How to Use QR Codes in Newspapers and Magazines

Print media readership is growing despite the increasing adoption of smartphones, YouTube, e-news, and e-magazines. The revenue of the US publishing industry was $23.25 billion in 2020, while the revenue of the US magazine publishing industry was $30.67 billion in 2018. 

Therefore, print advertising is still lucrative, and many prominent brands use it to reach a large audience. 

QR Codes in Newspapers and Magazines can make your print advertisements more engaging and actionable, resulting in more sales. And with a QR code generator like QRCodeChimp, you can create QR codes for print media in a few easy steps.

Here’s all you need to know about using QR codes in newspapers and magazines.

How are QR codes redefining print media?

QR codes can make print media more effective by integrating print channels (newspapers and magazines) with digital channels (smartphones). 

One can’t deny that online media has taken over consumers’ attention. That’s why almost all the major newspaper and magazine publications offer digital versions of their products. Some examples include Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, and The Economist. 

That said, many readers still prefer hard copies, and the statistics discussed earlier confirm it. However, print media has a few drawbacks, such as:

• Less immersive
• Lack of actionability
• Limited space
• No post-readership engagement

QR codes overcome these drawbacks and make print media more immersive, actionable, and engaging. For instance, you can include a QR code on your newspaper or magazine ad to redirect users to your website. Readers can easily visit your site and interact with your brand. 

Why use QR codes in newspapers and magazines?

If you want to leverage print media for advertising and reaching a broader audience, QR codes can help you achieve outstanding results. Here’s why you should use QR codes in newspapers and magazines. 

Bridge the gap between offline and online media

Advertising in newspapers and magazines has many benefits. It’s cost-effective, has a long shelf-life, and helps build reputation and brand awareness. However, there are some restrictions that could make your campaigns less effective. For example, the ads aren’t actionable, and the advertising space is limited too. 

QR codes help you overcome these challenges. By including a QR code in your print ads, you can bring people to your website and other online channels. This way, you can make your ads actionable and also share more information. 

Enable instant shopping

Brands can enable instant shopping with QR codes. You can use QR codes to bring users to product pages and allow them to shop seamlessly. It also enhances the shopping experience as the user doesn’t need to manually visit your website and search for the product.

Furthermore, you can direct readers to product reviews, testimonials, and in-depth product information to educate them about the product and further improve the shopping experience. 

Promote social media profiles

Social media is one of the best channels to connect with your customers. With QR codes, you can allow readers to easily follow you on social media. Put a Social Media QR code on your print ad, and link it to your social media profiles. People can scan it to find you on social media and follow you. 

Enhance the reader’s experience

Reading large chunks of text (what newspapers and magazines usually consist of) can be monotonous and uninteresting for the reader. Unique elements like pictures and infographics enhance the reader’s experience. 

QR codes take that experience to the next level

QR codes add a level of curiosity to newspapers and magazines. It piques readers’ interest, as they’d want to scan the QR code to know what’s on the other side. It makes reading more immersive and interesting. 

Share more information to educate your readers

Newspapers and magazines offer limited space, so you can’t give too many details about your product. QR codes allow you to share in-depth information about your brand or product to help readers make informed decisions. 

Suppose you’re advertising for an organic apple cider vinegar made of Himalayan apples. You can include a QR code in the ad, linking to a video showing the entire manufacturing process of the product. 

Measure your print advertising campaigns

One of the major drawbacks of print ads is the lack of trackability. You can’t really know how many people viewed your ad and purchased your product. Hence, print advertising relies on a lot of guesswork. 

QR codes eliminate that guesswork and bring precision to your print ads. When a reader scans your QR code, their scans get registered. You can view the number of scans, location of scans, and devices used in your QR code platform’s dashboard. 

Other uses of QR codes in print media

Apart from the benefits discussed above, here are some use cases of QR codes in newspapers and magazines:

• Direct readers to your business location or store using a Google Maps QR code.

• Share discount coupons using a Coupon QR code. 
• Promote your event and sell tickets with an Event QR Code.

• Provide information about your business, including location and operational hours, using a Business QR code. 
• Share contact details with a vCard Plus QR code. 
• Promote app downloads using an App Download QR code.

Create a QR code for Print Media with QRCodeChimp

QRCodeChimp is a QR code management platform that lets you create and manage your QR codes. You can create QR codes of 35+ types for various business use cases. 

QRCodeChimp offers best-in-class QR code creation and management features, including:

• 60+ QR code shapes
• Stickers, colors, and other customization options
• In-depth QR code analytics
• Logo and white labeling
• Bulk uploading
• Folders management and sharing
• Subaccounts
• Image/Logo to QR code

Check out our Solutions page and choose a QR code type for your next print ad.

Final thoughts

Print media is constantly evolving as readers’ expectations and requirements continue to change. Brands investing in print ads can use QR codes to make their ads more effective and achieve better marketing outcomes. With QR codes, you can bridge the gap between offline and online marketing and give readers a top-notch experience.

QRCodeChimp helps you create and manage QR code campaigns for newspapers and magazines.