6 ways to use QR codes for marketing

QR codes can be utilised to improve your marketing. Let's show you some ideas to use to your advantage to help you stand out.

There are so many different ways that you can end up using marketing to your advantage that it can be almost overwhelming. The fact is that in the modern age, we’ve got to use viable technology to ensure that our workflows are powerful and productive. This is where QR codes could be the missing link. While QR codes started getting popular in 2011, it didn’t benefit the majority of people because many consumers had slow internet and did not have a smartphone. But fast forward to 2021, and approximately 90% of the population can have access to high-speed internet. And this is where QR codes can be utilized to improve your marketing. Let’s show you some ideas to use to your advantage.

Engaging Shoppers with Short Video Content

The way we consume content has changed in the last 10 years. You only use approximately 10% of your memory when reading something, but watching videos helps people to retain 95% of the message.

This is exactly why businesses need to start using a QR code as part of their marketing because they can show off the features of a product or display a commercial that can gain someone’s attention, especially in a shop environment. There are so many different QR codes on product packaging, businesses can generate QR codes quickly. This is something that can be worked on a large scale and a small scale.

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Turning Customers Into Repeat Buyers

Using QR codes on post-purchase packaging can help customers to reorder the product from the online store. We have to remember that customers need the following:

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  • Purchasing products needs to be quick
  • It needs to be easy
  • It needs to be replenishable

So a QR code is an instant shortcut to these three different areas. If a QR code on a product displays product information, you can use the same code to reorder the product after leaving the store. This is similar to any Bluetooth tag that allows customers to shop for the same products. A very good example is the Amazon Dash button, which enables customers to have their product delivered to their front door.

Creating a QR Code Game

There are so many casual games online that don’t require extensive brainpower, we can use QR codes to our advantage to provide shoppers with incentives, such as a freebie or a discount, through creating a QR code game. When we provide incentives we increase the conversion rates. Having interactive QR codes through a game or by using a “scan and win” poster outside of your store or on your website is an excellent way to help your customers engage with you further.

Delivering a Musical Experience

If you are looking to appeal to the senses of any consumer, you can use so many different ways to help your customers to spend more. And this is where music could be the missing ingredients. Research suggests that stores can use classical music to simulate an upscale environment. So if you want to create a unique experience you can take inspiration from companies that have already done this.

For example, Reebok used QR codes to send athletes different Spotify playlists. The playlist differed depending on the sport the athletes performed.

This is something that you can also do by allowing customers to choose between different artists and genres by scanning a QR code. This can make the experience more personal to the customer while also improving your bottom line.

Getting Customers to Download an App Via QR Codes

There are numerous examples of apps using QR codes to get customers to download the apps:

  • Instagram used creative QR codes to get people to download the app.
  • Angry Birds used creative QR codes in a unique way.

These two examples have been able to convey their unique brand voice while getting new customers to download the app, and you can do the same. Having an app installed on your customers’ phones will bring you deeper insight into their history, and you can give them more personalized recommendations.

Making Boring Places More Interesting

It can make for a more interactive experience, especially when used in places that may seem particularly dull such as libraries or museums. Using QR codes as a guide can help people to appreciate the contents of a museum in silence.

QR codes are fantastic ways to pass contact details, generate leads, and turn one-time customers into dedicated ones. These are some examples where you can use QR codes in business. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. You can do so much more with a QR code, you just need to use your imagination!


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Asiya Nayab
Asiya Nayab

Asiya Nayab is the Sr. News Editor and Features Writer at LAFFAZ, with over three years’ experience covering startups, technology, and business ecosystems across India, MENA, and the United States. She has reported on leading tech companies, high-growth startups, and landmark industry developments. A skilled researcher, Asiya creates clear, data-driven guides on entrepreneurship, digital marketing, business and legal services, finance, and consulting—demystifying complex topics into actionable insights. Her journalism empowers entrepreneurs and aspiring founders to make informed business decisions.

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