What Are QR Code Stickers, and How Should You Use Them?
QR Code stickers bring a fresh way for businesses to connect with customers by blending the physical and digital worlds. With a quick smartphone scan, these small, scannable labels can take users directly to websites, product details, or social media pages.
How often do you see customers pause and engage when offered an easy way to access more about a product or a service? QR Code stickers create those moments, turning everyday interactions into impactful digital connections.
From packaging and menus to event materials, QR Code stickers transform ordinary touchpoints into opportunities to build stronger relationships with your audience. Businesses can increase visibility and drive conversions by sharing relevant content and instructions through QR Code stickers. Want to supercharge your customer engagement strategy? Here's everything you need to know about QR Code stickers.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
In this article:
How custom QR Code stickers can benefit your business
Best practices for designing and using sticker QR Codes
Examples of how to use QR Code stickers across industries
How to create and manage QR Code stickers with Bitly
What are QR Code stickers?
QR Code stickers are adhesive labels with Quick Response (QR) Codes printed on them. These codes can store URLs, contact details, or other digital information users can access by scanning the sticker with their devices. The beauty of these stickers lies in their portability. They can be applied to packaging, flyers, menus, or promotional materials to create instant interaction points.
For example, a QR Code sticker on product packaging might direct customers to an installation video or care instructions. Conversely, restaurants might add them to tables or menus to link diners to nutritional details or online ordering platforms. No matter the industry, QR Code stickers make it easier to connect with customers and give them the information they need—when they need it.
How custom QR Code stickers can benefit your business
Custom QR Code stickers offer businesses a versatile tool to enhance customer engagement, streamline information sharing, and drive actions. Here are the ways a custom QR Code can benefit your business:
Increased customer engagement
QR Code stickers are excellent for shortening the path between discovery and action. A quick scan can lead customers to your website, an exclusive offer, or a tutorial. They do not need to type in URLs or search for your content. For example, placing QR Code stickers in high-foot-traffic areas like store displays or event booths keeps your audience engaged and drives more interactions.
Custom QR Codes from Bitly take it further by adding a creative twist. You can match the sticker to your brand with your logo, colors, or unique designs, making it stand out and be unmistakably yours. These thoughtful details boost brand recognition and encourage more people to scan and explore your content.
According to The 2023 Sprout Social Index™, 53% of consumers say their social media usage has increased over the past two years to stay informed about new products or services. With QR Code stickers, you can create that same sense of connection in physical spaces, building stronger customer relationships.
Flexibility and versatility across industries
QR Code stickers offer unmatched flexibility, serving diverse retail, food service, and event management industries. Businesses can use these stickers on product packaging to provide detailed instructions or showcase product features. Restaurants can include QR Codes on menus to direct diners to nutritional information or online ordering systems. At the same time, event organizers can place them on badges to access schedules or speaker profiles.
Bitly enhances this versatility with tracking and customization options. Each QR Code can include unique URLs, enabling businesses to gather actionable insights like scan frequency, location, and timing. These metrics help identify which campaigns or placements drive the most engagement. Consider using QR Code stickers as a targeted strategy to connect with your clients.
Tracking and analytics
Bitly’s paid plans offer robust tracking tools that transform QR Code stickers into data-driven assets. Businesses can monitor detailed metrics, including the number of scans, daily scan trends, locations, and device types. This level of insight allows marketers to understand how and when customers interact with their QR Codes, helping to refine engagement strategies.
Marketers managing multiple QR Code stickers can assign unique Bitly Links to each one, comparing performance across locations or campaigns. For example, a retailer could analyze which in-store displays generate the most scans or track how a promotional QR Code performs in different cities. Bitly Analytics consolidates this data, enabling businesses to make smarter, more impactful decisions.
Best practices for designing and using sticker QR Codes
Now that we've explored QR Code stickers and their benefits let's shift our focus to how you can make the most of these handy tools. Next, you'll discover best practices for designing and implementing sticker QR Codes that maximize engagement and enhance customer interactions.
Design with clarity in mind
QR Code stickers work best when they’re simple, visually appealing, and functional. A strong call-to-action (CTA) such as Scan to Learn More or Get Your Discount should be clear and engaging, giving customers a reason to interact with the code. To ensure the QR Code works seamlessly, use high-contrast full color to stand out, maintain a quiet zone around the code to avoid interference, and size it appropriately for its intended use large enough to be scanned easily but proportional to the surface it’s placed on.
Always use a high-quality image to prevent scanning errors, and double-check that the embedded link is accurate and not broken. If branding isn’t included, provide a short description to give users context, ensuring they know what to expect after scanning. Custom size and shape options, such as adding a logo or incorporating the QR Code into existing design elements, can help to create weatherproof branding and enhance visual appeal.
Choose the right placement
Where you place your QR Code sticker matters as much as its design. Stickers should be positioned where customers can easily see and scan them during business days. For example, place them on product packaging, store entrances, or promotional displays.
Think about areas where your audience naturally engages with your brand like restaurant menus, shipping boxes, or checkout counters in retail stores. Ensuring the QR Code is in a customer’s line of sight and at a convenient scanning distance boosts engagement significantly. Placing custom shapes and designs on walls, floors, or tables can also attract attention and make it more visually appealing.
Test your QR Code stickers
Before launching your QR Code campaign, testing ensures your stickers work flawlessly. Check the QR Code’s scannability on Android and iOS devices and test it in various lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight or dim indoor settings.
Identify any issues, such as broken links or codes that don’t register easily, before they reach your customers. This step prevents customer frustration and reflects well on your brand. Taking the time to test shows your attention to detail and commitment to providing a seamless experience.
Use Dynamic QR Codes (Like Bitly Codes)
Dynamic QR Codes add flexibility to your campaigns by allowing you to update the content or links behind the QR Code without reprinting kiss-cut stickers. Marketers can change the destination URL to reflect a new product page or promotion without creating new stickers.
Using Bitly to create Dynamic QR Codes make managing campaigns even easier, offering tools to track performance and organize multiple codes within a single campaign. This adaptability saves time and resources and keeps your campaigns relevant and responsive to changing needs.
Examples of how to use QR Code stickers across industries
QR codes can be used in various industries, from retail and hospitality to healthcare and transportation. Let’s look at examples of how businesses can use QR Code stickers to enhance the customer experience and drive engagement.
Retail products
Retailers use QR Code stickers on product packaging to give customers instant access to detailed information, such as product specifications, user guides, or customer reviews. Scanning a QR Code on a skincare product can reveal ingredients and application tips. This enhances the customer experience by addressing questions directly at the point of purchase, building trust and confidence in the product. QR Code stickers encourage deeper brand engagement and foster customer loyalty by linking to additional resources.
Some organizations, like Mission Bit, a San Francisco nonprofit that inspires the youth of color by teaching computer science to teens, are finding innovative ways to market using QR Codes. They’ve incorporated them into their mailing campaigns and even paired them with short links for email outreach. Strategic placement like this enhances usability, making your efforts stand out and deliver more impact.
Food service and restaurants
Restaurants and food service businesses often place QR Code stickers on tables, menus, or takeout packaging to connect customers with useful information or services. Scanning these QR codes for restaurants can lead to online ordering platforms, detailed nutritional information, or customer feedback forms. For example, a QR Code on a takeout box might link to allergen details or pairing drink suggestions.
The hospitality industry is expected to contribute $1.4 trillion in sales to the U.S. economy in 2024. With that impact, tools like QR Code stickers aren’t just convenient. They are valuable in enhancing the dining experience and keeping customers returning for more.
Events or conferences
Event organizers use QR Code stickers on badges, brochures, vinyl stickers or venue signage to provide attendees with essential details like event schedules, venue maps, or speaker bios. These stickers make it easy for participants to access updates, session information, or even networking tools with a quick scan.
For instance, QR Codes for concerts and music festivals could link to artist lineups details while those on conference badges connect to an attendee directory, enabling real-time connections. By eliminating the need for manual searches, QR Code stickers streamline the event experience and ensure attendees stay informed and get quick responses.
Real estate
Real estate agents leverage QR Code stickers on for-sale signs, property flyers, or brochures to deliver immediate access to property details, virtual tours, or agent contact information. For example, a potential buyer scanning a QR Code on a sign can view photos, floor plans, and neighborhood information on their smartphone. This streamlined process eliminates barriers to accessing relevant information, making it easier for buyers to explore properties and connect with agents. QR Codes for realtors create a seamless information flow, improving efficiency for both buyers and sellers.
How to create and manage QR Code stickers with Bitly
Creating and managing QR Code stickers with Bitly is an efficient way to boost engagement and track campaign performance. Follow these steps to get started:
- Sign Up or Log In: Access your Bitly account through an existing login or new registration.
- Create a QR Code: Select "Create new" and choose "QR Code" from the menu options.
- Enter Destination URL: Provide the link where users will be directed after scanning their own QR Code.
- Customize the QR Code: Adjust styles, colors, logos, frames, and corners to reflect your custom order. Save custom designs as templates for future use, ensuring consistency across campaigns.
- Generate and Download: Finalize the high resolution design and download the QR Code in a suitable format, such as jpg, tiff, PNG, eps or SVG.
- Print as Stickers: Transfer the downloaded files to a printing service or use in-house equipment to create stickers for outdoor use.
Bitly’s platform supports the creation of multiple QR Codes and provides detailed analytics to track performance, including scan rates and user engagement. Dynamic QR Codes also allow updates to the destination URL without requiring reprinted stickers, making campaigns adaptable and cost-effective.
Using Bitly's QR Code templates streamlines the process, offering a scalable solution for integrating QR Code stickers into marketing strategies. During your QR Codes campaign, remember to educate your potential customers on how to spot a fake QR Code to ensure a safer customer experience.
Transform your customer interactions with QR Code stickers
QR Code stickers offer an engaging way for businesses to connect with customers by providing instant access to product details, promotions, and feedback tools. They are a versatile solution for driving engagement and bridging physical and digital interactions.
Bitly’s dynamic QR Codes extend these benefits, enabling businesses to manage campaigns easily. With customizable designs, real-time tracking, and the ability to update links without reprinting, Bitly helps small businesses save time and maintain flexibility. These features ensure better control and deeper insights into customer interactions, making Bitly an ideal partner for businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies.
Ready to unlock the power of Bitly’s dynamic QR Codes? Explore plans now.
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