QR Codes in Print Ads: Examples and Use Cases

Run a successful print marketing campaign using QR codes in print ads. Here, we will show you examples of print ads with QR codes.

By using and integrating a QR code in your campaign, you will be able to provide more information and engaging marketing materials for your audience.

QR codes as a digital tool were invented to embed any type of information and are generated using a QR code generator online.

Furthermore, the information is accessible using a smartphone device, making them a convenient and on-the-go tech tool for many marketers.

When you scan the QR code, it gives your target audience valued-added information about your campaign.

What QR code solutions can you use for your print ads?

QR codes allow you to direct the scanners to various content. You must choose the right QR code for your content to make your campaign successful.

Here are examples of QR code solutions you can display on your print ads.

Create QR code ads for your website to increase traffic

When your audience scans the URL QR code, they will be directed to a link online, such as your website.

Generate a QR code for your digital business card

A physical business card is good, but having a business card that allows your recipient to save your contact details on his smartphone easily is so much better.

Print a vCard QR code on your business cards and allow people to save digital copies of your business information by just scanning a QR code.

Create a QR code that directs to your video or audio ads

This QR code allows you to upload files such as videos, photos, or audio.

If you are promoting a music festival or a concert, you can also use the file QR code to direct scanners to an MP3, allowing scanners to hear sample songs from participating artists.

Promote your social media and increase your followers using a social media QR code

Allow customers to access your online menu easily

Use a menu QR code and display this QR code on your restaurant table. This allows the customer to see your menu just by scanning the QR code.

Create a webpage that can be accessed using QR codes

With an H5 QR code generator, you customize your webpage and add links, images, and videos to make your webpage more engaging.

Display multiple photos by generating an image gallery QR code

Want to display multiple photos in your QR code campaign?

Suppose you’re an entrepreneur who wants to include all the photos of your products in one QR code without overcrowding the landing page. In that case, the image gallery QR code is the best solution to display several photos in one scan.

Redirect scanners to multilingual content

If you own or manage an international company and want to redirect scanners to content that can accommodate their language, the multi-URL QR code for language feature is the best option.

This QR code allows you to embed multiple links that can redirect scanners based on their language.

For example, if a scanner scans from Japan, he will be redirected to a Japanese website, or if he scans from China, he will also be redirected to a Chinese website.

This is best for the products or services that you market internationally.

Boost your app downloads using the App Store QR code

Examples of QR codes in print marketing ads

One of the great features of QR codes is their ability to work on online and print materials. You can print Here are examples of possible print ads with QR codes in them.

Pamphlets

Pamphlets are usually designed for non-commercial promotions and contain fewer pages than brochures.

This tool usually provides information to educate people on a specific subject or event.

If you want to provide more information about your campaign event, add a QR code on your posters and direct the scanners to a video campaign.

Flyers

Flyers are one-sided hands out commonly used to promote events or special services.

They usually contain fewer words than pamphlets and brochures.

You can use QR codes in your flyers to give customers discounts or information on the products and services you are promoting.

Business Card

Add a QR code to your business card to give your clients a vCard version of your business card.

A vCard QR code makes it easy to view and save your contact details right away to your recipient’s smartphone.

Newspaper

Billboards

Since billboards are placed outdoors, you can maximize getting the attention of many passersby to your ad.

Passers-by can scan the QR code and access the online content of the displayed advertisement.

Books

You can put a QR code on your book cover or even inside the pages to make learning and reading fun and engaging instead of just reading plain texts.

Invitation cards

You can use a QR code in your invitation cards, such as a wedding invitation card, to show your prenup video or other additional information about the event.

Reasons to put a QR code in your printed Campaign

Give more information

One of the great advantages of using a QR code in your campaign material is that it allows you to give more information without taking up a lot of space.

Printed ads have limitations, such as the size of your advertising material, and you can only give limited information.

Using a QR code, you can give detailed information without overcrowding your marketing material.

It gives your scanner engaging content

Reading long text for detailed information could discourage scanners.

You can direct your scanners using a QR code to more engaging content such as video, photos, or audio.

You can display QR code ads in your product packaging and direct your scanner to a video instruction on how to use your product properly.

This way, you can provide a quick and easy-to-follow guide for your products.

It gives an interactive campaign

Printed ads alone can only give information and entertain the audience. Make a successful and interactive campaign using QR codes.

An example of this is the QR code campaign of World Park, New York, in 2010. QR codes were placed in different areas of the park.

When scanned, these QR codes will direct scanners to interactive content such as quizzes, music, and videos related to the park’s history.

Examples of print ads with QR codes: Use-cases of QR codes in real-life marketing

QR code for Lumos helmet video manual

The QR code will direct the scanners to a video manual, where users can learn the cool stuff when scanned.

QR code for cashless payment on Paypal

Paypal also integrated a QR code on their app that allows people to accept payment through Paypal QR code by scanning the QR code. 

QR code for McDonald’s posters and food packaging

McDonald’s placed a poster with a QR code near the entrance for customers to check in by just scanning a QR code.

They also display QR codes on the food packaging that directs customers to the Mcdonald’s website.

QR code to see how Levi’s jeans would fit

Levi’s integrated a QR code on the jeans tag. Once the users scan the QR code, they can see how the jeans look when fitted.

QR codes in print ads: Practices you should follow to make an effective QR code marketing campaign

Now that we have presented examples of QR codes in print ads, you must also know how to use these QR codes efficiently in your campaigns.

Here are the practices you should know for an effective QR code campaign.

Use Dynamic QR code

One way to find out that you have an effective QR code campaign is by tracking them.

Dynamic QR codes have features that are not available in static QR codes. You will be able to edit your QR code URL/information embedded in the code using a dynamic QR code.

This type of QR code also allows you to track your QR code data, such as:

• The number of scans made: Dynamic QR code will show you the total number of scans that were made in your QR code.
• The time when the scans were made: This type of QR code will also present to you the timeline of when the scans were made.
• The device used in scanning the QR code: You will also be able to track the devices used in scanning your QR code.
• Location of scan: You will also be able to track down the location data of your scanners. Using a dynamic QR code, you can track down the country, region, or city where your QR code was scanned.

Make your QR code campaign more efficient by generating a dynamic QR code.

Create brand awareness in your QR code

One of the key features of a successful print campaign is that it must attract the audience’s attention.

Attract more audience and create brand awareness by matching your QR code design according to your brand.

QR code generators, like QR TIGER, allow you to generate customized QR codes.

Generate and design a QR code that represents your brand’s color. You can also put your company logo in your QR code.

While branding is important, you must also not go overboard in customizing your QR code to the point that it affects its scanning ability.

Before downloading and deploying your QR code, test your generated QR code to make sure it is readable by mobile devices.

Choose the right size for your QR code

Make your QR code a prominent feature in your printed ads.

Putting a very small QR code in your campaigns will make the QR code unnoticeable and affect its readability.

On printed ads such as business cards, magazines, and invitations, the QR code size must be at least 1.2 inches.

If a QR code is to be displayed on a billboard, the QR code size should be bigger.

To know the right QR code size for your printed ads, follow this formula:

Size of QR Code= Distance between the QR code and the scanner/10

Make sure you display the right QR code size by testing your QR code scannability from its ideal scanning distance.

Make sure that the QR code directs to a mobile-optimized landing page

People scan QR codes using their mobile phones. Thus directing the scanners to outdated, non-mobile-optimized links will only increase your bounce rate.

Avoid this mishap by generating a dynamic QR code

A Dynamic QR code enables you to change and edit your URL or information in the code after downloading and displaying it.

This allows you to correct any typos in your URL without retracing and changing the QR codes in your printed materials.

Display a high-resolution QR code

The main feature of running a QR code campaign is that the QR code must be scannable.

Placing a high-quality resolution QR code in printed materials is the key factor for the QR code’s scannability.

Thus, you must avoid printing blurry and pixelated QR codes in your offline campaigns.

Choose the right image format for your material.

For printed materials such as invitation cards and flyers, use the JPG format while using the SVG format for bigger campaign materials such as billboards.

Use the right material for your QR campaign

The material used for your printed QR code campaigns can also affect the QR code’s scannability.

Materials that reflect too much light might affect the QR code’s scannability.

Thus, you should avoid using light-colored glossy materials in your QR code outdoor poster campaign.

Also, make sure that the QR code is placed on a flat and even surface. Creased and ribbed materials can disfigure a QR code, ultimately affecting its readability.

Strategically place your QR code campaign

Place your QR so people can easily see and scan these QR codes.

Displaying your printed campaign in busy and crowded places where stopping to scan a QR code may stall others and create traffic will discourage some people from scanning.

Place your printed QR code campaign in places where people have downtime.

You should also make sure that the QR codes are within reach, ideally at eye level.

Don’t let your scanner tiptoe because your QR code is placed too high, or crouch because your QR code is placed too low.

Also, make sure to place your QR codes where there is a network and wifi signal.

Placing your QR campaigns in subways will make your QR code useless because most subways do not have mobile and Wifi connectivity.

Check the scanning time

One of the factors that you should check in running a QR code campaign is the scanning time of the QR code.

The time spent getting the users’ phone, opening a QR code scanner app, scanning the QR code, and directing scanners to the webpage should not take more than 15 seconds.

To do this, the website link to which the users will be directed should not be broken.

Place them on newspapers and posters for effective printed ads with QR codes.

Grow your social media platform using a social media QR code

Displaying QR codes for each social media account could take up a lot of space in your printed campaign. This could also potentially confuse the scanner.

Avoid clutter in your marketing materials by using a social media QR code.

This QR code displays all your social media platforms in one scan. You can also add your online platforms, such as Shopify and Uber Eats.

Include a Call to Action tag

Give your audience a reason to scan by adding a CTA (call to action) tag. Engage more customers by adding a simple “scan me” or “scan to watch video” to your QR codes.

Do also make sure to satisfy the scanners by directing them to informative and engaging content.

You can also add files such as photos, audio, and videos to your QR code content to make the experience rewarding for your scanners.

Visit QR TIGER today

You must partner with an efficient QR code generator to have an effective QR code campaign in your printed materials.

QR TIGER is a fast and secure QR code generator that allows you to generate various QR code solutions, and it also allows you to customize your QR code.

Using this software online, you can create a dynamic QR code and track your QR code data. For more queries, visit the QR TIGER website now.