Why Are QR Codes Powerful Marketing Tools?
Almost everyone today has a smartphone on hand.
With them, they can access a world of information with a quick search, get directions when lost, or discover a new business on social media.
Similarly, a split-second scan can bring product information, exclusive offers, or promotional material right in front of a potential customer’s eyes.
Rather than go through a bunch of touchpoints to reach their destination, they can engage with your brand in a single action.
Inspiring QR Code Marketing Campaign Examples
With all these benefits at play, it’s no surprise that growing startups and the world’s largest enterprises have integrated QR codes into their marketing campaigns. Here are a few examples that could inspire your own.
Case Study: L’Oréal - Virtual Makeup Try-On
French personal care giant L’Oréal placed QR codes in stores and online, allowing customers to scan and try certain makeup products.
To complement the classic try-on method of swatching, the QR codes led to a virtual, augmented reality (AR) try-on tool for instantaneous, personalized previews of eyeshadows, foundation shades, and lipsticks to boost purchase confidence.
Thanks to the try-on tool, L’Oréal had over 100 million sessions of digital try-ons in 2023, compared to just 30 in 2022—a 150% increase.
How you can apply this strategy
Customers crave a curated shopping experience. Your own QR code could lead to a similar AR tool or virtual experience that lets people get a better feel of your products before committing. Maybe a preview of what a couch looks like in a specific room or a personalized quiz to recommend the perfect match.
Bring them to specific landing pages for each product using our landing page QR code creator.
Case Study: Samsung - Scan it. Circle it. Find it
Samsung Galaxy devices boast the Google-powered “Circle to Search” feature, which allows users to search for items in images or further information about text.
To bring awareness to the new functionality, Samsung used QR codes in their print advertisements, which led to informative videos and content about it. The QR code encouraged people to test the feature themselves.
While we don’t have the numbers relating to the QR code campaign, their Circle to Search video ad racked up 30 million views in just one year.
How you can apply this strategy
Use traditional marketing materials to bring awareness and understanding of digital features and services. For example, packaging that triggers an interactive demo.
Our video QR code creator can help you do just that.
Case Study: IBM and Farmer Connect - Thank My Farmer
Sustainability and responsible consumerism are more important than ever. Recognizing this newfound awareness, Farmer Connect and IBM collaborated to craft a campaign that involved placing QR codes on participating coffee packages.
These codes invited consumers to an interactive map that showcased each step of the coffee’s journey, from who grew it to how it was packaged.
How you can apply this strategy
Give your customers a deeper, behind-the-curtain look at your product’s journey or values. Perhaps you’d want to provide a demonstration of your manufacturing processes or show off a few community initiatives. Direct them using our landing page QR code creator, here.
Case Study: Recycling at Southworks
The real estate site in the UK, Southworks, partnered with Bywaters in an attempt to increase its recycling rates, and that they did. However, with room for improvement, multilingual QR codes were implemented on trash cans to increase engagement and make them accessible to all.
The codes let users choose their preferred language for waste disposal instructions, helping people better understand the waste management system and empowering them to get actively involved. Over time, Southwork increased its recycling rates month after month, from 58.2% in July (their initial rollout month) to 76.1% in December.
How you can apply this strategy
Use QR codes to encourage action. Link to interactive guides, short videos, and provide multilingual or accessibility options to accommodate the masses. Making actions and behaviors easier can lead to better adoption.
Why not use our dynamic URL QR code creator to craft your own code? With different colors, patterns, frames, and corners to choose from, you can design one that’s functional and attractive.
Case Study: Clinique ClinicalReality
With skincare being a particularly personalized category, Clinique decided to lean into its science-based reputation and launch the ClinicalReality QR code that could provide skin diagnostics and product recommendations.
That way, customers could receive an accurate skin analysis based on 3+ million face scan data in one snap, and purchase the right products for their face—everything done in one place.
How you can apply this strategy
Have your QR codes lead to a complete user journey that ends in a solution. Guide them through an experience that works for every touchpoint, providing value for the customer and boosting conversion rates for your business. Think beyond the link and the visual. Creating a landing page QR code can easily direct your users to take action.
How QR Codes Can Help Your Marketing Campaign
What makes QR codes so powerful for your own marketing efforts? Let’s take a look:
- Quick connections :In a few seconds, customers can go exactly where you want them to go online. There’s no need to type in URLs or search through social media, which can lead to lost opportunities.
- Versatile uses: QR codes can go practically anywhere. Pop it on a billboard or place it on some packaging, and customers will scan it.
- Measurable data: QR codes provide the tracking insights you need to understand your customers and refine your marketing campaigns.
- Cost-effective solutions:QR codes can be applied across several touchpoints and be dynamically updated for both widespread reach and up-to-date messaging.
- Customer engagement: Customers won’t just glance at your content but have a reason to engage with it.
- Offline and online connection: QR codes give your traditional marketing efforts a facelift, where static materials become much more than just visuals.
Tips For Running Your Own QR Code Marketing Campaign
Before you create your own QR code marketing campaign, you’ll want to plan ahead so you can get the most out of your efforts. These tips can give you a head start.
- Decide on a goal: Don’t choose a QR code for the sake of it or because it looks interesting, it should align with a specific goal.
- Make your QR easy to see and scan: Your QR code should be easy to see and scan from a range of distances, making the experience easy for potential customers.
- Consider what’s on the other side: Whatever type of media your QR code is, it should load fast, be made for mobile, and not overwhelm.
- Get creative: Make the QR scanning experience interesting by incorporating quizzes and AR experiences, or even lead customers on a scavenger hunt for more QR codes.
- Have a clear call-to-action (CTA): Give people an incentive to scan the QR code in the first place with an engaging call to action.
QR marketing campaign best practices
Getting a QR code campaign to work isn’t overly challenging, but creating a successful one can be. If you overlook the finer details, you risk having your QR code act as nothing more than a static square. Here’s a quick checklist of best practices you won’t want to miss:
- Use dynamic codes so you can update the destination link after printing or publishing.
- Make mobile optimization a priority. Everything should fit mobile specifications, function properly, load fast, and look like it’s built for the overall experience.
- Match your in-person experience with your digital one. You wouldn’t want to promise an exclusive discount only for the QR code to simply lead to your homepage.
- Have the entire campaign reflect your branding in visuals and tone of voice.
- Monitor your campaign and optimize wherever and whenever possible.
Future Trends and Innovations
QR codes are a long-term tool for leading customers from one place to another, technology has given them even more potential. Could we see an uptick in AR innovations? Maybe we’ll see an intensified and more granular approach to analytics or even QR code gamification. With personalization becoming a must-have, AI could step in and provide personalized content based on location, weather, customer behavior, and more.
But why wait for those innovations to become a reality?
QR codes already have immense potential to transform your business’s customer engagement and tie your offline and online experiences together.
FAQs
What is the most reliable QR code platform for marketing campaigns? Toggle faqs
OnlineQRcode is a trusted choice for marketers as it offers dynamic QR codes that can be updated anytime and tracked for performance.
Its analytics tools let you monitor scans, locations, and engagement, making it ideal for optimizing your marketing campaigns.
Are QR codes effective on social media? Toggle faqs
Absolutely, you can use a social media QR code to send clients directly to your profiles, posts, or campaigns, making it easy for your users to connect and engage with you in seconds.
By using these codes wisely, you can grow your number of followers, promote offers, and track interaction, and increase your visibility online.
Can you make money with QR codes? Toggle faqs
Yes. QR codes can generate income by driving traffic to your services or products, event registrations, or exclusive content.
Freelancers, professionals, and businesses also use them for mobile payments, coupons, and loyalty programs, turning simple scans into revenue opportunities.
