QR Codes for Books: Bring Textbooks to Life

Have you ever wondered if there’s a way you can alleviate the readers’ experience through technology, such as using a QR code for books?

Apart from traditional book printing along with its printed static images and texts, how can we possibly innovate books with a touch of digitalization and innovative reading experience using QR codes on books?

Furthermore, there’s no way you can put all of the content and information in books, right?

Now, this is how QR codes come in handy.

A QR code for books: How does it work?

QR code for books is generated using online QR software, and it is scannable using smartphone devices.

This technological advancement has transformed the way people engage and interact with media.

Some people would still choose to read a tangible book over an e-book, but why not merge the two varying reading experiences into one through QR code technology?

QR codes, by definition, give a digital dimension to any information depending on what type of file is embedded in it.

These codes are generated using a free QR code generator online.

You can also embed other kinds of data within the QR code like additional resources, audio, videos, images, and more!

What’s more interesting about QR codes is that you also have the freedom to redirect your QR code’s information to another file even though it has been printed using a dynamic QR code.

Yes, you read that right! Even though it has been printed. Therefore, there’s no need for you to generate another QR.

The changes you make will be reflected in real time. So scanners can see new contents or updated information.

For example, suppose your QR code on eBook is redirected to an image file or image gallery today, and you decided to replace the type file with a video file tomorrow.

In that case, you can do this by updating your QR code.

Two types of QR codes for books: Static and Dynamic

The information embedded in Static QR codes is hard coded.

This means you cannot edit its data file once it’s printed in your books.

It stays permanent and will lead you forever to the information you have embedded

On the other hand, if you generate a QR code in dynamic mode for your books, you can redirect your information to another landing page anytime you want, even when printed.

You don’t need to generate another QR code again, or worse, produce a new chapter of your book just because you got it wrong or you want to redirect it.

QR code for books and how to use them?

Depending on what type of information you want to show to your readers, there are different types of QR codes you can use.

We will discuss how you can use QR code libraries for an easier book-searching feature that corresponds to it.

For Publishing Houses and Authors

Website or web page redirection

If you want to redirect your readers to a certain landing page or website online, you can use the URL QR code solution for this.

A URL QR code will redirect scanners to a website when they scan the QR code.

For example, if you’re an author, you can redirect your scanners to your personal blog or website to read more of your posts and encourage them to subscribe to your email so you can keep them up-to-date.

You can also redirect them to Goodreads or Author Central if you have your works available there.

Sharing of your personal profile or contact details

If you’re the type of author who is open about sharing your profile with your readers and is open to possible contact in the future, you can use a vCard QR code for this.

Using a vCard QR code, you can share your complete profile with your readers and connect with them.

This is also one way to market yourself to your readers.

Moreover, you can’t add your complete profile to the book.

There’s just a little to no space for that, and a vCard QR code is a solution for that without being too obvious.

Engage and acquire more readers.

Connect with your readers on different media platforms

Have you heard about a social media QR code? Well, social media QR code will display and connect all of your social media channels together in one scan.

This is a great way for your fans to follow you directly on your social media platforms without looking for your individual profile.

Connect with your fans using a social media QR code.

You can also make individual social media profiles for a particular social media you want to be followed.

If you gain more followers, they might buy your upcoming books too.

Redirect your readers to an image gallery

Make your pictures alive for your readers by using a QR code that will redirect them to the online image gallery related to the text or the chapter of the book.

Instead of printing a static picture that doesn’t make any impact or impression, you can upgrade printed books using QR codes for external graphics and photos.

For this, you can use a file QR code and upload your file image.

Related: Image Gallery QR code: Displaying multiple images in a QR

Show a video file

Would it be just lovely to bring the readers to experience online by showing them not only an image but also a video?

File QR code lets you upload Jpeg, PNG, and MP4 files. You can use this to replace static file images with different media files using a QR code.

This gives more feels to the readers by leveraging the physical world’s experience in the online world.

Using a file QR code, you can also upload a video file so they will understand the story even better.

The file QR code is dynamic in nature.

Therefore you can replace it with another file type anytime, even though it has already been printed.

Yup, that’s the power of QR codes!

There are two ways you can generate a video QR code: It’s either you use a file QR code and upload your video, or you can also redirect them to a YouTube video using the YouTube QR code solution.

Offer audiobooks

There are kinds of people who like to listen to an audiobook rather than read it.

Well, you can offer this to your readers by generating an MP3 QR code. 

This solution stores audio files. Scanners will then be able to hear the soundtrack on their device.

Book preview marketing

A book’s preview is usually printed on the back of the book to give readers a teaser preview about the plot of the book, its characters, and the genre of the book.

But sometimes, it leaves us quite hanging with little to no amount of information.

Using a PDF QR code, you can redirect your readers to a more juicy detail or information of your book preview or teaser that you can use as a competitive and innovative edge for your book marketing.

They can scan the QR code attached to your book using their smartphone devices and save the PDF file for later reading.

If they like it, they might even go back to the bookstore to get a copy of your item.

You can have it advertised through print or social media!

Using all the marketing platforms, you can reach a wider audience.

You can apply it to e-books as well.

For educational textbooks

Innovative textbook learning

You can make textbook learning fun with QR codes. You can use QR codes as a way to make learning interesting and exciting for them with the use of technology.

Using QR codes, you can redirect them to videos using a Video QR code, image, QR code, or an audio QR code that will allow them to listen to sound files.

Related: What is the Best QR Code generator for Teachers?

How to scan QR codes for books

To scan a QR code, the user must open his smartphone camera and point it toward the QR code to access the content associated with the QR.

Make sure the phone setting is already enabled to scan QR codes.

If the camera can’t detect the code, the user can also opt to download a QR code scanner.

QR code for books best practices: What should you know before deploying them?

Use a dynamic QR code

Dynamic QR codes will allow you to redirect or edit your QR code to any media type, even though it has been generated or printed.

For example, if you want to show your readers a file image of a text and decide to redirect it to a video page the next day, you can do this.

Furthermore, using a dynamic QR code, you will have a clutter-free-looking QR code.

Your QR code will not get pixelated even though you put a lot of information in it.

The code graphics contain a short URL that leads to a piece of online information.

Do not over-customize your QR

Your QR code will be hard to read if it is over-customized. Make sure the dots are still clear, and it is scannable. Always test your QR code.

Related: 10 reasons why your QR code is not working

Right size

The smallest size of a QR code is 1.2 inches (3–4 cm) in dimension to be read by smartphone devices; nevertheless, it always tests it to see it works.

Try with different mobile devices.

Make it simple but attractive

You can custom design your QR code to make it catchy for your readers; however, don’t compromise your QR code’s readability.

Add a call to action

Add a call to action in your QR code, like “Scan Me.” Let your readers know that they should scan the QR instead of just plainly displaying it.

Otherwise, how are they going to know that they are supposed to scan it?

QR code for books: Expanding your reader's experience through the QR technology

QR codes in books open the door for smart technology to be used in print publishing to make resources even better.

By using the QR code, you can improve the reading experience of your readers to a whole new level without being costly at the same time.

If you have more questions about QR code book and if you are interested in using one, just contact us today for more information.

Related terms

Book QR codes

QR codes on books are generated using a QR code generator online like QR TIGER, and it displays online information when scanned.