Change QR Code Destination: How to Create & Redirect an Editable QR Code

CREATE EDITABLE QR CODES

Can I edit an existing QR Code to display the latest content? Is it possible to change the destination of a QR Code after printing it? Do I need to reproduce and reprint a QR Code every time I change its content?

If you’re looking for answers to these questions, you’ve come to the right place. 

Editable a.k.a dynamic QR Codes are what you need to accomplish the above-mentioned use cases and more. Let’s learn all about this category of QR Codes.

Table of contents

1. What is an editable QR Code?
2. How to create an editable QR Code
3. How does QR Code redirect work?
4. How to change the QR Code destination
5. When can redirecting an existing QR Code save time and money?
6. What type of QR Codes are editable
7. How to track the data for your editable QR Codes
8. Conclusion
9. FAQs

What is an editable QR Code?

An editable QR Code lets you change a QR Code’s content or destination, essentially eliminating the need to reproduce or reprint it. Out of the two QR Code categories—static and dynamic—this editing functionality is only possible for dynamic QR Codes.

Additionally, editable or dynamic QR Codes let you track QR scan data and retarget users on Google and Facebook—something which static QR Codes don’t allow.

Learn more about the difference between static and dynamic QR Codes.

How to create an editable QR Code

With Beaconstac’s dynamic QR Code generator, you can easily and quickly make editable QR Codes. Here’s how:

1. Log in to Beaconstac’s dashboard and navigate to the ‘QR Codes’ section on the left.

Note –  To create editable QR Codes, you need to either purchase dynamic QR Codes (Beaconstac’s plans start at $8 a month) or get started with a 14-day free trial (no credit card required).

2. Click on ‘Create QR Code’ to get started.

3. Select the QR Code type you wish to create under the ‘Dynamic QR Code’ section.

Note – It’s crucial to select QR Codes from this section, as only dynamic QR Codes are editable after creation.

For our demonstration, we are selecting a website URL QR Code.

4. Enter all relevant information for the QR Code chosen.

5. Customize the QR Code. 

Personalize your editable QR Code. Try out different templates, data patterns, frames, CTA texts, and more.

6. Test, save, and download the QR Code.

That’s it! Your editable QR Code is ready to be deployed.

Check out this video tutorial on how to create editable QR Codes, hassle-free.

How does QR Code redirect work?

Editable QR Codes offer editing functionality due to their QR Code redirect mechanism. 

A regular or static QR Code contains information that is directly encoded into the code’s data pattern and redirects straight to the destination upon scanning.

Whereas an editable or a dynamic QR Code, when scanned, points towards a server that stores the destination URL and automatically redirects the user to the designated content. This server allows for changing the content or destination URL as and when required to redirect an existing QR Code.

How to change the QR Code destination

To change the destination of a QR Code, here’s what you need to do:

1. Log in to Beaconstac’s dashboard and click on the ‘QR Codes’ section.

2. Click on ‘Edit’ next to the existing QR Code you want to redirect.

For our demonstration, we are changing the destination URL for an existing website QR Code.

3. Update the destination URL/content for the QR Code and save it.

That’s it! Your existing QR Code will now redirect to the new destination upon scanning.

When can redirecting an existing QR Code save time and money?

#1 When restaurants regularly update their QR Code menus

Suppose a restaurant has printed QR Code menus across its establishment to enable contactless dining. After some time, the management decides to refresh the menu. Now, if not for editable QR Codes, the restaurant will have to reproduce and reprint the codes and reinstall them.

Using changeable QR Codes, the restaurant can edit its menu whenever required and update the QR Code content. Customers will always view the most updated menu upon scanning. This significantly saves printing costs and the time and effort required to install new QR Codes throughout the restaurant.

#2 When realtors want to showcase the latest available properties

As COVID restrictions severely hit the real estate industry, top realtors extensively leveraged QR Codes to make house-hunting safe for prospects. One popular use case was to install a QR Code on real estate signs that led prospects to a list of all available properties in a particular area. 

What if a particular property is sold out and realtors want to update their prospects about it? They can do so by modifying their editable QR Code content in real-time and letting people scan the code as it is. Not only does this keep prospects updated about the latest available properties but also eliminates the need to reprint QR Codes.

#3 When marketers want to update ongoing campaign details

As per Statista, nearly 50% of shoppers in the US scanned a marketing-related QR Code during April-June 2021. Moreover, QR Code usage is expected to double in 2022 as 75% of US respondents say they plan to use QR Codes going forward.

What does this mean?

It simply means that marketers will continue to leverage QR Codes for their marketing and promotional campaigns. And as campaigns evolve, marketers need to change the QR Code content to reflect the latest offers, discounts, and catalogs. This is where editable QR Codes can help marketers significantly save time, effort, and reprinting costs.

All they need to do is change the QR Code content to showcase the latest promotions, while customers continue to scan the codes and avail the latest offers.

#4 When companies want to change their business location

Suppose a company that drives lots of footfalls to their business location via QR Codes across the town decides to move their address.

Should the company create new QR Codes redirecting towards the updated location and reinstall them everywhere? No.

All they need to do is use changeable QR Codes and update its location to the new address. People can continue to scan the code as it is and get redirected to their new location.

#5 When professionals want to update their vCard contact details

Another situation where an editable QR Code can help is when a business professional wants to update their contact details on their vCard. Using a dynamic vCard QR Code, they can easily update their phone number, website, social media profile, etc., without having to reprint and redistribute the digital business card.

What type of QR Codes are editable

With Beaconstac, you can create several editable QR Codes best suited to your business needs and marketing campaigns.

URL QR Code to redirect to any website

A dynamic website QR Code lets you redirect users to any URL on the web. As these codes are editable, you can change the destination URL as many times as required without having to reproduce the QR Code.

QR restaurant menu for contactless dining

You can create editable QR restaurant menus to enable safe and contactless dining. Beaconstac also lets you display menus based on different categories (breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.) and disable menus that are not available during a particular time of the day. Moreover, you can include multilingual menus to cater to a wider audience.

PDF QR Code to share information quickly

Using changeable or dynamic PDF QR Codes, you can deliver mobile-friendly PDF files to share information on the go. Upon scanning, these PDFs directly open in a browser as opposed to forcing a download on the user’s smartphone.

Related: Here’s how to make a QR Code link to a PDF

Customizable landing page QR Code for marketing campaigns 

You can create customized landing pages (no coding required) directly on Beaconstac’s QR platform and link to them via editable QR Codes. These landing pages are mobile-friendly and can serve multiple purposes via a single campaign page.

Feedback QR Code to let customers easily rate you

With an editable feedback QR Code, you can use forms to receive reviews and ratings for your products and services. You can easily generate these interactive feedback forms on Beaconstac and edit them whenever required.

One app download QR Code for all app stores

You can link to your app on multiple app stores via a single editable app download QR Code. Upon scanning, the QR Code will automatically redirect the user to the relevant app store based on their mobile’s operating system.

vCard Plus QR Code to instantly share contact details 

With a single QR scan, a changeable vCard QR Code lets you share contact information such as name, phone number, email, website, location, designation, and more with prospects and clients. You can edit your business details as and when required without reprinting the QR Code, and users will continue to see your updated information upon scanning.

Location QR Code to drive more footfalls

Help people easily navigate to your physical business store/office via a location QR Code generator. This is incredibly user-friendly as people can just scan the code and get redirected to your location without having to manually search for it online. 

Since these QR Codes are editable in nature, you can update your location any time and always keep your customers updated.

Coupon QR Code to promptly deliver discounts

With editable coupon QR Codes, you can instantly deliver deals and offers to your customers. Make sure the QR contains either the coupon code or the URL to the online store with the discount code already applied at checkout. All users need to do is scan the code and avail the offers.

Audio QR Code to seamlessly share music

Artists and creators can easily share music/podcasts with their audience and bridge the gap between offline and online worlds via a changeable audio QR Code. This saves time for listeners as they can simply scan the code and stream content without manually searching for it.

Excel QR Code to accelerate data sharing within your organization

You can also create an editable Excel QR Code to instantly share Excel files with your team. Upon scanning, the QR Code redirects to spreadsheets holding business data, enabling easy mobile access and better productivity.

YouTube QR Code to boost engagement and conversion rates

Using a changeable YouTube QR Code, you can automatically lead users to any video directly within the YouTube app. YouTube QR Codes have use cases across industries—real estate, tourism, healthcare, CPG—and can help boost engagement and conversion rates for your video marketing campaigns.

How to track the data for your editable QR Codes

One of the main advantages of using editable or dynamic QR Codes is that they provide QR scan tracking and reporting. This data can help you double down on the best-performing campaigns and optimize or discontinue under-performing campaigns.

Here’s how you can track the data for your editable QR Codes with Beaconstac –

1. Log in to Beaconstac’s dashboard and navigate to the ‘Analytics’ section -> ‘QR Codes’.

2. Set the desired date range for which you want to track QR Code data.

3. Review the data available as per your requirements.

Here you can view the number of scans, top-performing campaigns, devices used, unique users, and scans by the time of the day, city, and country.

4. Click on ‘Export’ to receive a CSV file to the email associated with your account.

Beaconstac’s platform takes the tracking of editable QR Codes to the next level by letting you integrate Google Analytics to uncover deeper insights.

Once you connect Google Analytics with Beaconstac, you get access to the following data – 

1. User behavior – New users vs returning users, duration of visit, page views, and sessions.
2. Demographics – Native language, city, country, age, and gender.
3. System/Devices – Browser, operating system, and the service provider used to scan the QR Code.

Final thoughts: Why should you choose editable QR Codes over regular ones?

By now, you would have understood that using editable or dynamic QR Codes over regular or static ones is way more beneficial. Here is a summary of the advantages of changeable QR Codes –

Changeable QR Codes save your time, effort, and money

With editable QR Codes, you can update QR Code content and change destination URLs as many times as required. As a result, you don’t need to reproduce the QR Code, which ultimately saves reprinting costs for your business and the time and effort required to redistribute these codes.

Editable QR Codes are good for the environment 

Since you don’t need to reprint QR Codes to just update the content, businesses with massive operations can avoid overprinting paper on a large scale. This helps save a lot of paper and is ultimately good for our environment.

Always keep your customers updated with changeable QR Codes

Owing to a change in your marketing campaigns, promotional offers, contact details, or anything else, you can update the respective editable QR Code to reflect the changes. This makes sure that your prospects, clients, and customers are always presented with the latest content/information.

Editable QR Codes can help you rectify mistakes sooner

Suppose you went ahead with your QR Code marketing campaign, but upon scanning, it didn’t lead to the correct URL, or the link was broken. 

For instance, Heinz’s QR Code campaign was a PR disaster as a consumer in Germany claimed a QR Code on a ketchup bottle led to an adult website.

In another instance, Ikea’s in-store pamphlets featured app download QR Codes that didn’t lead users to the app.

With regular QR Codes, there is no way to fix such situations apart from generating new codes and reprinting and redistributing them.

Editable QR Codes can help avoid these situations since you can timely update them to reflect the correct destination. This also helps safeguard your brand image and prevent loss of revenue, depending on the campaign.

Or, if you wish to directly purchase editable QR Codes, you can head to our QR Code generator pricing page.

Frequently asked questions about changeable QR Codes

2. Can I redirect any previously used QR Codes to a new function?

Yes. Editable or dynamic QR Codes let you redirect a previously used QR Code to a new function. However, if you change the QR Code type altogether, you might need to print and promote it again.

3. Can you redirect an existing QR Code?

Yes. Changeable QR Codes allow you to update content or the destination URL and redirect your existing QR Code.

4. How long do editable QR Codes last?

Editable QR Codes last until your subscription is active. As soon as your plan expires, these QR Codes will stop functioning.

5. Can you use the same QR Code for everything you want to link?

Yes. With Beaconstac, you can create a mobile-first landing page with multiple destinations and easily convert it into a QR Code. Upon scanning, users will see all the links in one place and can click on the one they wish to visit.

6. Are QR Codes changeable?

Yes. Editable or dynamic QR Codes are changeable, while regular or static ones are not.

7. Can I change the destination of a QR Code after printing?

Absolutely! Editable QR Codes allow you to change the destination URL as many times as required. However, static QR Codes lack this functionality.

• Author Details

Author Details

Piyush Garg

Piyush is a Senior Content Marketer with Beaconstac. He loves indulging in conversations that can intellectually and spiritually develop his mind. Connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn and check out his blog.

[email protected]