Tired of using the same outdated promotional flyers? QR Code flyers can add a modern flair to your marketing campaign and help you better reach your target audience.
QR Code flyers contain two-dimensional quick response (QR) Codes that smartphones and tablets can quickly scan. Adding them to a traditional flyer makes it easy for readers to engage with and digest your marketing materials.
This guide will explain the importance of QR Code flyers for businesses and outline how to make one.
Why should you add a QR Code to a flyer?
Even the most visually appealing or engaging flyer can fail to get your audience to act after reading it, regardless of how interested they are in the ad.
Adding a QR Code to a flyer can open up new experiences for your audience, leaving a lasting impression. Let’s look at some advantages of incorporating QR Code signs and flyers into your marketing strategy.
Improves audience engagement
Before you abandon promotional flyers altogether, consider how adding QR Codes to flyers creates the perfect blend of traditional and digital marketing—the best of both worlds.
The physical flyer remains an effective marketing tool for capturing your target audience’s attention, but incorporating a QR Code gives it a new dimension, making it more interactive.
Determines your return on investment
Adding a QR Code to a flyer helps you track user engagement and measure the success of your marketing campaign. You can access insightful scan data that will give you a detailed understanding of the audience you reached so you know exactly how your print ad performed and whether it was worth the cost.
Using scan data, you can track information such as the number of scans, the operating system viewers used to scan the code, and the locations of users who scanned the code to get an accurate picture of your print ad’s success.
Works well for mobile users
Including QR Codes on flyers makes information accessible because modern smartphones have a built-in scanner. This allows you to relay information faster by getting your target audience to connect with your online content seamlessly.
A QR Code syncs your physical and digital content, so even if someone misplaces the flyer, they can still access the most relevant info on their smartphone. You establish instant contact with your audience by including this sophisticated digital element in your flyer. Use this mobile advantage to stand out!
Boosts your marketing strategies
QR Code flyers can reinvigorate a standard marketing strategy by creating more conversion opportunities. For example, to interact with a company, a person has to read a traditional flyer and manually insert the company’s contact details on their device.
QR Code flyers offer a quicker alternative. People can scan these codes and instantly be directed to a business’s contact information via URL.
Bitly enables users to seamlessly create QR Codes, leverage QR Code tracking features, and make smarter marketing decisions. On the Bitly Connections Platform, you can create QR Codes that allow you to share multimedia content with your audience in a way that’s not possible with a physical flyer.
When you include a Bitly QR Code on your flyer, it elevates your marketing strategy and allows you to track every audience interaction with your flyer, giving you insights into who engaged with your content and how.
Use cases for QR Code flyers
The following examples illustrate fictional brands from which you can draw inspiration. Apply these strategies to your own flyers and measure the effectiveness of QR Codes.
Gain more Instagram popularity
The Three Sparrows, a music group, were looking for a way to get their audience to follow their Instagram account so they could grow their online following. Using QR Codes, they connected their offline community to their Instagram audience.
Displaying QR Codes on flyers gave people a reason to grab their smartphones and interact with the band’s online community. Through this action, people engaged with The Three Sparrows’ brand even further, enhancing their connection to the band.
Get more event attendance
Grabbing your audience’s attention with a promotional event flyer is still a worthwhile marketing effort. Nonprofit brand Bees Foundation wanted to promote its fundraising event. To reach more people, it made its fundraising flyer digital.
The easiest way to achieve this was by incorporating a QR Code on the flyer. This allowed the nonprofit to convey all the necessary information without crowding the flyer. Using the QR Code on the flyer, people were able to find out more information, register for the event, and instantly add it to their calendars.
Drive traffic to websites
Elle Boutique, a fashion-forward brand, needed help converting offline traffic to its online stores. To spread the word about its virtual store, it hosted a pop-up event in its physical store.
The company passed out flyers to attendees, which they could scan to access the online store. Elle Boutique gave customers a discount on their first web purchase to thank them for visiting the website. The event, in tandem with the QR Codes on the flyers, created awareness of the company’s online store, leading to more website traffic.
Promote new products
iFeel, a beauty brand, launched a new product called “iFeel Curly” to cater to the untapped curly hair market. Several months before the product’s launch, it conducted an awareness campaign to introduce the product to the market.
To increase customer demand, iFeel handed out flyers offering a redeemable discount to those who scanned the QR Code. The company also boosted customer loyalty by prioritizing existing clients and allowing them to try the newly developed product first.
Share information effortlessly
Spark Cinemas sought to attract more people to its theaters. To promote its latest movies, it used QR Codes on flyers. And just like that, Spark Cinemas turned an ordinary flyer into a video advertisement!
Potential customers were able to watch movie trailers on the spot by scanning QR Codes. Using their smartphones, they could view different trailers before selecting a movie to watch. Having this resource on hand provided customers with information about the movie—especially useful if they were heading to the theater spontaneously. The QR Code also allowed customers who didn’t want to watch a movie right away to book a ticket for a later date.
How to use Bitly to create a QR Code flyer
If you’re familiar with Bitly, follow these steps to put a QR Code on a flyer:
- Once you’re logged into your Bitly account, go to Create new and select QR Code.
- Paste your link in Destination URL and add the required info. Select Customize to personalize your QR Code if this is included in your plan.
- Select Create QR Code and test it to see if it works.
- Select the Download button, and add the QR Code to your flyer.
If you’re new to Bitly, it might be helpful to start with a more advanced tutorial. Follow our step-by-step guide below for beginners:
- Log in if you have a Bitly account or sign up for free.
- Select “Create New,” then click “QR Code, or type the letter Q on your keyboard.
- Paste your link in the Destination URL. Add a title and custom back-half, if desired. Note: Your QR Code preview will only appear once you’ve inserted a link.
- Depending on your Bitly plan, customize your QR Code by adding your brand color and company logo, or use a provided social media logo. Select Create QR Code once you’re finished.
- Scan your QR Code to test if it works and ensure all the information is correct.
- Download your QR Code and add it to your flyer.
Best practices for adding QR Codes to your flyers
When creating QR Codes, thoughtfulness makes all the difference in catching your target audience’s attention. The aesthetic of your square plays a huge role in attracting more scans, so take some time to think about the design.
You also want to ensure you’re making the most of your marketing budget. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered!
Follow a QR Code flyer template as an example
If you create QR Code flyers in bulk, it’s best to have a template for faster production. A template should ideally contain a marketing flyer’s generic layout, a call to action, and your QR Codes’ placement.
Your template should also clearly indicate to your audience where and how to scan the QR Code. Creating a template will take time, so you can figure out which flyer format works best for your audience.
When you find the right layout for your flyer, creating a template will ensure proper placement of your QR Codes for convenient scanning. Graphic design tools such as Canva can help you create flyer templates that stand out and best represent your brand.
Get creative with customization features
QR Codes are easy to create and customize according to your brand’s style guide. Rather than using generic style elements, choose colors and fonts that represent your brand. By altering the color scheme of your codes, you can develop creative QR code designs to improve brand recognition and maintain color uniformity across all marketing materials.
As well as adjusting your QR Code’s color, you can customize its size with a QR Code generator. As a general rule, QR Codes should be a minimum of 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 inches).
Your QR Code can be larger, but keep in mind that making it too big may compromise the quality of your pixelated square, and it may be impossible to scan. Conduct scan tests to ensure your square is readable.
Add your brand’s signature
Whether you’re an influencer, content creator, or small-business owner, including not only your brand colors but also a logo that depicts your brand can add a personal touch to your QR Code flyer. As well as giving your scannable marketing materials a professional edge, you’re putting your stamp on them, which helps you increase brand recognition.
Use a Dynamic QR Code
A Dynamic QR Code is a much better option for printing marketing materials than its static counterpart. This is because you can easily modify the QR Code content without needing to reprint your flyer.
Changing the content is as simple as editing the link destination, so you can alter it at any time (even after printing), saving both time and money. Plus, you can unlock scan data that lets you track and analyze every scan in real time. Want to know more? Read our guide to Static vs. Dynamic QR Codes.
Make your marketing flyer game better than ever before with Bitly
QR Codes can enhance marketing flyers by making your content easy to access and scan. By creating eye-catching QR Code flyers, you can cater to mobile users, customize your marketing materials, and add your brand’s unique signature to your collateral.
If you’re ready to use QR Codes in your marketing flyers, Bitly can help. Our platform makes it easy to create Dynamic QR Codes for any marketing campaign.
Check out our plans to see how Bitly can enhance your print marketing strategy with Dynamic QR Code flyers!