Last Updated: February 15, 2021
For those looking to quickly get started:
Dynamic QR Code generator is a solution that helps create editable QR Codes, which means, one can change the destination URL, without changing the QR Code. A Dynamic QR Code generator also helps track the QR Code performance in real-time.
Looking for the best dynamic QR Code generator for your industry? Read on to find out.
Ahead of the curve? Start creating your dynamic QR Codes right here 👇
I couldn’t help but notice questions around QR Codes on various marketing community forums.
Can you redirect a QR Code?
How do I change the content of QR Codes?
Have a similar concern? Or something else? With this guide I aim to address all queries around dynamic QR Codes, creating marketing campaigns in 2021 and selecting the best dynamic QR code generator. So if you want to :
Then you’ll love this new guide!
FUNDAMENTALS | ADVANTAGES | USE-CASES | BEST QR CODE GENERATOR | CREATE & EDIT | HIGH CONVERTING CAMPAIGNS
A dynamic QR code is editable, and it has the potential to change the landing page or linked action – even after printing and distributing. This flexibility is in terms of the time (varies based on season, day of the week, or a one-time launch) and device used for scanning.
Using a dynamic QR Code Generator to create dynamic QR codes helps you rotate campaigns linked to it without needing to reprint the QR Code and redistribute.
In simple terms, a dynamic QR Code is also a changeable QR Code.
When you create a dynamic QR code on Beaconstac –
Consumers could either use their smartphone camera or a scanner app to scan the QR Code
No, they don’t. Dynamic QR Codes look just like a normal QR Code, but they work differently. Having said that, you can customize your dynamic QR Codes with colors, logos, and shapes. Here are few inspirations for a dynamic QR Code –
QR codes have seen a resurgence in its usage in the last couple of years. This massive upturn can be attributed to two major factors –
The pandemic has also pushed QR Codes to the prominence given how we are moving towards a contactless world. Using a dynamic QR Code generator, restaurants can power contactless menus that they can keep changing on the fly. Establishments can keep updating contactless visitor forms in compliance with their local and state governments. Businesses can make up for a reduced workforce by using a dynamic QR Code generator to create dynamic QR Codes that assist with sales, product demos, reveal product information, help to upsell to users, and even re-order after purchase.
Related: Beaconstac leads the way to a contactless world | Forbes
Black-and-white QR codes that redirect to a fixed URL are something that most of us would have experienced by 2021.
But dynamic QR codes take this to the next level.
Dynamic QR codes vs Static QR codes in detail
Static QR codes | Dynamic QR codes |
Once created, the destination URL cannot be changed | Have the flexibility to change the URL linked to it – even after printing and distributing |
Stores the data directly in the QR code graphic | Stores a short dynamic URL on the QR code graphic |
QR codes that store complex data look extremely dense | These QR codes are lesser dense images and are more reliable to scan. |
One cannot track the performance of a static QR code | The performance of a dynamic QR code can be tracked |
You will come across innumerable generators on your quest for the best dynamic QR Code generator. But how are you going to find the best one?
You should look for features that can help in your marketing, promotions, or brand awareness campaigns.
Below are 8 must-have features of a dynamic QR Code generator that will tick all the right boxes of your checklist.
These are the 8 main features of a great dynamic QR Code generator. Let us explain why each feature is important.
Imagine a scenario where your promotional materials are ready for print, but your landing page is still under development. It can set your campaign back if you wait for the landing page to be completed. In this case, a dynamic QR Code generator can come to your rescue.
You can have a dummy URL attached to the QR Code or link it to your existing website. Once the landing page is complete, you can switch the URL in seconds.
Let’s say your product/service offering changes every month or every week. The QR Code you generated for the same also should change its URL. But if it doesn’t have unlimited change capabilities, you might end up with a disabled QR Code. The best dynamic QR Code generators let you change the URL an infinite number of times.
Another important advantage of a dynamic QR Code generator is its scheduling feature. It lets you set up your landing page URLs according to the time of the day or day of the week. Having this feature saves a lot of time and resources as you don’t have to change the URLs manually.
Let’s say you are working on a campaign for many locations with different languages. You may think of creating separate QR Codes for each location.
But what if the QR Code can display information based on the language setting of the smartphone? Wouldn’t that be nice? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about creating multiple QR Codes for each location. You will then be able to serve information based on the location.
Assuming that you have many marketing collaterals for your campaign. These include printed PDFs, landing pages, and pictures. A dynamic QR Code generator that allows you to change the QR Code type after creation is perfect for such a campaign.
You can start off with one type of QR Code and later change it to another.
Black looks good on Batman, not on a QR Code. Simple black and white QR Codes are a thing of the past. This is the age of personalization with advanced customization and a QR Code should also represent the same. Dynamic QR Code generators should allow you to modify each element of the QR Code to align with your branding or offer templates to easily customize your QR Code.
Most QR Code Generators give you basic analytics – location, time, and date of the scan. The best QR Code Generators offer robust analytics and deeper insights into the audience. You should be able to export reports to feed into your CRM, view users by device, day and location. You should also have the option to integrate an analytics tool like Google Analytics to get more information about users that are scanning your dynamic QR Code.
Dynamic QR Codes extends the lifetime of the generated QR Code since the user destination can be edited and replaced with a new destination without replacing it with a fresh QR Code each time.
A single dynamic QR Code can redirect the user to any destination and can be deployed with the agility to retask the QR Code as and when required.
High traffic restaurants and supermarkets often want to change their offers and prices dynamically based on how the offer performs. With detailed QR Code tracking and analytics, measure scans, when the scan took place, where and with what device. FIne-tune campaigns for maximum success
Cosmetic brands and F&B brands have great opportunities for engaging with a customer for an elongated time duration via a QR code on the product or the packaging. Be it a new product launch, month’s special, re-ordering or a season’s special, rotate campaigns linked to a QR code and re-engage with your existing customer base.
With dynamic QR codes, one can plan flexible marketing campaigns to boost conversion and make it extremely relevant. Also, save time and hundreds of dollars!
One might make a mistake while entering a URL, phone number on a vCard, or an email address. In the case of a static QR code, the only option is to re-create a QR code, re-print and re-distribute. On the other hand, dynamic QR codes are easy to edit or update.
Dynamic QR codes have short URLs assigned to them that redirect to desired destinations. This means that it stores fewer characters as compared to a static QR code that stores data directly. As a result of which, dynamic QR codes can be scanned faster and easier.
You know how to use a dynamic QR Code generator. But do you know how to scan dynamic QR Codes?
Reading or scanning a dynamic QR Code isn’t all that different from a static or regular QR Code. Just aim your smartphone’s camera at the QR Code and you will see a link pop up. Click on the link to trigger the associated action.
It is the variable nature of the information that separates between a static and dynamic QR Code. A static QR Code will always show the same results after each scan. While the dynamic QR Code can be generated to show different results each time you scan it, based on the location or your smartphone’s language setting.
Dynamic QR Codes are typically decluttered – since they are relatively small in size and precisely structured.
Dynamic QR Codes leverage short URLs that prompts them to be scanned quickly, thus allowing more features to be included in one single dynamic QR Code. Static QR Codes purports design limitations due to its inability to accommodate more data, deeming it to be cluttering.
Marketing campaigns require constant fine-tuning to deliver a successful campaign. With dynamic QR Code campaigns, you can modify the contents of the campaign in real-time.
Link the dynamic QR Code to your campaign website, or a landing page to modify, respond, and evaluate the campaign metrics even if it is already printed.
I have identified some of the most common industries that can leverage dynamic QR codes. Nevertheless, almost all industries can borrow from these use cases and build a powerful QR code campaign.
Most reputable CBD companies in recent times have either switched or are switching to QR codes on packaging to ensure abiding by CBD regulations. Not just that, adding a QR code to a physical product unlocks a host of marketing and communication opportunities for the brand.
With a dynamic QR Code on product packaging, CBD companies link to required certifications of analysis and other required information such as expiration date, the concentration of CBD, etc. This also allows companies to measure engagement with product packaging.
Gaining exposure and brand recognition on social media not only boosts sales and revenue, but also helps the brand in putting themselves on the global map.
Creating dynamic QR Codes for social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help businesses of any size to scale up their marketing efforts and have more followers.
Create a dynamic QR Code for the social media platform of your choice, and link the QR Code to a landing page, portfolio, or even use it simply as a like button to promote your business.
While making a smart choice for your business, consider that following factors –
BONUS FEATURES
Based on this, you may be able to choose a decent dynamic QR Code generator. But how do you know that it will work for your industry?
Here’s what you should look for based on your industry:
Right off the bat, for a CPG company a dynamic QR Code is crucial. Often the packaging redesign happens months before the campaign is launched. Having a dynamic QR Code helps them change it to the actual URL once the campaign is live.
But is creating a dynamic QR Code enough? No.
A long term trusted solution
The packaging with the QR Code can be in circulation for months or even years after the campaign expires. Here’s where the security aspect comes into play. Using any solution that allows you to create dynamic QR Codes isn’t the same as choosing a trusted solution that you know will ensure your campaign’s domain is still up and running or help you redirect it to your website.
Too often companies have QR Codes on their packaging that leads users nowhere, a broken link or to a malicious website (if a hacker snaps up the campaign domain). This negative experience can dissuade users from scanning QR Codes again.
More than just scan analytics
Google is slowly phasing out the use of third party cookies which spells bad news for CPG companies. The ability to tailor the product and marketing campaigns based on users that purchase the product is a crucial element to selling more of the same product and cross selling.
Most generators will give you scan analytics – the number of scans, clicks and CTR. But what you need is the ability to integrate Google Analytics, export data to feed into your CRM and the ability to view location data.
Using your own custom domain on the QR Code campaign and collecting user data with their consent is also a great way to build zero party data.
Creating a Dynamic QR Code is as easy as creating a static one. Follow these steps to create a dynamic QR Code –
Step 1 – Select the type of QR Code you are looking to create
Step 2 – Embed the URL
Step 3 – Customize the dynamic QR Code to increase customer engagement
Step 4 – Download your dynamic QR Code!
Sign up for a 14-day free trial of the Beaconstac QR solution
(Make sure you select options available under the “dynamic QR Code section”. Let’s say you want to create a QR Code for a website.
For eg, the campaign landing page for the current month is freshbakes[dot]com/October-favorites. Your QR Code ready by this step. However, if you are looking to customize the QR Code, proceed to the next step
Get creative with the QR Code color, the background color, logo in the center, data patterns, custom eye shapes, and more. Here’s a QR Code customization guide from our in-house design team that might be helpful.
There are multiple experiments you can run with a dynamic QR Code campaign. Here are a few of them –
Let’s talk about each of the above-mentioned cases individually.
As a business, the offers you push on weekends are very different from the weekday offers. Also, the offers for breakfast are different from the dinner offers. With Beaconstac “schedules” to can create timed campaigns and link them to QR Codes. This campaign delivery automation not just makes the offering more helpful and engaging, but also increases sales.
These campaigns could be business websites, mobile landing pages created on Beaconstac (markdown cards), or forms.
Need to change the campaign mid-month? You can! Just edit the schedule and you are good to go.
Your QR code could be linked to one of the following –
To update the information simply follow the steps below –
(Let’s take a vCard QR Code for example)
Step 1: Click on “Edit” the QR Code
Step 2: Skip to “Setup” on the progress bar
Step 3: Edit the field you want. Let’s say, the mobile number
Step 4: Finish and save changes
There’s no right or wrong way to build a high converting QR Code campaign with Dynamic QR Codes. But, there are some actionable tips based on marketing experts and past campaigns.
#1. Add your logo: A branded QR Code gets far more scans than one without a QR Code. It also instills trust in your consumer and is real for brand awareness. Upload a square version of your logo for the best results.
#2. Add a CTA: A call-to-action that shows exactly what the QR Code is intended for can not only greatly increase the number of scans but also target the right audience. For instance, if you have 50% off on women’s jeans, only the intended audience will scan the QR Code and avail the offer and you don’t risk disappointing other consumers.
#3. QR Code design: For your QR Code to have more scans, it should stand out from others. Design your QR Code by changing the elements of the QR Code to align it with the rest of your branding. You can use a template if you’re unsure of where to start or adopt a trial and error approach to design your QR Code.
QR Codes are an ideal tool to connect the offline world to the online world.
Especially in 2020 (Covid-19) when the focus entirely on creating a touch-free world, dynamic QR Code generators have a major role to play. Since the information and restrictions change quite often, dynamic QR Codes can be updated as frequently as required.
Dynamic QR Codes for restaurants – As a result of the pandemic storm, restaurant operations and menus are limited to basics. Using static QR Codes will force reprinting them when restaurants decide to resume operation in full swing. However, with a dynamic QR Code generator, you can create a code that keeps up with you. You can change the menu on the fly.
Dynamic QR Code generators for the CPG industry – Consumer brands, especially the ones built on the DTC model, are looking to build establish multiple touchpoints with consumers. With dynamic QR Codes, the brand has the flexibility to show a different message/campaign each time the consumer scans. Explore how brands like Nestle and Puma use dynamic QR Codes for their marketing campaigns.
Using a dynamic QR Code generator ensures you save time and money and create a code that can be reused multiple times. This is especially important when it comes to print marketing and outdoor advertising.
Businesses prefer a dynamic QR Code generator due to the opportunity of collecting first-part data. With Google Analytics integration and native analytics, you can run A/B tests on your audience by switching out variables in real-time if required.
I am fascinated by tech-driven marketing. Love to read & write about entrepreneurship and tech-driven business strategies for B2B and B2C companies. Have b(e)acon and eggs for breakfast and always up for doughnuts!
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This blog was originally published on August 30th, 2019 at 12:31 pm