QR Code on TV: The Future of TV Advertising

With the multiple advertising options available, the most relevant question is, “Is TV advertising making sense today?” Without any hesitation, the answer is “yes”. 

Go for it, and you’ll soon understand why it is so. 

Today, many brands use innovative ways or redesign their advertising approach to connect and engage with customers more effectively. QR code on TV is one of the latest developments and will be a prominent tool shaping the future of TV advertising or TV ads.

One key reason is that these QR code TV ads allow customers to connect with the brand quickly and enhance their online shopping experience. 

Here’s all you need to know about using a QR code on TV.

Why use a QR code in TV advertising?

Digital or online advertising is the new way of advertising as customers become tech-savvy and prefer buying online using their smartphones. QR codes in TV ads result from marketers’ efforts to create engaging and immersive customer shopping experiences.    

Let’s explore critical reasons why using QR codes in TV advertising still makes sense: 

Second-screen usage: Second-screen usage is the new normal. In the US, 83% of Americans use second devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets, while watching TV. They use second devices to look for information or access the advertiser’s site. This trend makes QR codes for TV an effective strategy, as viewers can seamlessly scan the QR codes on the TV screen. 
OTT advertising: Growing internet use and the gaining popularity of over-the-top (OTT) platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney + Hotstar, boost OTT advertising on TV. Global spending on OTT video advertising will be nearly worth USD 189.60 billion in 2024. However, mobile phone users of OTT platforms make up a significant percentage. The major challenge is the rising use of ad-free subscriptions for OTT platforms.   
TV viewership and advertising spending: TV viewership has grown steadily from 5.16 billion global viewers in 2017 to 5.41 billion viewers (68% of the world population) in 2022. This number could reach 5.5 billion by 2029. The same study reports that worldwide TV and video advertising is expected to reach USD 337.50 billion in 2024. The TV ads spending in the US alone was worth USD 60.3 billion in 2023.  

QR codes allow you to add digital capabilities to your TV ads and allow viewers to take instant action.

Benefits of using QR codes on TV

Using QR codes on TV commercials can enhance your brand values and easily connect customers, mainly the youth. Here are some benefits of using QR codes on TV.

Uniqueness in advertising

The critical goals of any advertising campaign are getting viewers’ attention and piquing their interest. Most TV ads have a set script and include a celebrity endorsing a product/service. Using QR codes adds uniqueness to TV ads.

Using a compelling call-to-action (CTA) on the QR code, you can quickly draw the customer’s attention to scan it. When you display a QR code on the TV screen and ask viewers to scan it, they instantly become interested in your offer. This results in more effective advertising and higher brand recall.

Easy navigation to the website or social media

It’s more convenient for viewers to scan the QR code display on the TV screen and directly land on the website or social media handles. This method eliminates manual typing to browse your website or visit a nearby store. 

Using TV QR codes, viewers can quickly learn about your brands and products, expediting the customer shopping experience. This can help you increase website traffic and social media following. 

Instant shopping experience

ECommerce retailers can leverage QR codes on TV to enable instant shopping in their ads. You can show a QR code in the TV ad and link it to your eCommerce site. Linking the QR code to a product page is another option for promoting a particular product. Viewers can scan the QR code to visit the product page and buy the product instantly.

Ease of downloading app

App downloading is easy when using QR codes. Viewers can scan the QR code on the TV screen to visit the App Download page and download the app. You can use an app download QR code in the TV ads to promote your app and increase its downloads.

Performance Tracking of your TV ads

Traditional methods of TV ads lack tracking abilities. You can’t see the information or details about your product purchased after releasing your ads. As a result, marketers often have to guess how their ads are performing.

QR codes eliminate this guesswork. You can track the scans of your dynamic QR codes and view their time, location, and device-wise analytics. This way, you can measure the performance of your TV ads and make informed decisions.

Best practices for using QR codes on TV commercials

Using QR codes in TV ads has many benefits, as discussed earlier. However, TV QR codes are a new concept. Businesses must follow these best practices to achieve the best results. Here are the details:

Create an advertisement with a clear message

If you’re using a QR code in the TV ad, include a clear CTA so viewers know what they will get after scanning it. If the message is unclear, the chance of getting your QR code scanned is less. 

For example, if your ad promotes a new energy drink, use a CTA like “Scan to learn more about the product.” If your QR code redirects users to your website, use a CTA like “Scan the QR code to visit our website.” A suitable CTA will make the information clear to viewers, resulting in more scans.

Use a dynamic QR code

With a dynamic QR code for your TV ads, you can update the information and change different advertising content using the same QR code. A dynamic QR code lets you edit its URL and other contents without reprinting it. Besides, dynamic QR codes are trackable and enable analytics, so you can also measure the performance of your TV ads.

Make the QR code easy to scan

The QR code on your TV ads should be easy to scan, and viewers should be able to scan it in a single attempt. You can take these steps to increase the scannability of your QR codes:

• Display a large-size QR code. Since people watch TV from a distance, they can scan a QR code on TV only if it’s large enough.
• Use contrasting colors to improve scannability. 

Give the QR code a compelling look

Use unique shapes, colors, and other customization options to make your QR codes on TV visually appealing. QR codes must also be visually attractive with a catchy CTA to get viewers’ attention and encourage more scans.

Choosing a QR code generator that provides all the advanced facilities to simplify your QR code customization is crucial. With QRCodeChimp, you can customize your TV QR codes with 60+ QR code shapes, 150+ stickers, and other design features. 

Ensure adequate display time for easy QR code scanning

Viewers need time to open a QR code scanner app and scan the QR code. Therefore, the QR code should appear on the screen for a few seconds—ideally 5-10 seconds. This will give viewers enough time to scan the QR code. 

Five-step process to create TV ad with QR code

Here’s how to do that:

1. Visit qrcodechimp.com and click on the Solutions tab.
2. Choose a solution for the QR code you want to create. For example, if you want to make a URL QR code, select the URL solution. 
3. Enter the necessary details, such as your URL, to generate a URL QR code. 
4. Click on “Decorate, Design, and Customize.” You can decorate your QR code using QR shapes, colors, stickers, logos, etc., to give it a fantastic look and align it with your brand. 
5. Click on Save QR Code. Give it a name, select a folder if needed, and save the QR code. 

That’s it! Your QR code is now ready to be included in your TV ad.

Brands doing TV ads using QR codes

Several brands have found success in using TV QR codes. Let’s look at some brands using QR codes in TV ads.

Burger King

Burger King launched the “QR Whopper” TV ad campaign in 2020. The ad displayed a QR code on the TV screen. Viewers had to scan the QR code using the Burger King app to get special discounts and offers. 

NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) showed a QR code ad during a match between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Upon scanning the QR code, users were redirected to a landing page to vote for their favorite Warriors players. The Indiana Pacers introduced jerseys with a QR code in January 2024.

Coinbase Superbowl Ad

Coinbase recently launched its Superbowl ad with a floating QR code. Viewers could scan the QR code on TV to be redirected to the Coinbase website. The ad received a lot of engagement and helped Coinbase acquire new users. 

Flipkart

Flipkart, an Indian eCommerce giant, promoted its Big Billion Days sale using a QR code on TV. The ad was displayed on the Zee TV channel, and viewers could scan the code to visit the Flipkart website. 

Conclusion

TV ads remain a primary advertising channel. QR codes can take your TV ads to the next level by making them more immersive and actionable for viewers. Businesses can use a QR code on TV to attract viewers’ attention and convert them into potential customers.  

Moreover, this increases brand awareness and recall. TV QR codes are also cost-effective and easy to use, and brands with any marketing budget and tech capabilities can use them.

Frequently Asked Questions