addition to online services, large manufacturing enterprises devote their activities to this. They help not only to encode a link in a QR code but also apply it to objects – business cards, advertising booklets and other printed matter, household items, clothes.

The image does not have to be black and white, color QR codes are now more popular. In advertising, the use of different colors makes it easier to attract the attention of the audience, especially if the cuar codes are combined with the corporate style of the company.

How to make a QR code online

To make a kuar code online, follow the steps below:

• Determine what information is to be encoded;

• Choose an online service with which you can do this for free;

• In a special text field, enter information – product characteristics, news, company contacts, link, geolocation, etc., without going beyond the maximum allowed number of characters

• In the mode, you can add a caption or a picture, modify the image to your liking, choose a background shade;

• Determine the length and width of the qar code without going beyond the maximum number of pixels (usually 1000×1000 is enough to fit on a large format);

• You can even set the corner smoothing radius to visually make them look more rounded

• When everything is ready, it remains to click “Generate” or “Finish”;

• Save the QR code to your device in PNG format – this will allow you to open it in different graphic editors while maintaining image quality.

Advice! Before finishing work and closing the online generator, make sure that the generated QR code works correctly. 

You need to download the application to your phone and try to scan the picture to check how the generated QR code works and whether all information blocks are visible to users. Now you can share QR codes with the audience – place, for example, on the pages of an Internet resource or offline objects. Help the user comfortably scan the QR code in order to get acquainted with the information that is encrypted in it at a convenient time.

Create an effective QR code

In order for the car code to bring the expected result, it must meet the following requirements:

• Clear contours, a sufficient level of contrast – the picture is well recognized visually;

• Normal sizes, convenient for using the QR code and its perception;

• Availability of explanatory information about the purpose of scanning QR codes;

• Using a unique URL that matches the barcode;

• Successful verification of correct operation from various devices.

In marketing, codes give the best results if you use the following tips:

• A dynamic qar is always preferable since at any time you can change the URL into a QR code, including after the release of a huge circulation of printed materials with it;

• On one page of an online or offline object, you should not place more than one kuar code – this reduces the effectiveness of both and may lead to errors when recognized by the program;

• Be sure to put a UTM tag using a URL builder – this is something like tags for further analysis of the traffic source, which will show the effectiveness of the promotion tool;

• It is not recommended to apply the code on surfaces with a glare or gloss – it is more difficult for people to notice it, and for the camera of a mobile device to recognize it;

• To create a database of users who scanned qar, you can use vkqr.ru services;

• The image should be in harmony with the company logo, it is worth spending time thinking about the design – the original image attracts more attention, which is reflected in the effectiveness of the QR code.

To encrypt hieroglyphs, the Chinese and Japanese use a separate method – “kanji”. To read any of them, you need a camera and a barcode reader program that is installed on the device.

For iPad and iPhones, the QR code reader does not need to be downloaded. The car became even “closer to the people” in 2017 when Apple iOS 11 was released. Their owners do not need to do any extra actions at all, because the code reading function has become built into the camera. Immediately after decoding, the browser and the decrypted information are automatically opened.

When Not to Use a QR Code

One such case is the placement of codes in an email. About 60% of users use mobile devices to check their email. The created QR code on the smartphone screen is just a picture that cannot be scanned from your device. Using a personal computer to view e-mail is an inefficient way to promote. In most cases, letters are not opened, or they are automatically sent to the Spam folder. To engage your audience and increase brand awareness, you should use branded links.

What to do if you still want to use QR codes in mailing lists?

QR code in a letter can be used in the event that your letters are intended to be printed or supplemented with basic information. For example, when opening a letter on a mobile device, you will have to scan the card code at the expense of another phone, which creates inconvenience. In this case, it is better to use links. If the user opens your letter on the desktop, it will be convenient for him to use his phone to quickly follow the link. In both cases, the exception may be the scanning of an application.

The use of QR codes is only gaining momentum. And although they have already received enormous distribution, their full potential has not yet been fully disclosed. In a pandemic, the tool has become more relevant than ever, thanks to the ability to connect online and offline, minimizing the physical interaction of people. Users are quite satisfied with such an ultra-modern tool, each time making their lives easier, and marketers are discovering more and more new methods of interacting with the buyer, attracting the target audience without extra advertising costs.

Findings

1. QR code (Quick Response) – a modified barcode with pages of useful information for quick access. Everything that can be encoded in a kuar code should be necessary and convenient.
2. By 2024, 80% of orders, processing, and payment services will become contactless. And, of course, QR-coding technology will help them in this. Already, QR codes are used in boarding passes for airlines, travel passes, and return home in case of data loss; bar codes on tombstones, virtual storefronts, and galleries are popular abroad.
3. The QR code is also used in social networks, videos, and infographics, for digital signature encryption, in educational processes and institutions, etc.
4. It is very easy to correctly generate, issue, and scan a car code. To do this, you can use both online services or online generators, as well as large manufacturing enterprises. Business cards, advertising booklets and other printed materials, household items, and clothes are popular among QR connoisseurs.
5. In order for the car code to bring the expected result, it is necessary to meet the technical requirements. In marketing, dynamic and harmonious cars, without glare, give the best result, placed one by one on the pages and always with a UTM tag, which can be done using the builder.
6. It is not recommended to place a QR code in e-mail, because the cars on the smartphone screen are just a picture that cannot be scanned from your device. It is recommended to use a QR code in letters if they are intended for printing or supplementing basic information.