How To Market Your Business with QR Codes

Within the last few years, QR (quick response) codes have become more popular, serving as a contactless, and therefore, sanitary, way of providing customers with information in person. A QR code is a graphical representation of digital data like a barcode. However, the difference between the two is that people can use a smartphone to scan QR codes because most have a QR reader built in.

Engineer Masahiro Hara first invented QR codes in 1994 to track vehicles and assembly line parts, but they didn’t become popular until the invention of smartphones. But even then, users still had to download an app to scan the QR code, crippling its adoption. Then, there was another surge in 2017 when Apple integrated a QR reader into their phones, and other smartphone companies followed suit. But that also died out shortly afterward. Then, the popularity of QR codes returned in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marketing with QR Codes

One of the most popular use cases involves companies marketing their business with QR codes. For businesses with physical locations, QR codes bridge the gap between digital and non-digital marketing efforts. Not to mention, they’re generally free or inexpensive and easy to use. With QR codes, marketing to customers in person becomes much easier to track and measure. Some marketing examples of QR codes in use include:

QR code menus. They lead users to digital menus online, providing a touchless option for health-conscious restaurant-goers.

business card front and back with a qr code on the front

Business cards with QR codes. They quickly guide users to someone’s website, online portfolio, or social media pages.

someone scanning a qr code from an in-store sign that a retail worker is holding up for them

Retail store signage encourages shoppers on the go to check out your loyalty programs, review storefronts and overall customer experiences, or view online catalogs when pieces go out of stock or are no longer available in store.

Museum, library, and/or park brochures. They provide visitors with additional information on displays and exhibits.

a woman scanning a qr code on a package while sitting in the front seat of a car

Audio QR codes. They help brands personalize their messaging on product packaging or greeting cards.

The adoption and popularity of QR codes have wavered in the past but grew exponentially within the last three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. And the trend only continues today. The reasoning behind why is simple: they're fast, easy, sanitary, and inexpensive. And it's exactly why businesses like ours continue working in QR code software development.

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.

1404 140th Place N.E., Bellevue, WA 98007

PSPINC Creates Tools For Your Business

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and provides domain, web, and email hosting to more than 40,000 companies of all sizes around the world. We design and develop our own software and are committed to helping businesses of all sizes grow and thrive online. For more information you can contact us at 800-232-3989, by email at info@pspinc.com or visit us online at https://www.pspinc.com.

The term "QR Code" is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.