Quick Response (QR) Codes are far more than modern-day barcodes—they’re a gateway to valuable resources that enhance the customer experience and drive business growth.
Want to make it easier for customers to access your menu’s landing page or leave feedback on a linked form? QR Codes can help. From managing inventory to engaging customers, these codes have become essential in business. Best of all? Creating one is simple and doesn’t require technical expertise.
Before we walk through how to make a QR Code for your business, let’s examine why they’re worth your attention in the first place.
Why businesses should use QR Codes
People spend six hours and forty minutes per day online, giving business owners a unique opportunity to engage directly with customers through their devices.
QR Codes offer a digital shortcut, giving customers quick access to information, promotions, or interactive experiences with a simple scan. They enable businesses to meet customers where they already are, offering a fast and convenient way to connect.
However, QR Codes are more than just a way to improve engagement—they provide a range of benefits for small businesses and large enterprises alike:
- Stronger branding: Custom QR Codes let you incorporate your brand’s logo and colors into the design, creating a consistent and visually appealing experience for customers.
- Streamlined processes: QR Codes allow customers to make payments easily, register for services, or track products through linked URLs without physical contact or paperwork.
- Affordable marketing: Rather than spending money on printed flyers or coupons, businesses can use QR Codes for cost-effective marketing campaigns that link directly to landing pages with offers or promotions.
- Actionable data: Dynamic QR Codes track scans and customer interactions, providing valuable insights into their behavior and preferences. With this data, businesses can optimize marketing strategies, improve campaign outcomes, and increase their return on investment (ROI).
Examples of QR Code applications across industries
Anyone can create a QR Code, but generating one that adds real value to your business requires a bit of creativity and strategic thinking. A QR Code that lacks a clear purpose or isn’t user-friendly can easily become a missed opportunity.
Here are some examples of how businesses in various industries are successfully using QR Codes to enhance their operations:
Retail: Linking to exclusive promotions
Have you ever been caught without your coupon at checkout or spent time scrambling to find a discount code? With QR Codes, those nuisances are a thing of the past.
Retail stores can use QR Codes to direct customers to landing pages featuring exclusive promotions or loyalty programs. No more printing, cutting, or managing physical coupons—customers can simply scan the code at checkout and enjoy instant savings.
For example, a QR Code on a store flyer can link to a URL with a 20% off coupon or a sign-up page for the store’s rewards program. This encourages repeat business while providing valuable insights into customer purchasing behavior.
Restaurants: Simplifying menu access
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to QR Codes has become permanent in many restaurants, offering a safer, more efficient dining experience. Research shows that 71% of consumers prefer contactless menus and payment methods when dining out.
QR Codes enable customers to access menus or place orders through linked web pages, reducing the need for physical menus and minimizing contact between customers and staff. A QR Code on a table can link directly to the restaurant’s digital menu, allowing customers to browse through options, make selections, and even pay using their mobile devices.
Additionally, these codes let restaurants showcase high-resolution images of their dishes, provide dish descriptions or nutritional information, and even include videos for a more interactive experience.
Events: Enhancing attendee experiences
Event planning can be chaotic, especially when managing tickets, schedules, and attendee feedback forms. QR Codes simplify these processes by linking directly to relevant URLs.
Event organizers can add QR Codes to tickets for easy, contactless check-ins, and include them on session schedules, allowing attendees to quickly scan and save sessions they’re interested in without juggling physical programs.
QR Codes also make networking easier. Users can scan codes to access LinkedIn profiles or portfolios via URL, exchanging contact information seamlessly without the hassle of handling business cards—which often end up lost or in the trash. Plus, organizers can use QR Codes to link to feedback forms, collecting instant and valuable insights from attendees.
Healthcare: Streamlining patient check-ins
You’re feeling unwell, sitting in the waiting room, sifting through forms and paperwork you need to complete before the doctor can even see you. Frustrating, isn’t it? QR Codes can make this experience much smoother for patients and healthcare providers.
QR Codes can be used at reception desks to link patients directly to digital check-in sites, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. This makes the check-in process faster and more efficient, allowing patients to move through the necessary steps quickly without delay.
The codes can also link to secure portals where they can access or update their medical records. Although patients would still need to log in securely for privacy reasons, QR Codes simplify access by eliminating the need to carry physical records or remember where to go for the information.
How to get a QR Code for your business
Getting a QR Code for your business is easy and affordable. You can easily make a QR Code for any link using a QR Code generator. Here’s how:
1. Define the purpose of your QR Code
Before creating a QR Code, consider what its specific use case will be.
- Is it designed to direct customers to your website URL for more information?
- Maybe it’s for sharing business information like your contact webpage or portfolio at networking events—no more ordering, carrying, and distributing expensive business cards.
- Perhaps you want to promote exclusive discounts—because who doesn’t love a good deal?
- Or, maybe you want to provide detailed product information or tutorials without crowding your packaging with tiny, unreadable text.
By defining the purpose first, you ensure that your QR Code becomes a powerful tool delivering real value rather than just another graphic. Think of it as a bridge connecting your audience directly to what they need—quickly, seamlessly, and with minimal effort on their part.
2. Choose a reliable QR Code generator
Look for a QR Code generator that allows customization and includes analytics features so you can track your QR Code’s performance and make adjustments as needed.
Does the tool allow you to create free Dynamic QR Codes? This feature lets you update the linked content after printing—no need for reprints or updates to physical marketing materials. This is in contrast to Static QR Codes, which cannot be altered once printed.
Bitly is a trusted tool for QR Code generation and management. You can easily make a QR Code using Bitly, which offers customizable designs and analytics to track scans and engagement. Additionally, Bitly Codes are always dynamic, giving you the flexibility to update and manage your linked QR Code content and track engagement with ease.
3. Design your QR Code
Customizing your QR Code is about creating a seamless brand experience for your audience. Incorporate your brand colors, logos, and patterns to ensure they’re aesthetically pleasing and align with your business’s visual identity.
While QR Code design is important, functionality should always come first. Ensure there’s enough contrast between the background and foreground for easy scanning. A good rule of thumb is to use dark foreground and light background colors, or vice versa. You can also add a call to action (CTA) that encourages potential customers to scan the code and gives them a clear idea of what to expect by scanning—such as “Scan here to unlock your discount!” or “Join our rewards program today.”
Be mindful not to overcomplicate the design. Avoid using complex patterns or busy backgrounds that could interfere with the scanning process. The main goal of a QR Code is to provide quick, easy access to information—keep it simple and functional.
4. Test your QR Code
An unscannable QR Code is like a phone that doesn’t make calls—useless. That’s why it’s crucial to test your QR Code before sharing or distributing it publicly.
Scan it with various devices and operating systems to ensure it works smoothly across all platforms, reducing the likelihood of frustrating technical difficulties for customers. If you’re using a Dynamic QR Code and you update the linked content, test it again to ensure everything displays correctly. This step ensures your QR Code delivers a seamless and convenient experience for your audience.
5. Deploy your QR Code strategically
Creating a functional QR Code is just the first step—deploying it strategically maximizes its potential. Think about where your target audience is most likely to encounter your code and place it accordingly for the greatest impact.
Consider using product packaging, in-store signage, email campaigns, or social media posts. For example, a QR Code on product packaging can direct customers to pages with online reviews or additional product details, while a code in an email campaign can drive traffic to your business page or social media profiles.
Be creative and strategic about where you position your QR Code to ensure it reaches and engages your audience effectively. A well-placed QR Code can elevate the customer experience and drive more engagement with your brand.
Start using QR Codes to elevate your business
QR Codes are the tool your business needs to effortlessly connect with customers, streamline operations, and boost your brand’s visibility. Whether you’re linking to exclusive promotional landing pages, gathering feedback, or sharing business information, QR Codes provide a seamless way to engage your audience across both physical and digital spaces.
Bitly Codes makes creating, customizing, and tracking QR Codes refreshingly simple and effective. With Bitly Analytics, you can access advanced data analysis and real-time tracking features. The platform empowers you to monitor engagement, fine-tune your marketing efforts, and optimize your results. By leveraging detailed insights, you can maximize your impact and make informed decisions every step of the way.
Take the next step in building stronger customer connections and elevating your branding. Explore Bitly’s pricing plans and start creating QR Codes today.
