5 Best Practices for Promoting Your Business with QR Codes
Jonathan Palley
Feb 17, 2025
In the fast-paced digital world, businesses need to find creative and effective ways to engage with their customers. One of the most powerful tools in today’s marketing landscape is the QR code. Once a niche tool, QR codes are now everywhere—on billboards, restaurant menus, product packaging, and even business cards. When used effectively, QR codes can bridge the gap between offline and online experiences, driving customer engagement and providing valuable insights.
If you're ready to leverage the power of QR codes for your business promotion, here are 5 best practices to ensure you get the most out of this marketing tool.
Use QR Codes in High-Traffic Areas
The success of your QR code campaign largely depends on where you place your codes. To maximize engagement, it’s crucial to display QR codes in high-traffic areas where your target audience will most likely encounter them.
Examples:
- Billboards: Place QR codes on outdoor advertisements where people are likely to pause and take notice.
- Posters and Flyers: Position codes on printed materials distributed at events, stores, or public spaces.
- Product Packaging: Add QR codes to product labels, letting customers easily access promotions or product information.
- Storefront Windows: QR codes in windows encourage passersby to scan and discover more about your products or services.
Best Practices:
- Ensure that your QR code is easy to spot. Use contrasting colors to make the code stand out.
- Place it at eye level and in areas with minimal distractions.
- Add a clear call-to-action (CTA), like “Scan here for a special offer” or “Learn more now”.
Offer Incentives or Rewards
People love getting something extra, and QR codes are a great way to incentivize engagement. Offering an incentive in exchange for scanning your QR code can significantly increase the likelihood of people taking action.
Examples:
- Discounts: Offer a percentage off their next purchase for scanning the code.
- Exclusive Content: Provide access to free eBooks, guides, or whitepapers.
- Special Offers: Send users limited-time offers or exclusive access to promotions when they scan the QR code.
Best Practices:
- Make sure the reward is relevant and appealing to your audience. A well-timed discount or offer can turn a casual scanner into a loyal customer.
- Ensure that the reward is easy to redeem or access once the user scans the code. Complicated or confusing processes will turn people off.
- Be sure to track how many people are engaging with the incentive to understand what motivates your customers.
Ensure the QR Code Leads to a Mobile-Optimized Landing Page
A QR code’s success doesn’t stop at the scan. The next step is crucial: ensuring that users land on a mobile-optimized page that delivers a seamless experience. Since most QR codes are scanned with smartphones, it's essential that your landing page is fast, responsive, and easy to navigate.
Examples:
- Redirect users to a mobile-friendly website that offers more product details or an exclusive promotion.
- Send users to a sign-up form for a newsletter or loyalty program that’s optimized for mobile viewing.
Best Practices:
- Test your landing page across multiple devices and screen sizes to ensure it displays properly and loads quickly.
- Keep the design simple and user-friendly, with clear navigation and a prominent CTA.
- Avoid lengthy forms—make it easy for users to engage and convert with minimal effort.
Track and Analyze QR Code Performance
QR codes are not just a way to direct users to your website—they also offer valuable data that can help you understand how your marketing efforts are performing. By using analytics tools, you can track how often your QR codes are scanned, which locations generate the most engagement, and what actions users take once they land on your page.
Examples:
- Use URL shorteners like Bitly to track how many people click through from your QR code.
- Use QR code generators that come with built-in analytics to monitor engagement rates.
Best Practices:
- Regularly review the performance metrics, such as scan rates, conversions, and bounce rates, to gauge the effectiveness of your campaign.
- Use the data to refine your strategy. For example, if a certain location is driving high traffic, consider using more QR codes in similar areas or promoting specific products that are getting more clicks.
- Make adjustments in real-time if something isn’t working. Analytics provide actionable insights to improve your results.
Use Custom QR Codes for Branding and Creativity
Your QR codes don’t have to be boring or standard. Custom QR codes that align with your brand’s colors, logo, and style can make the code more visually appealing and help build brand recognition.
Examples:
- Design a QR code with your brand’s logo in the center to make it immediately recognizable.
- Customize the colors and shape of the code to match your brand’s theme (without compromising scannability).
Best Practices:
- Ensure that the custom design does not interfere with the QR code’s functionality. A QR code should still be easy to scan, even if it’s customized.
- Stay consistent with your brand’s colors, fonts, and overall design to create a cohesive experience for users.
- Keep the creative elements subtle—users should immediately know that they’re scanning a QR code, not an abstract design.
Conclusion
QR codes have become an indispensable part of modern marketing strategies. When implemented correctly, they can drive engagement, track customer behaviors, and create seamless connections between the offline and online worlds. By following these 5 best practices—using QR codes in high-traffic areas, offering incentives, ensuring a mobile-optimized landing page, tracking performance, and adding custom branding—you can effectively promote your business and enhance your customer experience.
QR codes are more than just a trend—they are a powerful tool that can help your business reach new heights. Start integrating QR codes into your marketing campaigns today and watch your engagement grow!
