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QR Codes for Marketing: How to Drive Traffic with Scannable Links

Published February 13, 2026

QR codes have evolved from a curiosity to a marketing staple. Restaurant menus, product packaging, event tickets, business cards, billboards — they're everywhere. And with smartphone cameras now natively recognizing QR codes, the barrier to scanning is essentially zero.

For marketers, QR codes bridge the gap between physical and digital. A poster on a wall becomes a clickable link. A product label becomes a landing page. Here's how to use them effectively.

Why QR Codes Work for Marketing

They Connect Offline to Online

This is the core value proposition. Any physical surface — paper, packaging, signage, clothing, even a coffee cup — can become a gateway to a website, video, form, or app. No typing required. Point, scan, arrive.

They're Trackable

When you generate a QR code from a short link (like iu.pe/summer-sale), every scan is a click on that link. That means you get full click analytics — total scans, scans over time, and even referrer data if the scanner's browser sends it.

This is a significant advantage over printing a plain URL. With a direct URL, you have no idea how many people actually typed it in. With a QR code linked to a tracked short URL, you know exactly how many scans it got.

They're Free and Instant

QR code generation is free. On LinkDisguiser, you click the QR button on any link and get a downloadable PNG instantly. No design tools, no third-party services, no subscriptions.

How to Create a QR Code with LinkDisguiser

Create a short link — Paste your destination URL and click Disguise. Consider using a custom shortcode so the human-readable text underneath the QR code is memorable.
Click the QR button — Either on the result card or in your My Links dashboard.
Download the PNG — Use the Download PNG button to save a high-quality QR code image ready for print or digital use.

The QR code is tied to your short link. If you later need to change where it points, just edit the link's destination. The QR code stays the same, but scans go to the new URL. This is one of the most powerful features of short-link-based QR codes.

QR Code Marketing Use Cases

Product Packaging

Add a QR code to your product packaging that links to setup instructions, warranty registration, a how-to video, or a customer feedback form. This is especially valuable for products with limited packaging space — the QR code replaces pages of printed instructions.

Business Cards

Replace long URLs on your business card with a QR code that links to your portfolio, LinkedIn profile, or contact vCard. It looks cleaner and makes it effortless for people to connect digitally.

Restaurant Menus and Retail Signage

The pandemic normalized QR code menus, and they're here to stay. Restaurants, retailers, and service businesses use QR codes for menus, product catalogs, appointment booking, and loyalty programs.

Event Marketing

Use QR codes on event posters, banners, and handouts to link to registration pages, schedules, or speaker bios. Track scans to measure which placements drove the most registrations.

Direct Mail

Direct mail campaigns see significantly higher engagement when they include QR codes. A postcard with a QR code that links to an exclusive offer converts better than one that asks the recipient to type a URL.

QR Code Best Practices

Size and Placement

Minimum size: At least 2 cm x 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) for close-range scanning. Larger for signs meant to be scanned from a distance.
Contrast: The code must have strong contrast against its background. Dark pattern on a light background works best.
Quiet zone: Leave white space around the QR code — don't crop it tight or place it against busy patterns.
Placement: Put it where people can easily hold their phone steady. Eye level on a wall, center of a table tent, top half of a flyer.

Include a Call-to-Action

A QR code by itself doesn't tell people what they'll get by scanning it. Always include a brief CTA nearby:

"Scan for 20% off"
"Scan to see the menu"
"Scan to watch the video"
"Scan to register"

Without context, many people will simply ignore the code.

Test Before Printing

Always scan your QR code with multiple devices before sending it to print. Test with both iPhone and Android. Test at the size it will actually appear. A QR code that works on screen at full size might not scan when shrunk down on a business card.

Use Short URLs for Simpler QR Codes

QR code complexity is directly proportional to the length of the encoded URL. A long URL with UTM parameters produces a dense, hard-to-scan QR code. A short link like iu.pe/demo produces a simple, clean code that scans quickly even at small sizes.

This is one of the strongest reasons to use a URL shortener for QR codes. Shorter URL = simpler QR code = faster, more reliable scanning.

Generate a QR Code in Seconds

Create a short link and download a QR code instantly. Free, no signup required.

Create Your QR Code

Tracking QR Code Performance

Since every QR code scan is a click on your short link, you get the same analytics you'd get from any shared link:

Total scans — Visible right on your link card in the My Links dashboard
Scan trend — The 30-day chart shows daily scan volume so you can correlate with your campaign calendar
Referrer breakdown — While many QR scans show as "Direct / Unknown" (because the camera app doesn't send a referrer), some mobile browsers do pass referrer data

For maximum tracking granularity, create a separate short link for each QR code placement. One link for the poster, one for the business card, one for the product packaging. Each link's analytics then cleanly represents a single touchpoint.

Updating Your QR Code Destination

One of the biggest advantages of QR codes generated from short links is that you can change the destination after printing. If you printed 5,000 flyers with a QR code pointing to a landing page that moved, just log into LinkDisguiser, click Edit on that link, and update the URL. Every future scan goes to the new destination — no reprinting necessary.

This is impossible with QR codes generated directly from a destination URL. Once printed, those are permanent. Short-link-based QR codes give you an update mechanism for life.