QR Code for Marketing: An Ultimate Success Guide for 2025

In the past few years several marketing trends have emerged, the most prominent of which were omnichannel marketing and customer engagement. 

Many research reports and surveys conducted over the past couple of years concluded that omnichannel marketing is the key to consistent customer engagement, sales, and business growth. 

The more marketing channels an organization deploys, the more its market share increases.

While omnichannel marketing opened doors for reaching new and existing customers, it conceived a new challenge. Organizations had to integrate online and offline channels to ensure consistency and superior user experience. For example, if a shoe brand uses offline (billboards, newspaper ads) and online (search engine, social media)channels to promote their products, they must integrate them to give users a consistent user experience across touchpoints.

This gave birth to offline-to-online (O2O) marketing, which leverages digital and traditional marketing channels and integrates them to drive purchases from eCommerce and physical stores. 

QR codes are at the forefront of O2O marketing, as they enable businesses to seamlessly bridge the gap between online and offline channels. With a QR Code for marketing, organizations can engage customers across channels, run measurable marketing campaigns, and enhance their marketing, branding, and customer acquisition initiatives. 

This guide will discuss how marketing agencies can implement QR codes to run cost-effective and measurable omnichannel marketing campaigns.

How can marketing agencies use QR code for marketing?

Mobile devices dictate consumer behavior in today’s era. A whopping 6.4 billion smartphone users are there globally, and an average user spends about three hours per day on the phone. Moreover, 69% of internet users use smartphones for product research, and 69.4% use them for shopping. 

Hence, engaging mobile users is a priority for marketing agencies, and QR codes make it possible. Here’s how marketing agencies can use QR codes. 

Increase website traffic and generate leads with a Marketing QR code

The primary use of QR codes in marketing is to direct users to a website or landing page. There are over 28 million eCommerce sites globally.

Additionally, businesses that provide physical products or services also maintain websites and landing pages to increase visibility and generate leads. Reaching an online audience is simple; marketers can simply share a website link for users to click and visit the site. 

However, difficulties arise when engaging an offline audience and directing them to a website or landing page. Without a QR code, users have to manually enter the URL in their browser, a process that can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

QR codes allow marketers to direct an offline audience to a website or landing page using a URL QR code (a QR code linked to a URL). Users can scan the QR code using their smartphones and visit the website. It eliminates the need for manually typing the URL, resulting in greater accessibility and a better user experience. 

Create digital business cards for your clients

Digital business cards are a key for networking. Marketers and marketing agencies should consider using digital business cards not just for self-use but should also create one for their teams and clients.  Digital business cards can effectively simplify lead generation by facilitating two-way sharing of contact information, allowing easy exchange of information and enhancing networking opportunities. Also enable form integration so businesses can create customized forms for gathering insights and data for a variety of purposes, including customer feedback, event registration, and lsurveys.

Additionally, adopting digital business cards projects a modern and professional image that resonates well with tech-savvy clients. 

Boost mobile app downloads

The mobile app economy is booming, and mobile apps are anticipated to generate over $935 billion in revenue by 2023. Over 70% of US digital media time comes from mobile apps, and an average smartphone user uses at least ten apps per day.

Mobile apps are one of the most effective channels to reach and engage a mobile audience, which presently makes up more than half of all internet users. 

With QR codes, marketers can promote mobile apps on traditional advertising channels like billboards and newspapers to get more downloads. Marketers can use an app download QR code to create a QR code for app download links. A user can scan the code and select the platform (iOS or Android) to reach the app store and download the app. 

Get good reviews

Nine out of ten consumers read reviews before making a purchase, and 79% of them trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. 

However, convincing customers to leave a positive review can be challenging, primarily because the feedback process is long and involves various steps. A customer is more likely to give feedback if the reviewing process is quick and straightforward. QRCodeChimp’s Google review QR codes is the easiest way to to get reviews. As the QR code is scanned the customers are directed to your Google review page where they can easily leave their reviews.

Know the customers issues with feedback QR codes

Feedback’s provide a clear picture of what is working and what isn’t. allows businesses to gain insights into customer preferences, expectations, and pain points. This understanding helps tailor products and services to better meet their needs. By listening to customer feedback, companies can identify areas for improvement. 

When customers see that their opinions are valued and acted upon, they are more likely to feel connected to the brand. A Feedback QR code enables customers to rate your service and access a feedback form upon scanning, making it easy for them to share their opinions. 

Promote your business 

A business page QR code serves as a digital gateway to essential information about your company. When scanned, it directs users to a personalized landing page featuring your business name, contact information, address, operating hours, and additional details.

This offers a fast and convenient way for potential customers to discover more about your business and reach out to you directly.

Grow email list

Email marketing has been one of the most effective marketing strategies for years. Over 4 billion people use email daily, and 64% of small businesses use email marketing to reach customers. 

Building and growing an email list is the primary step of any email marketing campaign. Email QR codes allow marketers to grow their email list by allowing users to join it with a single scan. Users can scan the code to reach the email signup page and enter their email addresses to join the list. 

Collect data digitally

Collecting data digitally using forms QR codes is an efficient and modern approach that enhances the user experience while simplifying the data-gathering process. By utilizing a QR code, users can quickly scan the code with their smartphones, which directs them to an online form where they can input their information effortlessly. 

This method eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors, making it easier for marketers and businesses to obtain accurate data. Furthermore, digital forms can be customized to gather specific information relevant to a campaign or initiative, providing valuable insights for decision-making. 

The immediate accessibility and convenience offered by QR codes facilitate higher response rates, making it an ideal solution for collecting feedback, registrations, or customer information.

Event ticket QR codes for easy entry access

Event ticket QR codes streamline entry management, making it efficient, secure, and fast. Ideal for event organizers and corporate functions, these digital tickets provide a modern alternative to traditional methods, enabling effective monitoring and control of event access. 

By incorporating event ticket QR codes, you enable your team to efficiently manage large crowds, ensuring that every guest’s entry experience is smooth and quick.

Share helpful information to educate your audience

QR codes allow the effortless sharing of information and multimedia. Marketers who want to educate their consumers can use QR codes to share a wide range of information, including images, GIFs, videos, and PDFs. 

QRCodeChimp allows you to create a PDF QR code, image QR code, and video QR code to share information with your users. 

Offer discount codes and coupons

Discount coupons can accelerate purchases dramatically. Over 70% of consumers love receiving coupons, and 68% believe coupons help generate loyalty. 

Most marketers realize the importance of discount coupons. However, distributing coupons and encouraging consumers to use them is the real challenge. QR codes address this issue and help promote the usage of coupon codes. 

Businesses can share coupon QR codes with their customers, who can scan the code to reveal the discount code and use it while purchasing. 

Why should marketing agencies use a QR code for marketing?

QR codes offer countless benefits to marketing agencies. It enables marketers to reach their audience across multiple channels and boost user engagement. Here’s why QR codes should be in every marketing agency’s arsenal.

Increasing popularity among users

QR codes have become increasingly popular among people worldwide. Over 45% of US shoppers have used marketing-related QR codes, which climbs up to 54% for shoppers aged 18-29 years. 

The rising popularity of QR codes makes them an excellent customer engagement solution. They create a sense of curiosity among users, and they’re an ideal tool for interactive marketing campaigns. 

Seamless offline to online (O2O) marketing

The rise of omnichannel marketing has encouraged marketers to integrate their online and offline marketing systems. QR codes make that integration effortless. 

Marketers can place a QR Code for marketing on traditional advertising channels like billboards, print ads, digital signage, flyers, etc., and link the QR codes to their website or landing page. Users can engage with offline advertisements by scanning those QR codes.

Hence, brands can bridge the gap between online and offline marketing using QR codes by enabling offline users to come aboard online. 

In-depth tracking and analysis

QR codes are trackable, and marketers can track how often their QR codes have been scanned and from which locations and devices. This allows marketers to run measurable marketing campaigns and track the effectiveness of their traditional advertisements. 

For example, a salon and spa business can run a billboard ad with a QR code, allowing users to scan the code to make an appointment. The number of scans will tell how many people took action, giving an accurate measure of the ad’s performance. 

Cost-effective marketing and branding

Startups and small brands operate with limited marketing budgets. QR codes are one of the most cost-effective marketing, branding, and customer engagement tools out there. 

With QRCodeChimp, for example, you can create a dynamic marketing QR code for free and track its scans. Even the paid plans are highly affordable, and the infinite use cases of QR codes in marketing make them a high-return investment. 

High versatility

A QR Code for marketing can be printed as PDF or PNG files in multiple sizes and used in various places. Moreover, marketers can use them for many purposes, such as promoting websites and social media, sharing contact details, growing email lists, sharing information, etc. 

Durable and lasting marketing

QR codes never expire, and thus, marketers can create QR codes once and use them for years. Moreover, QR codes can be scanned even after sustaining 30% structural damage, making them highly durable and perfect for long-lasting marketing. 

Best places to put QR codes for marketing

QR codes are highly versatile, and marketers can put them in various places. Let’s look at the best placements for QR codes. 

Print media

Newspapers, magazines, and other types of print media are perfect for placing QR codes. Even though the world is moving online, newspaper and magazine readership has grown steadily over the past years.

By placing a QR code on a newspaper or magazine, marketers can provide readers with a gateway to their website or other digital destinations. 

OOH advertising

Marketing agencies can incorporate QR codes in various out-of-home (OOH) advertising options. These include billboards, digital signage, and posters in public areas like bus stops, metro stations, etc. The QR codes can be linked to a website, social media, contact details, educational information, and more. QR codes also work great with guerilla marketing campaigns. 

In-store signage

In-store signage is another fantastic place to put QR codes. Retailers can use it to promote their website and social media profiles and share valuable information like contact information and product details. 

Product packaging

Smart product packaging is an emerging concept in the retail space, and QR codes make smart packaging more effective. Manufacturers can place QR codes on their product packaging to guide customers to online channels and build deeper relationships with them. 

Business cards

Business cards will never lose popularity, and marketers can put QR codes on their clients’ business cards to inspire instant action. A vCard Plus QR code on a business card allows providers to share their contact details with a single scan. Users can scan the code to view and save the contact information. 

Flyers, brochures, and handouts

Other print media like flyers, handouts, and brochures are excellent places to put QR codes and connect with offline users. Depending on their marketing goals, marketers can use QR codes on flyers to increase website traffic, drive leads and sales, show directions, share information, etc.

Apparel and accessories

Marketing agencies can use QR codes on all apparel and accessories, including clothes, shoes, wearables, jewelry, etc., by either printing them on the product or as a tag. The QR codes can be linked to various online channels as per the marketing strategy. 

Shopping bags

Shopping bags, like product packaging, can be an effective place to use QR codes. Marketers can turn shopping bags into marketing assets by putting QR codes on them and linking them to their website, social media, and other online channels. 

Best practices for QR code marketing

QR codes have a plethora of use cases, and if used wisely, they can enhance a marketing strategy and help a brand boost customer engagement. Here are some best practices marketing agencies should follow for implementing QR codes. 

Prioritize getting QR code scans

The essential rule of QR code marketing is to use QR codes only if the campaign’s objective is to get scans on QR codes. For instance, if a marketing agency runs a campaign for a home repair service and the aim is to get more bookings, they can use QR codes to allow people to make a booking. 

Align QR codes with the overall marketing strategy

Marketers should carefully integrate QR codes into their overall marketing strategy to ensure no disconnect and confusion. QR codes should play a defined role in supporting the marketing objectives and contributing to the ROI. 

For example, if the goal of a marketing campaign is to increase website traffic and leads, the QR code should guide users to the website. If the goal is to share contact information and get callbacks, the QR code should share contact information. 

Turn QR codes into branding tools

A logo with a QR code can be a powerful branding asset and help marketers increase brand awareness. Marketers should create QR codes with logos to ensure consistent branding and align their QR codes with their brand. 

Ensure perfect size and placement

QR codes need to be easily scannable. The attention span of users is continuously plunging, and they won’t bother engaging with a QR code if it takes multiple attempts to scan. Therefore, it’s crucial to print QR codes of proper size and clarity. The minimum recommended size for QR codes is 0.8 x 0.8 inches, which can be increased as per requirements. 

Create a top-notch QR design

The success of a QR code campaign depends significantly on its look and feel. A visually appealing QR code is likely to get more attention and scans. Therefore, marketers must move ahead of square-shaped, black-and-white QR codes and experiment with new shapes and colors to ensure higher engagement. For example, a shoe store can use shoe-shaped QR codes to instantly connect with consumers and get more scans. 

Use calls to action (CTAs)

Providing a call to action (CTA) with a QR code can encourage users to scan it. Marketers must use actionable CTAs like “Scan to get directions” and “Scan to get 10% off” to boost the scan rate. 

Use dynamic QR codes

Marketers should always create dynamic QR codes, so they can change the information and URL without reprinting the codes. Also, scans on dynamic QR codes are trackable, so marketers can measure the performance of their QR code campaigns and make informed decisions. 

Prioritize user experience

The ultimate purpose of using QR codes is to boost user engagement, and hence, it’s critical to make the entire QR code experience user-friendly. Marketers must not only provide a seamless scanning experience but also offer a smooth post-scan experience to ensure the overall success of their QR code campaign.

Use cases: Brands putting QR codes to the right use

The use of QR codes in marketing and customer engagement has skyrocketed over the past few years. Several global brands implemented QR codes in their marketing and business strategies to integrate offline and online channels. Let’s look at some brands using QR codes the right way. 

General Motors

General Motors included QR codes to share critical vehicle information and boost customer engagement. 

Walmart

Walmart set up a virtual toy store by displaying physical toys and including a QR code with each of them. Users could scan the code to reach the online toy store and buy the toys. 

Porsche

Porsche implemented a QR code during the 2018 Digital Signage Expo, where users could scan the code and design their custom Porsche Cayenne Turbo 2019.

Burger King

Burger King showed a QR Code for marketing on its TV commercial to engage customers during the pandemic. Users could scan the QR code floating on the screen and reach the Burger King website to get free discount coupons. 

Starbucks

Starbucks put up app download QR codes in their stores to boost app downloads. 

IKEA

IKEA also promoted its mobile app using app download QR codes in its stores. 

Cygames

Cygames took QR codes to another level by displaying a giant QR code in the sky consisting of 1,500 QR codes. Users could scan the code to download Princess Connect, a game by Cygames. 

Conclusion

The marketing landscape is constantly changing, and QR codes have emerged as a game-changer in this post-pandemic era. Omnichannel marketing and offline-to-online (O2O) integration are essential priorities for most brands, making QR codes a crucial aspect of their marketing strategies. QR codes have myriad marketing and customer engagement applications, with new use cases continuously emerging.

However, QR code marketing is still a new concept, and many marketers aren’t acquainted with its true potential and the right way of implementing it. 

QRCodeChimp is a global leader in QR code management solutions. Our QR code management platform enables you to create, edit, manage, and track your QR codes. 

Need success with QR code marketing? Reach out to us at: info@qrcodechimp.com