You’ve taken the first step towards enhanced, user-centric marketing by including QR codes in your marketing strategy. However, the QR code generator you use will largely determine the success of your QR code campaigns.
So, every brand should do proper research and due diligence before subscribing to a QR code platform.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s the ultimate guide to selecting the best QR code generator.
Step-by-step process to find the best QR code generator
Every business is different in terms of goals, challenges, and requirements. Therefore, every business will have a different definition of a great QR code generator.
Here’s a process you can follow to find the best QR code solution.
1. Determine your requirements
First things first, sit down and decide your requirements. See this as a brainstorming task where all the decision-makers sit down to determine the features needed in a QR code generator.
Some things to figure out are:
- Number of QR codes needed
- Purpose of QR codes
- Objective of the campaign
- Format of QR code (PNG, PDF, SVG, etc.)
It’s vital to include decision-makers from multiple departments to determine all the requirements.
This step is critical because the features considered important by the marketing team can differ from those deemed essential by the development team.
For example, the marketing team may prioritize features like analytics tracking. On the other hand, the dev team might prioritize QR shapes, API access, etc.
2. Set a budget
The next step is to decide your budget. Here’s where you might have to involve your finance team. The pricing of QR code generators can range from $0 to $175 per month, depending on the features and capabilities they offer.
Deciding on a budget will help you narrow down your selection process. You’ll be able to seamlessly review the QR code generators and their plans to make a quick decision.
3. Test QR code generator platforms
After determining your budget and the features you need in your QR code generator, find platforms that fit those requirements. Select at least four to five QR code platforms to draw a fair comparison.
Once you have a few QR code generators, test them out. Explore their features and functionalities and find out what each solution can offer.
4. Finalize the solution
After testing all the available platforms, choose a solution that best fits your requirements. Now, this step can be the easiest or the toughest.
If the solutions you’ve shortlisted are all amazing, the fight will be close. You’ll need to conduct thorough testing to select the best QR code generator.
In contrast, if only one or two solutions are worth the money, the choice will be much easier.
Features to look for in a QR code generator
The features you need will play a vital role in choosing a QR code generator. However, there are some features that you may not even consider important.
For instance, white labeling is a feature that lets you use your brand’s domain instead of the default URL. If branding is your priority, white labeling is a feature to prioritize.
On the other hand, if you’re a small business that wants to create visually appealing QR codes, QR code shapes and design options would be your priority.
That said, here are some features you should definitely have in your QR code generator:
Dynamic QR codes
Your QR code generator should let you create dynamic QR codes. A dynamic QR code offers two significant benefits:
- You can edit its URL
- You can track its scans
In comparison, a static QR code isn’t editable, and you can’t track its scans.
If you want to create QR codes for business, marketing, or other professional use cases, always opt for dynamic QR codes.
QR code shapes
In this age where pretty much every brand uses QR codes, creating square and circular QR codes will make you a part of the crowd. It’s vital to go beyond the conventional QR code shapes and set yourself apart from the competition.
Suppose you want to put a QR code in your bakery. Instead of using a square or circular QR code, you can use a cake-shaped QR code to make it more relatable and boost user engagement.
Hence, choose a QR code generator that offers multiple shapes.
Extensive QR code customization
Apart from QR code shapes, your QR code generator should have various design and customization options, including:
- Colors
- Stickers/frames with calls to action (CTAs)
- Eye designs and internal designs
- Pre-designed QR codes
With these options, you’ll be able to design your QR codes to perfection and make them look spectacular.
Logo and white labeling
QR codes can go a long way in boosting brand awareness and recall. Make sure to choose a QR code generator that offers robust branding features.
Here are some key branding features to look for in a QR code generator:
- Logo: Choose a QR code generator that allows you to add a logo to your QR code. A logo is your brand’s identity. A QR code with a logo is instantly recognizable and boosts your branding.
- Image/Logo to QR code: Your QR code generator should also allow you to convert your logo or image into a QR code. This could not only skyrocket your branding but also make your QR code look stunning.
White labeling is another essential feature to have in a QR code generator. Find a solution that allows you to white label your QR codes, i.e., replace the default URL with your brand’s domain. This will ensure consistent branding and a better user experience.
Bulk uploading
Bulk QR code creation is another crucial feature. With bulk uploading, you can create multiple QR codes simultaneously by uploading an Excel file containing QR code data. It eliminates the need for creating each QR code individually, helping you automate the process, save time, and reduce errors.
Folders management and sharing
If you manage QR codes for multiple clients or campaigns, you may find it challenging to manage them adequately. Therefore, choose a QR code generator that lets you organize QR codes in folders and share the folders for seamless collaboration.
Additionally, the solution should have folder-level analytics for better tracking and decision-making.
Subaccounts
If collaboration is your priority, you should also look for subaccounts in your QR code generator. If you work with multiple team members, you might want to give them access to view and manage the QR codes.
The Subaccounts feature allows you to add users under the primary account and manage their access. Hence, you can effortlessly collaborate with other users and manage your QR codes.
Multiple QR code types
QR codes have multiple applications, from bringing people to a website to sharing contact details to promoting app downloads. Your QR code generator should offer various QR code types so that you can unleash the true potential of QR codes.
QR codes with landing pages
Sometimes, creating a QR code is not enough. You need to bring users to a well-designed landing page where they can engage with your brand and take meaningful action.
Therefore, select a QR code generator that allows you to create and design landing pages. With landing pages, you can provide a spectacular user experience and increase conversions.
Top 5 QR code generators in the market
The process of choosing a QR code generator, although crucial, is tedious and time-consuming.
Let’s make things easier for you.
Here are the five best QR code solutions in the market.
1. QRCodeChimp
If you’re looking for an enterprise-grade, feature-rich QR code management platform, go for QRCodeChimp.
With best-in-class features, top-notch security, and fantastic customer support, QRCodeChimp is the perfect solution for all your QR code requirements. You can create QR codes for 35+ business use cases to utilize the real potential of QR codes.
The solution offers some fantastic QR code customization features, including:
- 60+ QR code shapes
- 150+ stickers with CTAs
- Pre-designed QR codes
- Various color combinations
- Eye shapes and other design options
QRCodeChimp also helps you turn your QR codes into a branding powerhouse. You can add a logo to your QR codes to make them your brand’s representatives. You can even turn your logo into a QR code to take your branding efforts to another level.
The solution also comes with white labeling, which lets you replace the default URL with your brand’s URL. Hence, you can ensure brand consistency across campaigns.
QRCodeChimp has a comprehensive analytics dashboard that provides detailed insights into the performance of your QR code campaigns. You can view timeline, location, device, browser, and geographic data to make informed decisions.
Lastly, QRCodeChimp offers spectacular QR code creation and management features, such as:
- Bulk QR code creation
- Folder sharing and management
- Subaccounts
- File manager
- Merchandise QR codes
Sign up for QRCodeChimp right away to kickstart your QR code campaigns.
2. Flowcode
Flowcode is a QR code generator that lets you create static and dynamic QR codes. You can create a QR code for a URL, file, Instagram, SMS, and Image. You can generate QR codes of two shapes — square and circle. It offers decent QR code customization features, including colors and frames.
Furthermore, Flowocode allows you to create landing pages known as Flowpages. Some other helpful features of Flowcode include white labeling, analytics, and CRM integration.
If you’re looking for a QR code generator to run basic campaigns, Flowcode can be a decent choice for you.
But please note that Flowcode doesn’t provide some essential features like QR code shapes, subaccounts, and analytics sharing.
3. QR Code Generator
QR Code Generator helps new businesses run effective QR code campaigns. If you need a simple, easy-to-use QR code solution that offers all the basic features, QR Code Generator can be a good choice.
The solution lets you create a QR code for a URL, vCard, Text, E-mail, SMS, WiFi, Bitcoin, Twitter, Facebook, PDF, MP3, App Stories, and Images.
The key features of QR Code Generator are multiple file formats, folders, subaccounts, white labeling, and analytics.
4. QR Tiger
QR Tiger is another useful QR code generator that lets you create QR codes for various purposes, notably URL, vCard, Social Media, Google Form, YouTube, etc. It also offers good QR code customization options. You can choose patterns and eyes, add a logo, set colors, and choose frames and templates.
Some essential features of QR Tiger are analytics tracking, API requests, bulk QR code creation, retargeting, and integration with other solutions.
5. QR Monkey
QR Code Monkey is a QR code generator that lets you create static and dynamic QR codes. It offers basic QR code creation and management features, making it ideal for startups and small businesses.
You get access to customization features like colors, adding a logo, and customizing the body shape, eye shape, etc.
Other features include scan statistics, bulk QR code creation, and campaign folders.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right QR code generator is the first step in running profitable QR code campaigns. Since every business has unique requirements, it’s essential to spend enough time and effort on selecting a QR code platform. So, identify your required features and choose a QR code platform accordingly.
If you’re looking for a robust QR code management system, QRCodeChimp is the perfect solution. Sign up for free to take your QR code campaigns to another level.
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