No matter what you sell or who your customers are, there’s one universal truth: Everyone loves a great deal—especially in this economic climate. With the rising cost of living and inflation stretching budgets, shoppers are being more mindful about where they spend their money. They’re comparing options, hunting for value, and looking for brands that make saving easy.
QR Code coupons offer a simplified way for customers to access discounts while giving your business a chance to stand out. These smart, scannable codes make saving effortless for shoppers, all while strengthening your reputation, driving engagement, and encouraging repeat purchases.
In this article, we’ll cover how QR Code coupons can elevate your customer connections and enhance your marketing strategy.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
What are QR Code coupons?
You’re probably already familiar with QR Codes—you can find these scannable 2D barcodes on everything from product packaging to restaurant menus. In fact, their flexibility is a big reason why they’re so widely used. You can link QR Codes to pretty much any digital resource—including coupons.
Customers can quickly scan the codes with their smartphones to redeem discounts, promotions, or special offers. And you can share these codes in many different ways: via email, through your app, in text messages, or even on print materials like direct mail, in-store receipts, end cap displays, or packaging.
For brick and mortar retailers, QR Code coupons can elevate the in-store experience, offering customers an enticing and immediate motivation to purchase—even if they were only popping in to browse.
Ecommerce retailers can also use QR Code coupons effectively. Customers can simply tap or scan the code they receive, leading them directly to a dedicated landing page where they can redeem their offer on your online store.
What sets QR Code discount coupons apart from traditional paper coupons or digital codes is their unmatched convenience. Businesses can create and distribute them quickly and cost-effectively, while customers enjoy a hassle-free experience—no need to remember a physical coupon or type in a cumbersome code at checkout.
Dynamic QR Codes offer further advantages over Static QR Codes, as they’re editable and trackable, meaning you can update the link connected to the code whenever needed. You can also access valuable metrics such as total scans, scans by location (city and country level), and the operating system used. These data points are a goldmine for understanding how your campaigns are performing and identifying areas for improvement.
Benefits of using QR Code coupons
We’ve scratched the surface of what makes QR Code coupons effective, but their full potential is even more impressive. It’s no secret that today’s consumers rely heavily on their smartphones for shopping. From researching products and comparing prices to reading reviews and checking inventory, their devices are a constant companion throughout the buying journey.
As shopping increasingly shifts to smartphones, brands can simplify the customer journey with tools designed for convenience. You likely already use special discounts or holiday deals to attract new long-term customers, and QR Codes give you an easy way to connect shoppers to those savings.
Here’s why these digital discount codes are a game-changer for forward-thinking retailers.
Increase coupon redemption rates
Retail QR Codes are a perfect fit for today’s mobile-first shoppers. Not only do they make accessing discounts effortless, but they also meet customers’ expectations for speed and ease of use. In fact, 81% of consumers report using their smartphones to access loyalty cards and coupon codes while shopping in physical stores.
You might think that traditional barcodes get the job done, but they’re quickly falling behind the times. Barcodes require specialized scanners, are only scannable from one direction, and can only store a small amount of information (25 characters). QR Codes are much more versatile—they can be scanned from any angle using pretty much any modern smartphone or tablet, and they hold a wealth of data.
With their larger data capacity, QR Codes let you deliver personalized, data-driven discounts tailored to individual shopping habits, elevating the overall experience.
Collect valuable customer data
Data is king in the age of modern marketing, and coupon QR Codes equip you with the insights you need to fine-tune your strategy and get better results over time.
With tools like Bitly Analytics, you get real-time access to key metrics like:
- QR Code scan rates: See how many customers are engaging with your digital coupons and use this data to tweak campaigns as needed.
- Geographic data: Pinpoint where your scans are happening, down to the city level, and target your efforts accordingly.
- Time-based scans: Understand when your vouchers are getting the most customer engagement—whether during a holiday rush or on specific days of the week—so you can optimize future campaigns for maximum coupon usage.
And the insights don’t stop there. By integrating Bitly with tools like Google Analytics, you can track the entire customer journey—from the moment they scan the code to their behavior on your website. This gives you a complete picture of what’s working and where you can improve.
Deliver personalized offers at scale
Discounts are great, but personalization is what turns a one-time buyer into a loyal customer. QR Code coupons let you take this a step further by offering highly relevant discounts tailored to individual preferences and shopping behaviors.
With Bitly Analytics integrated into your existing systems, you can gain unparalleled insights into what resonates with different customer personas. Whether it’s offering a discount on a frequently purchased product or targeting a specific demographic with exclusive deals, you can use this data to deliver targeted offers with customized QR codes. The result? Stronger customer relationships, the opportunity for higher retention rates, and a nice boost to your bottom line.
4 strategies for using QR Code coupons
To get the most out of your QR Codes, it’s important to be intentional about how and where you share them. Below, we’ll walk through four must-know use cases.
1. Promote QR Code coupons through social media
Social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram are excellent places to share QR Code coupons. Post them as part of your content or use them in ads, making sure to include a call-to-action (CTA) that clearly communicates the discount, so customers know exactly what’s on offer.
You can also make your QR coupons a little more exclusive. For example, tease the discount in your posts and offer the code as a perk for signing up for your newsletter or following your account.
2. Place QR Codes on product packaging
QR Code labels on product packaging are a great way to turn one-time customers into repeat buyers. Add the codes as stickers or leaflets, or even incorporate them into your thank-you notes to catch customers’ attention.
This approach not only keeps your offers visible but also enhances the unboxing or post-purchase experience, leaving customers with a positive impression of your brand—and a reason to shop with you again.
3. Distribute QR Code coupons via email and SMS
Retail emails and text messages are a dime a dozen. To stand out in crowded inboxes, you need to grab attention—and QR Code coupons are an effective way to do just that. Embed the codes directly into your newsletters or promotional messages, making it easy for customers to access their discounts with a quick scan.
Whether you’re introducing conversational commerce or launching a special promotion, QR Codes streamline the process for customers, offering a seamless experience that boosts redemption rates.
4. Use QR Codes in-store for on-the-spot deals
Shop owners can use retail QR Codes to turn casual browsers into paying customers. Offer on-the-spot deals like “20% off when you scan this code” or “Scan for buy one, get one free” to create immediate incentives for shoppers.
Strategically place QR Codes on end caps, near the point of sale (POS), or on window displays to maximize visibility and engage customers right where it counts. And remember: always include a clear expiration date with your promo code. This helps create urgency while avoiding any frustration over expired offers.
How to create a QR Code and link it to a coupon
Creating QR Codes for your coupons is simple and intuitive with Bitly. Just follow these five steps:
- Create your coupon URL: If you don’t already have one, set up a landing page or webpage where your coupon details will live.
- Generate QR Code: Use Bitly’s QR Code generator to create your code. Step one is to paste in your URL destination.
- QR Code design: Next, customize your QR Code to align with your branding by choosing colors, changing up the patterns and frame, and even adding your logo. Don’t forget to include a clear and compelling CTA like “Scan me for 15% off!”
- Test the code: Before sharing it with customers, test the code yourself. Scan it with a few different mobile devices (both iOS and Android) to ensure it functions correctly and directs to the right page.
- Track and optimize: You’re ready to launch! Once your QR Code is live, use your Bitly Analytics dashboard to track engagement and refine your promo code strategy for maximum impact.
Engage customers and grow revenue with QR Code coupons
QR Code coupons are an incredibly effective way to boost sales and strengthen your relationship with customers. They’re fast, easy to use, and take the headache out of redeeming discounts—making it more likely that shoppers will engage and follow through with their purchases.
Beyond convenience, they provide valuable insights that help you optimize your marketing efforts and offer relevant, personalized deals, building loyalty with every interaction.
Bitly’s QR Code solutions are designed to help you maximize your coupon campaigns while building deeper, more meaningful connections with your customers. With easy-to-create, customizable QR Codes from Bitly, you can effortlessly integrate coupons into your marketing strategy and gain crucial insights to fine-tune your approach.
Explore Bitly QR Codes today and take your coupon campaigns to the next level.
