A Guide to Driving Engagement With QR Code Printing

QR codes have quickly moved from a niche tech feature to a marketing essential. With a simple scan, they bridge the gap between printed materials and digital mediums. They make it easier than ever to connect with your audience, boost engagement, and integrate traditional and online marketing channels.

QR code printing creates a direct path from physical touchpoints to online action. In this guide, we’ll explore how QR codes work, why they’re an invaluable part of multi-channel marketing, and practical ways to use them.

QR Codes Explained

QR codes are two-dimensional matrix barcodes that store information and can be read by digital devices like smartphones and tablets. Simply by scanning a QR code, audiences can instantly access digital content. They are transported to a specific website, landing page, social media account, PDF file, or other predetermined location. Since COVID-19, QR codes have skyrocketed in popularity because of their simplicity and accessibility.

Businesses can use online generators to create their own custom static or dynamic QR code. Static codes cannot be changed once created. The information is embedded directly within the structure of the barcode. Dynamic QR codes, on the other hand, link to a unique short URL. This means that you can change both the function and content of a dynamic QR code as many times as you need to.

Originally, QR codes were simply black and white squares. Now, many businesses choose to customize the appearance of their QR codes to better align with their branding or be more eye-catching. You can use a unique shape and any colour combination. Just make sure the colours are high contrast, or else they become hard to scan.

Why Your Business Should Use QR Codes

Multi-Channel Marketing Strategy

Anyone looking to grow their business and increase customer engagement should embrace multi-channel marketing. This is one of the biggest ongoing trends in the marketing world.

In order to connect with your audience, you need to meet them where they are and in as many places as possible. By creating multiple touchpoints, you raise the number of opportunities to communicate with your ideal customer while increasing overall brand awareness.

QR codes are a key tool in multi-channel marketing strategies. They allow you to link printed media with digital platforms, provide a seamless brand experience, and track results.

Seamless Digital Integration

Traditional marketing and printed media are incredibly powerful tools for your business. However, that doesn’t mean you have to abandon digital strategies. Print and digital are most effective when they are integrated with one another. QR codes simplify this integration so you can provide a unified experience for your customers.

QR codes can connect customers directly to:

• Exclusive landing pages
• Your business’s website
• Event registration forms
• Email newsletter sign-ups
• Mobile apps
• Product demonstration videos

Simplifying the Customer Journey

Customers do not want to have to work hard to access additional information from your business. If there are too many steps or too much complexity, they will move on. It’s that simple! Fortunately, QR codes are even simpler. All your customer has to do is scan the QR code and they are immediately taken to the next step.

By eliminating friction and frustration, QR codes help drive engagement and ensure that your campaign achieves its goals.

Tracking and Analytics

The only way to definitively know if your campaign has been successful is to track the results and analyze the data. QR codes make it easier than ever to gather data on printed marketing campaigns. You can see what worked, and what didn’t. These insights will help you optimize future campaigns, target specific audiences, and better understand your customers.

Dynamic QR codes allow you to monitor the number of scans, location information, device type, and other helpful data points.

How to Drive Engagement

Offer Exclusive Promotions and Discounts

Everyone loves a deal. QR codes are a fantastic way to offer easy-to-access promotional deals, discounts, and coupons to your customers. By including a QR code with an enticing offer on your printed marketing materials, you increase the likelihood of engagement (and purchases).

When a recipient scans the QR code, they’re taken to a hidden discount page, exclusive pre-sale, or coupon PDF. A limited-time offer creates a sense of urgency, while the QR code simplifies the customer journey. It’s a recipe for success. Plus, you can easily track redemptions to measure your campaign’s ROI (return on investment).

Create Interactive Customer Experiences

Intrigue can generate increased engagement. Use a QR code to link to a game, poll, or augmented reality experience that captures your audience’s attention and distinguishes you from the competition. Potential customers then spend more time interacting with your brand as they explore the experience. This fun strategy makes your brand more memorable. It’s one piece of the brand recognition puzzle.

Provide Additional Product or Service Information

Printed marketing materials only have so much physical space. Postcards, in particular, just have enough room for a small amount of information. You have to be very deliberate about what you choose to include and omit. Although this intentionality makes postcards incredibly engaging and high impact, it’s also a good idea to make it easy for recipients to access more information on your products and services. QR codes do precisely that.

Upon scanning, customers can see detailed product specs, tutorials, FAQs, and reviews not included in print. You can keep your printed materials uncluttered and impactful, while still offering deep information.

Enable Easy Sign Up for Email Lists or Newsletters

It’s important to reduce the number of steps in the customer journey. Simplification is crucial to success. Before QR codes, getting printed marketing recipients to sign up for newsletters, online event tickets, or email notifications was complicated. People had to physically type in your business’s URL and find the right landing page. With QR codes, all they have to do is open the camera app on their smart device.

QR Code Printing Tips

• The minimum recommended size and resolution for a QR code is 1 x 1 inch and 300 DPI.
• The recommended scanning size-to-distance ratio is 10:1.
• QR code printing needs to be high quality with sharp and clear edges.
• Use contrasting colours to increase scannability.
• Avoid using inverted colours (use a light foreground with a dark background).

QR Code Printing Services From Troi Mailing

At Troi Mailing Services, we optimize direct mail campaigns through personalization and digital integration. Our variable imaging and hyperpersonalization expertise enable us to print scannable, customized, and highly effective QR codes on printed marketing materials. This simplifies your customer’s journey, provides an engagement boost, and increases your campaign’s opportunities for success.

We are a Canada Post Smartmail Marketing Expert Partner with decades of experience in print marketing and direct mail strategy. To learn more about personalization and QR code printing in Toronto, call Troi Mailing Services at 1-866-486-0423 or contact us online.