WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned behemoth, is widely known as just a messenger app to connect with friends and family globally.
Starting a conversation with someone new was a tedious task. The messenger app relies on adding a new contact to your phone’s address book, which is an added step when you just want to message someone without the hassle.
As of January 2020, WhatsApp has about 2 billion users. The opportunity for businesses and marketers of all sizes and industry verticals to instantly interact with their customers is immense.
The latest WhatsApp QR Code feature, available for both iOS and Android users, lets you add contacts in a jiffy, start a conversation with anyone instantly, and help marketers and businesses talk to their customers seamlessly with a single scan.
WhatsApp QR Code: How does it work?
WhatsApp QR Codes can be used to save a contact, start a conversation, and even add someone to a group by scanning a QR Code.
Anyone can add you to their contacts on WhatsApp by merely scanning your WhatsApp QR Code. This helps in saving a contact quickly as opposed to the previous method of adding their name and number manually.
This also helps marketers and individuals in starting a conversation quickly without taking the long route.
Want to know more about QR Codes? Read this.
How to scan a WhatsApp QR Code
#1 Scan WhatsApp QR Code in person
- Open WhatsApp > Settings
- Tap on the QR Code icon displayed next to your name
- Tap Scan > OK
- Hold your smartphone over the QR Code to scan
- Tap Add to Contacts
#2 Scan WhatsApp QR Code using the WhatsApp camera
- Open WhatsApp > open Camera
- Hold your smartphone over the QR Code to scan
- Tap Add to Contacts
Note – Users with iPhone 6S and newer versions, tap and hold the WhatsApp icon on your home screen to view the quick action menu. Tap the Camera icon to open the WhatsApp camera to scan the WhatsApp QR Code.
#3 Scan WhatsApp QR Code from Photos
- Open WhatsApp > Settings
- Tap on the QR Code icon displayed next to your name
- Tap Scan and then click on the Photos icon on the bottom of your screen
- Select the WhatsApp QR Code from your photos
- Tap on Add to Contacts
#4 Scan WhatsApp QR Code from the new contact screen
- Open WhatsApp > tap New Chat
- Tap New Contact > Add via QR Code
- Hold your smartphone over the QR Code to scan or tap the Photos icon on the bottom of your screen and select the WhatsApp QR Code from your Photos
- Tap Add to Contacts
#5 Scan WhatsApp QR Code within a chat
- Open WhatsApp and go to a group chat or an individual chat
- Tap the Camera icon
- Now, tap the Photos icon on the bottom of your screen
- Select the WhatsApp QR Code from your photos
- Tap Add to Contacts
WhatsApp Web: Start a conversation on your computer with WhatsApp Web QR Code
To use WhatsApp web on your computer,
- Open WhatsApp on your phone
- Tap Menu or Settings and tap WhatsApp Web
- Point your camera on the screen to scan WhatsApp QR Code
How can businesses leverage WhatsApp QR Codes?
When it comes to businesses connecting with their customers digitally, there are not enough platforms that allow them to start conversations quickly to resolve issues or even share their catalogs.
With over 2 billion WhatsApp users, businesses and marketers expanding to WhatsApp are only beneficial.
The latest WhatsApp Business App is a free app built, especially for businesses and marketers to provide customer support, deliver essential notifications, and start conversations with customers quickly.
The WhatsApp Business App already has over 50 million monthly active users, according to Facebook.
The WhatsApp Business App can help you to –
- Create a catalog to display your products and services, connect with your customers by using tools to automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages
- Create a business profile with your address, business description, email address, and website
- Make use of quick replies to save and reuse messages to answer common questions
- Organize your contacts or chats with labels to find them easily
- Send automated messages when you are unable to answer your customers, send greetings, and even introduce yourself
To download WhatsApp Business App for your business,
How can I view my WhatsApp QR Code?
To view your WhatsApp QR Code,
Android
- Open WhatsApp > tap More Options > Settings
- Tap the QR Code displayed next to your name
iOS
- Open WhatsApp > Settings
- Tap the QR Code displayed next to your name
How can I share my WhatsApp QR Code?
To share your WhatsApp QR Code,
Android
- Open WhatsApp > tap More Options > Settings
- Tap the QR Code displayed next to your name
- Tap Share
- Select a contact or an app to share
- You can also choose to –
- Crop or rotate the QR Code image
- Add a message in the text field
- Tap Back to revert changes you made to your QR Code
6. Tap Send
iOS
- Open WhatsApp > Settings
- Tap the QR Code displayed next to your name
- Tap the Share button
- Select the app to share
- Tap Send
How can I reset my WhatsApp QR Code?
To reset your WhatsApp QR Code,
- Open WhatsApp > Settings
- Tap the QR Code displayed next to your name
- Tap Reset QR Code > Reset > OK
What can I do with WhatsApp QR Codes?
1. Start conversations instantly
Be it for business or individual purposes, start a conversation instantly by simply scanning the WhatsApp QR Code that can be embedded into your storefronts, product packaging, or even receipts.
You can even set a pre-defined message sent as soon as one scans the QR Code to initiate a conversation.
To create a QR Code to send a pre-defined message for your personal number,
1. Create your own link
Use https://wa.me/<number> where the <number> is a full phone number with the country code. Omit any zeroes, brackets, or dashes when adding the phone number with the country code.
For instance,
Use – https://wa.me/1xxxxxxxxxx
Don’t use – https://wa.me/+001-(xxx) xxxxxxx
Scan the generated QR Code to open WhatsApp chat to start a conversation.
2. Create your own link with a pre-defined message
When you set a pre-defined message, it will automatically appear in the text field of a chat.
Use https://wa.me/whatsappphonenumber/?text=urlencodedtext where whatsappphonenumber is a full phone number in international format and urlencodedtext is the URL-encoded pre-defined message.
Example –
https://wa.me/19876554566/?text=I’m%20interested%20in%20your%20car%20for%20sale
To create a link with a pre-filled message, use https://wa.me/?text=urlencodedtext
Example –
https://wa.me/?text=Welcome%20to%20Embassy%20the%20Estates
After clicking on the link, you will be shown a list of contacts you can send the messages to.
Create a vCard QR Code for your business
2. Track and analyze scans effortlessly
Track the success of your campaign by following the statistics of your campaign closely. Learn where the QR Code was scanned, the number of times it was scanned, the OS used, and other important information that can help you fine-tune your campaign.
Learn how to track QR Code scans
3. Add and invite people to groups with a quick scan
Add as many people you want to your group with the WhatsApp QR Code.
To add people to a group,
- Open WhatsApp and go to any group
- Tap on the group name
- Click on Invite via link
- Tap on the QR Code icon to share and invite people to join
4. Enhance customer service for businesses
WhatsApp Business App helps businesses and marketers always be present for their customers by initiating conversations for complaints, doubts, and even placing an order via the chat facility by scanning a QR Code.
With the apps messaging tools, businesses can instantly send back information to get the conversation going.
5. Authenticate user on WhatsApp web
With the help of WhatsApp QR Code, authenticate your WhatsApp account to open conversations on WhatsApp web by scanning your WhatsApp QR Code from your smartphone on the browser.
To open WhatsApp web,
- Open WhatsApp web
- Open WhatsApp on your smartphone
- Tap Settings > select WhatsApp Web
- Point your smartphone camera to scan the QR Code to open conversations
Who can use WhatsApp QR Codes?
1. Retail
Make use of WhatsApp QR Codes to place an order, book a class, or even arrange a pick-up by directly initiating a WhatsApp conversation.
Place WhatsApp QR Codes on your product packaging, receipts, or storefronts, so customers scan it. Offer coupons or loyalty cards for scanning the WhatsApp QR Code, offer a free product or even use it to receive complaints and feedback.
Want to learn more about QR Code based loyalty programs?
2. Restaurants
Utilize WhatsApp QR Code on your website or on your QR Code menus to place an order online.
Help customers track their orders, cancel their orders, and even talk to a customer care executive to help.
3. Small businesses
With most messaging services priced at exorbitant prices, WhatsApp Business App helps you move your business online without emptying your pockets.
Make use of WhatsApp QR Codes to help customers place their orders, track their orders, ask questions, and even receive feedback.
4. eCommerce
Raising complaints or getting in touch with a customer care executive is tedious, especially with eCommerce companies.
With WhatsApp QR Codes, make the process easier for your customers to get in touch with you. Encourage them to scan the QR Code to raise a ticket, ask questions about their orders, track their orders, and even leave feedback.
5. Hospitality sector
Make use of WhatsApp QR Code so customers can book a room online or make reservations in your hotel right away.
Learn how contactless solutions can be leveraged for a safe reopening of hotels post-COVID
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I create a QR Code for my WhatsApp?
You do not have to create a separate QR Code for WhatsApp necessarily. To open your WhatsApp QR Code, simply open your WhatsApp > Settings > Find QR Code next to your name.
Share this QR Code on any printed material, app, or with anyone on WhatsApp by clicking on Share once you open the WhatsApp QR Code.
2. Where is my WhatsApp QR Code?
Open WhatsApp > Settings > Tap the QR Code displayed next to your name.
3. Why can’t my WhatsApp QR Code be scanned?
Check if your smartphone camera supports QR Code scanning. If it does, then align the QR Code in a straight angle and scan the QR Code from a distance in a well-lit area.
If your smartphone camera does not support QR Code scanning, download any third-party QR Code scanning app to scan your WhatsApp QR Code.
Here is a list of the best QR Code scanning apps available on iOS and Android
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