“We print hundreds of thousands of flyers, brochures, etc., each year, and knowing that we have access to dynamic QR Codes means that we don’t have to worry about reprinting when our URLs change. Customer service has also been a real plus.”
Jonathan D, Director of Digital Communications.
Table of contents
- What is a dynamic QR Code?
- How to create dynamic QR Codes?
- How do dynamic QR Codes work?
- Choosing the best dynamic QR Code generator
- Dynamic QR Code campaign inspirations
- Frequently asked questions
What is a dynamic QR code?
A dynamic QR Code is a functional QR Code that has the flexibility to be updated. Unlike static QR Codes, that have the information directly encoded, dynamic QR Codes follow a redirection mechanism. Dynamic QR Codes are preferred because their scan performance can be tracked.
Why is a dynamic QR Code generator the preferred choice for digital-first businesses?
The 2020 pandemic changed the way consumers consume information. And, a brand’s digital presence is not a choice anymore. QR Codes have been instrumental in connecting the physical brand’s assets, such as stores, flyers, and products to digital experiences. But the question is, why is a dynamic QR Code and by that extension, a dynamic QR Code generator preferred. Is a static QR Code not good enough? The short answer is, no. Let’s understand why that is the case.
Benefit 1: Editable QR Codes keep your campaigns up-to-date
Think of a coffee packet with a dynamic QR Code. This QR Code can link to cold coffee recipes in the summer, steaming cappuccino & mocha recipes in the winter – not to forget – keeping up with the Dalgona coffee trend! Basically, a dynamic QR Code empowers you with flexibility. Starting with a static QR Code might be limiting as you scale up, but that’s not the case with dynamic QR Codes.
Benefit 2: Dynamic QR is faster to scan
Smooth CX is the key to loyal customers. Imagine if your consumer was struggling to scan your QR Code. She would not only miss out on the designed experience, but also have an unpleasant experience with your brand.
Dynamic QR Codes, on the other hand, are shortened URLs converted into QR patterns. Given that the URL is short, the data patterns are not as dense as regular QR Codes. Scant data patterns make it easy for cameras and QR scanners to detect them. This not just makes your QR Codes look cleaner but also amplifies the consumer experience.
Benefit 3: A dynamic QR Code is trackable
QR Code is a call-to-action button on the physical world. And just like any other campaign, it’s essential to measure to improve them. The regular static QR Codes lack that capability. With dynamic QR Codes, you can track the scans, monitor user behavior, and know consumers better.
Here are 3 different ways to track dynamic QR Codes
- Head to the Beaconstac dashboard and check out the analytics for your dynamic QR Code. This is the easiest way to track scans and attribute numbers to certain GPS locations, devices, or even time slots.
- However, if you attribute scans to certain campaigns, and push data into your existing CRM, you can add UTM parameters to the link. (You can create campaign UTM links here).
- You can also connect the Beaconstac dashboard with Google Analytics using our integration and understand your user’s demography and interests better.
Benefit 4: A good dynamic QR Code generator makes future expansion a breeze
Static QR Codes are limiting. Once you add them to a packaging or marketing collateral, you cannot reuse them. That’s not ideal for growing businesses. You are launching new campaigns, announcing new stores, and testing new product positioning every month or even week.
Instead, if you use dynamic QR Codes, you can always upgrade your offering, location, contact details, and more to what’s most relevant.
If you want to dig deeper into the two types check this – Dynamic QR Codes are better than static QR Codes.
Looks like dynamic QR Codes are the way ahead. Are regular QR Codes dead?
For businesses, absolutely! Performance tracking and campaign personalization are the pillars of any successful digital marketing campaign. And so is the case with dynamic QR Codes.
Static QR Codes are often restricted to individual use cases such as job applicants linking to portfolios or students submitting an assignment.
How to create a dynamic QR Code – in four quick steps
- Choose a dynamic QR Code generator and sign up for a free trial
- Toggle the QR type switch to dynamic
- Fill in the required QR details
- Customize the QR Code if required
How to modify/update a dynamic QR Code once it’s created?
- To do this you need to login into your dynamic QR Code solution, for eg, the Beaconstac dashboard
- Click on “Edit the QR Code”
- Replace the old link with the new one
How do dynamic QR Codes work?
QR Codes are encoded versions of a URL or information. In a regular QR Code, the data is directly encoded into squares and dots. However, a dynamic QR Code works differently. Instead of pointing directly at the information, it points at a short URL. You can later decide where the short URL should redirect.
Best dynamic QR Code generator?
Choosing software is not straightforward. Bloggers, in their recommendations, gravitate towards the highest affiliate commissions, and companies boast about their features. To answer the question – Which is the best dynamic QR Code solution – I am keeping it simple. Let’s look at what people are recommending.
Read more Beaconstac reviews discussing dynamic QR Codes here
Anyhow, here are six things that only Beaconstac’s dynamic QR Code generator can do –
With so many QR Code solution options available on the internet that have overlapping functionalities, it’s challenging to pick the one that works for your business. So, instead of comparing features, I thought I’d showcase unique and essential things you can do only with Beaconstac’s dynamic QR Code solution.
First, an API for creating dynamic QR Codes
Beaconstac is the only QR solution that has an API for dynamic QR Codes. This superpower helps global brands like yours integrate QR Code creation at a large scale with the rest of the marketing process.
Second, retargeting users who scan dynamic QR Codes
Think about the last time you retargeted a user on Facebook after they visited your website. The merits of that are apparent – reminding users what they loved about your brand helps win them over.
The same marketing flywheel is possible with consumers who visited your physical store, or attended an event, or used a trial pack of your product.
When users scan a Beaconstac QR Code in their physical world, it stores a cookie on the user’s smartphone. As a result of this, you can retarget them on most social media channels.
Third, Google Analytics powered user insights
Dynamic QR Codes are the easiest and most cost-effective way to know your users, understand their interests, and even monitor their behavior.
QR Codes themselves don’t track a user. However, when you connect your Beaconstac account to Google Analytics, the website that the user visits is tracked.
As a virtue of the information Google possesses, you can deduce the users’ interests, the gender ratio, and so much more.
Fourth, the safest dynamic QR Code generator
We understand security is a deal maker or breaker, and we take it very seriously. However, one can never be complacent about security measures.
Therefore, we ran our current procedures and systems by security experts. These experts certified us as SOC-2 compliant. SOC-2 compliance, in simple terms, mean we are better prepared to handle any threat coming our way.
Fifth, dynamic QR Code generator with unlimited scans
To be honest, the number of scans depends on the plan you subscribe to. However, if you are expecting anything more than 100,000 scans, you can upgrade to our Enterprise plan that supports unlimited scans.
If you’re looking at that option, reach out to our sales team, and they’ll indeed work out the best pricing for your needs.
Sixth, dynamic QR Codes coupled with DIY mobile landing pages
Like all great combos – dynamic QR Codes and DIY mobile landing pages – are built for winning campaigns!
Just like you build a drag-and-drop website with Wix or a DIY survey with Typeform, you can use Beaconstac to make a mobile landing page for your QR Code campaigns.
You could choose from templates or build one from scratch. But either way, it doesn’t take more than 10 mins or a developer.
And the reason I say the combo works best because every time you plan to change the campaign linked to your QR Code, you can build a quick and easy landing page or just change the copy on it. All these changes are implemented in real-time.
Cost of a dynamic QR Code generator
- You can create 3 dynamic QR Codes as low as $5/month.
- To scale up, you can create 50 dynamic QR Codes for $12.5/month.
- You can also upgrade to higher plans for more QR Codes and a higher number of scans.
A dynamic QR Code generator creates codes that redirect to different types of content
Are you wondering what these different tabs represent? These are the types of dynamic QR Codes that you can create. In order of popularity, the top three types of dynamic QR Codes are –
- Website QR Code – Convert any URL into a dynamic QR Code. This is preferred if you already have a website URL in mind.
- Restaurant Menu QR Code – This is specially designed for restaurants looking to switch their physical menus with a digital QR Code menu. It is a sophisticated and comprehensive depiction of an efficient digital menu.
- App download QR Code – Placing app download links on a packaging or poster is tricky because in most cases there are 2 links – App Store and Google Play. However, with a dynamic app download QR Code, it’s taken care of. Depending on the device used for scanning, the QR Code presents one of those two links.
Need inspirations/examples for setting up your dynamic QR campaigns?
Restaurants using a contactless menu solution
Have multiple digital menus – breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and drinks. But instead of having separate QR Codes for lunch and dinner menus, you could use a dynamic QR Code that redirects based on the time of the day. That means when diners scan the QR Code menu during lunchtime, they only see the lunch menu.
At a certain day of the week (determined by you), you can also automatically redirect diners to a special menu or a trimmed down menu.
Consumer packaged goods keeping their consumers engaged
Brands like Cocokind and Lush want to keep their millennial audience engaged by sharing their sustainability story. But these stories evolve. The latest and greatest in sustainability sets new benchmarks every month or every quarter. However, changing the QR Code on the product packaging every month is absolutely impossible. This is where dynamic QR Codes are super useful.
Brands can also keep updating the QR Code on the packaging with the latest YouTube video, or the latest products launched.
Schools & universities use dynamic QR Codes to make learning engaging
Universities and libraries such as Barrhead Public Library use dynamic QR codes for interactive story walks in their community, show book recommendations, and share videos – all in a rotatable fashion.
Frequently asked questions about dynamic QR Codes and a QR generator
1. Are dynamic QR Codes safe to use?
Absolutely! A Dynamic QR Code is a way to trigger an action but with the consent of the user. The user has to interact with a notification initiated to proceed with the link.
2. Is a dynamic QR Code generator free to use?
Beaconstac’s dynamic QR Code generator is free to use for 14-days. After the trial period expires, you have to upgrade to a paid plan.
3. Is multi-URL QR Code the same as dynamic QR Codes?
Multi-URL QR Code is not the same as dynamic QR Code. Multi-URL QR Code provides multiple link choices to the user to choose from. However, a dynamic QR Code is a smart redirection.
4. Can dynamic QR Code creation be automated?
Yes, you can automate the process of creating dynamic QR Codes by using Beaconstac’s API. You can also create QR Codes directly from a Google Sheet as well using our Zapier integration.
5. What is the difference between dynamic and static QR Codes?
A static QR Codes always redirect to the same URL. However, with a dynamic QR Code, you can change the URL easily. Dynamic QR Codes are also trackable and easily scannable.
6. How do I track a dynamic QR Code?
Login to the Beaconstac dashboard to monitor the performance of your dynamic QR Codes. You can slice and dice the scans by device, location, and campaign.
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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Explore how to use multi-lingual QR Codes to communicate with your global audience and connect the physical and digital worlds.
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