Think of a time before the 2019 pandemic when QR codes weren’t as popular as they are today. But if you visit a restaurant today, you will see a menu QR code there. QR codes are becoming more and more common in all types of businesses, regardless of their size and type.
One of the most common examples of day-to-day QR code utilization includes payment QR codes we find even at small vendors on the streets. There are many other ways to use QR codes to ease your work.
Undoubtedly, QR codes are becoming a crucial part of marketing nowadays, and it’s super easy to attract more customers by executing strategic QR marketing campaigns. Be it your website, address, phone numbers, menu, or something else that you want your customers to land on, QR codes are the way for you.
In this blog post, we have discussed what QR codes are, how to create QR codes with Chrome and Android, the difference between QR codes and Barcodes, how QR codes work, how to access QR codes in social media apps, free and paid ways to create QR codes, do’s and don’ts of QR codes and best practices of QR code marketing campaign.
So, let’s get started without any further delay!
👉 What Are QR Codes?
Source: kaspersky.com
A QR or Quick Response code is a type of barcode that can be scanned with a smartphone camera to quickly access information. QR codes were first invented in Japan in 1994 and have since seen an amazing journey of quick adaption with super easy usability.
Unlike traditional barcodes that can only store a small amount of information, QR codes can store much more, including website links, phone numbers, and even entire business cards.
QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores a wide range of information, from simple website links to complex and dynamic event information. With the increasing number of smartphones and the convenience of QR codes, it has become highly common to see QR codes everywhere.
👉 How to Create QR Codes with Chrome?
Keeping the popularity and ease of using QR codes, there is no wonder why one wouldn’t want to create QR codes to achieve their goals. Here we have shown a step-by-step guide to creating a QR code with chrome:
Source: techrepublic.com
Click on the “share” button you see on the right-hand side, in the address bar,
Click on the “create OR code” option.
Scan or download the QR code to use it later.
👉 How to Create a QR Code on Android?
If you can’t access your chrome, you can create a QR code on your android too. Here is how you can create a QR code with Android or phone:
Here are the steps to create a QR code on Android:
Source: techrepublic.com
- Download the Google Chrome app or browser from the Google Play Store,
- Navigate to the URL you want to share/scan,
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) on the top toolbar,
- Tap Share,
- On the pop-up, select QR Code,
- Either click Download at the bottom or hold your phone up for someone to scan the code.
👉 How to Create a QR Code on iOS?
Just like in Android, you can easily make QR Codes on any iPhone or iPad. Here’s how:
Source: techrepublic.com
Download the Google Chrome app from the App Store.
Note: It is required to have a Chrome browser installed to create QR codes, as the Google search app isn’t providing that facility yet.
Navigate to the URL you want to share.
Tap the Share button in the upper right-hand corner.
👉 The Difference Between QR Codes VS Barcodes:
Source: nitrocdn.com
If you have been in shopping malls some years back, you must have seen a sticker with white and black lines known as Barcodes. Barcodes are generally and commonly used in shopping malls to identify products in stores.
Moreover, they also provide information to a computer system, which is used to track inventory, pricing, and other data. Not only that, but barcodes are also used to track shipments, verify product authenticity, and manage returns.
Many people may confuse barcodes with QR codes and vice versa.
Here we have mentioned some significant changes between QR codes and Barcodes:
▶️ QR Codes Are Shaped Differently:
The most obvious difference between QR codes and barcodes is their shape. QR codes are square, while barcodes are typically long and narrow.
This square shape allows QR codes to store more information than barcodes. With paid ads, you can have your QR codes in different shapes, colors, patterns, logos, and stickers.
▶️ QR Codes Can Hold Variety of Data:
Another key difference between QR codes and barcodes is the type of data they can store. QR codes can store much more information than barcodes, including website links, phone numbers, and even entire business cards.
On the other hand, barcodes can only store a small amount of information, such as a product’s price and stock information.
▶️ QR Codes Can Hold More Data
The increased data storage capacity of QR codes is one of their biggest advantages. The increased capacity allows QR codes to be used for a wide variety of purposes, including sharing information about a product or service, directing people to a website, or sharing contact information.
👉 How Do QR Codes Work?
Source: fastcompany.net
After knowing how to make a QR code, you may wonder how QR codes work. To give you a very simple explanation, we can say when you scan a QR code, the camera app reads the code by scanning the dot patterns and decodes the information contained within it.
Once the camera scans the information, it displays the information on the screen so you can access it quickly and easily.
As QR codes are designed to read quickly, you can get the provided information within a blink of an eye.
👉 How to Access QR Codes in Social Media Applications?
Source: techrepublic.com
With the increasing popularity of QR codes across all platforms, you may want to know how you can access QR codes in social media apps.
To access a QR code on a social media app, simply open the app and look for a scan option. The scan option could be located in the app’s menu or may be represented by a camera icon.
Once you find it, you can point your phone’s smartphone camera at the QR code, and the app will scan it and access the information stored within.
👉 How to Create QR Codes from Barcodes?
To create a QR code from a barcode, you can use a QR code generator tool. There are many free QR code generators available online, such as QR Code Generator, QR Code Monkey, and QR Code Maker. You can also find a list of free QR code generators down in the blog.
Here are the general steps to create a QR code from a barcode using a QR code generator:
Source: techrepublic.com
- Visit a QR code generator website of your choice,
- Choose the type of QR code you want to create (e.g., URL, text, email, phone number, etc.),
- Enter the information or data you want to encode in the QR code, such as the barcode number,
- Customize the design and appearance of the QR code, if desired,
- Download or print the generated QR code.
Some QR code generators may have more options or advanced features, such as the ability to add a logo or change the error correction level. You can also find QR code generator apps for mobile devices if you prefer to create QR codes on the go.
👉 Free Ways to Create QR Codes
Source: appleinsider.com
Other than the two mentioned ways to create QR codes from Chrome and Android (in-built ways of making QR codes), here are some more free ways you can create QR codes for free.
Here are 5 free QR code generator sites/apps with their descriptions:
1. The QR Code Generator:
This QR code generator powered by bitly is one of the best free QR code generators. You can create a QR code to land your customers on a website, save contact details, display plain text, send an email with a predefined message, send an SMS with a predefined text, connect to a WiFi, request crypto bitcoins, link a Twitter post or a profile, displaying a PDF, displaying a Facebook page/profile, playing an MP3 file, redirecting to an app store, and showing an image. Please note that some of the features need free signup to have access.
The fun part is that you can make your QR code unique by adding your preferred colors, patterns, frames, and logos and downloading them in high print quality. Moreover, by upgrading to a paid plan, you can create dynamic codes and track them.
2. QR-Code Monkey:
The next on the list of free QR code generators are QR-Code Monkey. Same to The QR Code Generator, QR-Code Monkey lets you create codes for URLs, text, email, phone, SMS, Vcard, MEcard, location, WiFi, events, bitcoins, and ratings.
The things that make QR-Code Monkey different from others is that with this QR-code Monkey, you can create QR codes in bulk and edit them, and create campaign folders.
3. QRStuff:
Going further, the next free QR code generator is QRStuff. The website reads that it can generate free QR codes in under 30 secs with unlimited use. You can make QR codes from the data type, social links, business links, files, and custom landing pages.
You can download the QR code in JPG or PNG files, print it and send the QR code through an email. You can also set the resolution of the QR code while deciding whether you want it to be static or dynamic code.
4. Adobe QR-code Generator:
Moving next is Adobe QR-code Generator. If you are a designer, we are definitely sure that you must be aware of Adobe. The great news is that you can create a free QR code with Adobe.
Compared to other free QR-code generators, Adobe QR-code generators have very limited options to provide, including two types of patterns, some color options, and download in PNG, JPG, and SVG format.
The good thing about Adobe QR-code Generator is that you can download the QR code in SVG format. If you are a designer, this becomes a savior for you.
5. QR Code Tiger:
In the pool of multiple free QR code generators, the last on our list of 5 free QR code generators is QR code Tiger.
QR Code Tiger can create free QR codes for the H5 editor and Google form, and add multiple URLs and Pinterest links other than what other usual free QR code generators do.
You can choose from multiple colors and patterns, choose eyes, add logos, and choose frames and templates.
Lastly, you can create dynamic QR codes and track them to improve the QR campaign marketing efforts.
▶️ BONUS:
If you are looking for a free QR code generator app, CODEX QR is the app you should opt for. This free app allows Windows users to generate QR codes from their PCs and mobile devices. It is available for Android, iOS, and macOS M1.
👉 Paid Apps to Create QR Codes:
Source: shoocal.com
There are also many paid apps available for creating QR codes. Some of the most popular paid apps include QR Code Pro and QR Code Maker.
These apps offer more advanced features than free apps, such as the ability to create custom QR codes and track the number of scans. If you’re serious about using QR codes, a paid app could be a good investment for you.
Here is the list of paid apps to create QR codes:
1. Visme:
The first that comes to our mind when talking about paid QR code generators is Visme. Though Visme has its free plan, it offers a lot more value with its paid plans.
Their paid plans start at $15/month. A business plan with a brand kit is $29month, while you can request a custom plan for an enterprise.
You get multiple benefits with the paid plans of Visme, including a lot of storage and download in PPTX, HTML5, video, and GIF. Moreover, with higher plans, you get a sub-domain and deep analytics access, collect leads and store them.
It is definitely value for money if you are ready to make an investment.
2. QRTiger:
The next that comes to our mind when listing paid QR code generators is QRTiger. Same as Visme, QRTiger has a free plan, but it offers a lot of good features for paid plans, like multiple dynamic QR codes a year depending on the plan you choose, tracking of scan numbers and locations, setting and saving your own template, no limitations on scans and downloads, vCards, no ads, third-party integration, Google analytics, retargeting ads, and much more.
Additionally, they also offer enterprise pricing with advanced features like assigning an admin and different sub-users to manage your QR code campaigns with different teams or brands within your company.
3. QR Code Generator PRO:
The third on the list of paid QR code generators is QR Code Generator PRO. The pricing starts from €5.00 /month and goes up to €37.50 /month. The paid features include multiple dynamic QR codes, unlimited scans, multiple bulk creations, API requests, and users, depending on the plan you choose.
Visit their website to learn more about their plans and see if it’s a good choice for you.
4. Scanova QR Code:
The second last on the paid Scanova QR code generator is Scanova. The pricing of Scanova starts at $15 per month and includes features such as unlimited scans, no ads, dynamic/editable QR codes, static/direct QR codes, custom-designed QR codes,
Mobile landing pages, export – PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF, EPS, basic analytics, multi-factor authentication (MFA), landing page components – regular tags, chat support, and email support.
Additionally, you get more benefits and features as you upgrade to bigger plans.
5. uQR.me:
Last but not least, on our list of paid QR code generators is uQR.me. Their pricing starts at $4.95/month and includes features like dynamic QR codes, 10,000 scans per month, basic analytics, and basic QR design.
Of course, the higher plans have better features like advanced QR design, bulk and batch actions, and creating design templates. As you go further, you also get to create projects & filter by tags, editable short URLs, your own white-label domain, and add team members.
With all the provided options, it is best to go through them all and evaluate which one is the best choice for your business.
👉 Dos and Don’ts of QR Codes:
Source: techadvisor.com
As QR codes are becoming new and common marketing methods, there are some etiquettes and rules that help you stand out and get the maximum out of your QR code campaign.
Follow these do’s and don’ts of QR codes to spread your business magic.
▶️ Dos of QR Codes:
✅Place Your QR Code Well:
The first thing that you need to keep in mind is placing your QR code where it’s super convenient to see and scan. If people can’t see and scan your code, there is no meaning in doing so much hard work and investing your time in it.
Some of the best places to place your logos are on product packaging, packaging of the parcel (if you are delivering the product), on an invoice, dining table (if you have a restaurant), on TV, in Magazines, and on business cards.
✅Optimize the QR’s Destination Page for Mobile Devices:
The next thing you need to keep in mind is optimizing it for mobile devices, as people use mobile phones more than laptops and tablets. And did we mention that scanning a QR code with a laptop camera is tougher than on a phone camera?
✅Add a CTA to the QR Code:
If you want to get traction to your QR code campaign, it is important to add a call-to-action button to it. A CTA button guides people about the purpose of your QR code and gives them a clue about the next step.
Say, for example, you have placed a QR code to get more reviews for your restaurant, and there is no CTA telling people what the QR code is about. But if you add a CTA like “Review the Restaurant” or “Provide us your feedback,’ it is a simple yet significant way to increase the interaction.
✅Don’t Limit Your QR Code to One Mobile Scanner:
The next thing you need to keep in mind is to make your QR code friendly for all types of scanners, including the in-built cameras. Imagine someone who wants to scan and see what you have to offer, but your QR code does not support their scanner. You lose one customer/lead at that moment only.
✅Keep It As Simple As Possible:
Though you may want to show that whatever you are planning to do is very important and unique, keep your branding message simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. No one likes it when they have to use too much of their brain to get the message or product.
▶️ Don’ts of QR Code:
Same to the dos of QR codes, there are some don’ts that help your customer to have a smooth experience.
Here are the don’ts of QR Code:
✅Placing it on an Uneven Surface:
The first thing you need to be aware of while launching your QR campaign is to place it on uneven surfaces. When you place a QR code on an uneven surface, customers can not scan your QR code, leading to the failure of your QR campaign.
✅Low-Quality or Poorly Visible QR Code:
The next don’t of QR codes is to have them poorly visible or torn QR codes. Remember, people can’t see poorly visible codes, and they can’t scan torn QR codes. And thus, it’s important to have a clear and visible QR code.
✅Don’t Make Their Life Difficult With QR Codes:
Lastly, your business goal is to make your customers’ lives easy and not difficult. Ensure that the page customers are landing on is easy to navigate and visually appealing.
Also Read: Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR On Windows 10 & in Other Systems
👉 Best Practices to Run QR Code Marketing Campaigns:
After knowing how to create a QR code, the difference between a QR code and a barcode, free and paid QR code generators, and do’s and don’ts of QR codes, here we have listed the four most important practices to make your QR code marketing campaign successful.
1. Sign Up for an Account on a QR Code Generator Website:
Though this may sound very obvious and normal, when you sign up for a website or app to generate a QR code, you get a lot more data than otherwise.
If a QR code generator offers free sign-up or freemium, you should definitely move ahead and take the maxim benefits the platform has to offer. Signing up for an account especially becomes useful when you are planning to run a full-fledged marketing campaign with QR codes.
2. Customize Your QR Code:
Source: hubspot.com
The next thing you should keep in mind is creating a QR code that speaks to the uniqueness of your brand and company. Most QR code generators available online offer multiple options, patterns, and colors to provide uniqueness to your QR code.
With a wide range of options provided, you should not think twice about facilitating your customers with a personalized experience.
3. Test the QR Code to Make Sure It Scans:
Once you have created a QR code, it is important to scan it before you post or publish it in the public domain. Imagine if you put out your QR codes with a lot of excitement but later realize that people can not scan your QR code, or people can not land on the page or take the action you want them to take because of the fault in your QR code. It would be upsetting, right?
Thus, it is extremely important to test the QR codes you have created before you use them for public purposes.
4. Track and Analyze Performance:
Lastly, it is important to track and analyze the results of your QR code by having a look at the scans it has got, website visitors, lead collection and storage, API and third-party integration, and much more, depending on the platform and plan you choose.
By tracking these metrics, you can come up with better ideas and clear scope for improvement in your next QR code marketing campaign.
👉 Conclusion:
In conclusion, QR codes are a quick and easy way to share information and can be used for a variety of purposes. Whether you’re using a QR code to share information about a product, direct people to a website, or share contact information, it’s important to use them effectively to ensure that they are helpful and accessible. By following the tips and best practices outlined in this blog, you can ensure that your QR codes are a success.
We hope this blog post helps you and provides the valuable information you were looking for!
If you have any further questions or doubts, feel free to comment, and we will answer your questions as soon as possible.
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