Would you scan a QR Code without knowing where it’s taking you? Most people aren’t, and we don’t blame them. Less ambiguity and more clarity are everything when it comes to QR Code use.
If you use QR Codes to market your services or products, including a call-to-action (CTA) matters. CTAs make QR Codes more effective, providing clarity and helping you build trust with potential customers or clients. They also help increase scan rates.
With a service like Bitly Dynamic QR Codes, you can easily track and update your codes as needed. Having CTAs with them makes a world of difference, whether you’re using QR Codes for app downloads, website access, or other purposes.
We’ll give you all the info you need to understand how important QR Code CTAs are and how to use them to boost your business.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
What is a QR Code call to action?
You know how web pages or blog posts often have a short, clickable phrase or sentence? That‘s a call to action, prompting readers or visitors to learn more or sign up for services. A QR Code CTA is similar—a design or text that tells users to take a specific action and what to expect when they do so.
When it’s done right, it’s a smart and simple way to help users feel more comfortable with scanning your QR Codes. What do we mean by “done right?” We mean following best practices for CTAs, like using action verbs (e.g., “Scan now”), being concise, and ensuring they’re highly visible.
Need an example? We’ve got a few for you:
- Scan for product info
- Scan to subscribe
- Scan to save 20%
Call-to-action examples for QR Codes in various industries
QR Codes are versatile enough for use in many industries. Whether you’re using QR Codes for product launches or landing page links, let’s go over some effective CTAs for different industries.
Retail
QR Codes give ecommerce and brick-and-mortar retailers convenient ways to direct customers to online or in-store product info or to generate interest in promotions. Keep them short and sweet. The key is convenience—most consumers place a high value on convenience when shopping.
These are some good examples of retail QR Code CTAs:
- Scan for an exclusive in-store discount
- Unlock your secret coupon here
- Discover our new arrivals with a scan
- See it in action: Scan for product demos
- Instantly compare products by scanning here
- Want more sizes/colors? Scan here
- Scan to leave a review & get a free gift
Event planning
Event planning is a demanding industry with many moving parts for organizers to manage. Event companies often use QR Codes to streamline operations, and they’re also a great way to appeal to clients—improving their experience and attracting more business.
Here are some event planning CTAs that enhance events for customers:
- Scan to register now
- Scan to secure your spot and skip the line
- Scan to unlock the event agenda
- Scan for live updates and announcements
- Learn more about speakers and sessions
- Scan for the full event schedule and map
- Enjoyed the event? Scan to leave feedback
Education
QR Codes aren’t always about marketing to customers or clients. They’re also used in classrooms and other educational settings to make life easier for students and faculty.
Some examples of QR Code CTAs in education include:
- Scan to access course readings
- Unlock exclusive study materials
- Submit your assignment
- Get assignment guidelines
- Scan for feedback and grade submissions
- Scan to enroll or apply today
- Scan to access a virtual tour or campus map
Healthcare
As with education, healthcare QR Code scans provide practical solutions and more convenience for users. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations can use CTAs to give patients quick access to medical records or appointment check-ins.
The following are simple, straightforward call-to-action QR Codes for the healthcare industry:
- Scan for secure check-in
- Access your personal health records
- Learn more about your treatment options
- Update your health information
- Scan to pay your bill securely online
- Scan for medication instructions or refill requests
Hospitality and tourism
Similar to event planning, QR Codes improve hotel operations. They’re also a powerful way to enhance guest experiences—a top priority for the hospitality and tourism industry. Whether they show up in guest rooms, lobbies, or other facilities on printed marketing materials, they can make vacations or trips even more relaxing and stress-free for guests.
A few examples of compelling calls to action that work for the hospitality and tourism industry include:
- Discover nearby attractions and tours
- View today’s special menu offerings
- Unlock exclusive deals for your stay
- Scan to check in or out
- Scan to book your stay now
Real estate
For real estate agents, it’s about improving the buying and selling process. QR Codes provide effective ways to do that, boosting lead generation and earning more commissions in a housing market that is constantly shifting.
Here are some great examples of QR Code CTAs for real estate agents:
- Scan to view property details
- Schedule a tour
- Take a virtual tour
- Download our real estate guide for buyers/sellers
- Scan to see comparable properties nearby
- Scan to contact the listing agent now
No matter what industry you’re using QR Code CTAs in, we recommend testing different variations for A/B results. This helps you see which CTAs perform better.
How to create effective QR Code CTAs
CTAs help turn scannable codes into meaningful engagement, encouraging users to see where they lead. We’ll break down how to create and customize QR Code CTAs below:
- Determine your goal: Consider what you want users to do after they scan your code, like book an appointment or view product details.
- Write a clear, action-oriented CTA: Be direct and specific about what the user can expect when they scan the code.
- Choose a highly visible, easy-to-read font: Make sure your CTA is readable and stands out from your custom QR Code design, so users don’t overlook it. Consider using a bold font that contrasts sharply with the background, like bold black text on a light background.
- Place your CTA near the QR Code: Ideally, put your CTA right below the code. But depending on the space and design, you can also place it directly above or next to it. Just make sure it’s clearly visible.
- Test your QR Code for functionality before sharing it: Check on multiple devices first to make sure your code links to the right mobile-friendly content. Otherwise, your CTA won’t do any good, no matter how well it’s designed and worded.
Best practices for QR Code CTAs
Your CTAs should pique users’ curiosity, enticing them to do a quick scan for deals, info, or other content. Using these best practices will help you make the most of your QR Code CTAs.
Consider audience targeting
Who’s your target audience for your QR Codes? Pinning this down helps you create relevant and effective CTAs that draw your audience in.
For example, let’s consider customers who leave items in their cart. You want them to complete those purchases, so approaching CTAs with the fear of missing out (FOMO) in mind can be helpful. Use words that create a sense of urgency, like “Limited time only” or “Scan now.”
But this kind of in-your-face verbiage might turn off new customers. So if these are your target audience, you’ll want to adjust your CTA and remove the urgent words. Choose wording that sparks their interest, like “Scan for 10% off your first purchase” or “Scan for exclusive deals.”
The point is to tailor your QR Code CTAs to your intended audience based on their specific pain points and motivations.
Test your CTAs
Ever done A/B testing for your website or app? It’s also a great idea for testing your CTAs so you know which ones work best.
A/B testing is pretty straightforward. You design different versions of your CTAs and test those on your audience. You can gather feedback to see which version performs better.
Don’t make the versions too different: both should be concise and clear for your audience.
Note that A/B testing isn’t a one-time deal. It’s a continuous process you can use as you generate new QR Codes or modify existing ones for your business.
Track and analyze performance
QR Codes improve customer service, but what happens if your CTA isn’t performing well? That’s where tracking and analytics come in handy.
Being able to track data like the number of scans, types of devices and operating systems used, or scan times and locations can help you adjust your CTAs to make them more successful. It might just be a matter of rewording your CTA or changing its placement near your QR Code.
When you’re analyzing performance, consider user behavior. For example, if a CTA for one QR Code is getting high scan numbers while another is performing lower than expected, you may want to stop using the ineffective one or modify it and try again.
Leverage audience feedback
Analytics can help you see that a QR Code CTA is underperforming, but you might not understand why. To get that insight, turn to your audience. They’re the ones deciding whether or not to scan your QR Codes after seeing your CTAs.
Send a brief survey via email or SMS to gather feedback from your audience. You may want to include questions about how easy it was to understand the CTA or scan the code. Or you can ask what motivated them to decide to scan the code and whether the info they accessed met their expectations.
For specific critiques, consider asking for qualitative feedback with open-ended questions, like “What could we improve about the CTA?” or “What did you like most about the QR Code experience?”
You’ll get valuable feedback that you can use to refine your QR Code CTAs and make them more effective.
Practice ongoing CTA optimization
You don’t have to wait for an underperforming CTA to gather feedback and make improvements. CTA optimization is a continuous process, not a one-time thing.
Combining user feedback with performance data helps you create better CTAs that optimize your marketing campaigns. Keep in mind that even the most well-crafted CTAs may not continue performing well over time. Their effectiveness might wane, indicating that it’s time to revamp them.
Getting into the habit of optimizing QR Code CTAs means you’re keeping your marketing campaigns and promotions fresh and engaging.
Empower your marketing strategy with QR Code CTAs
Now that you understand how important QR Code CTAs are for your business or organization, it’s time to put that knowledge to use. Partnering with Bitly offers a seamless way to drive engagement.
Bitly Links, Bitly Codes, and Bitly Pages work together to create a powerful, yet flexible system for boosting customer engagement. Bitly gives you the ability to shorten long URLs, generate QR Codes, and build landing pages—all in one platform. Built-in tracking and analytics provide performance insights and data to optimize your marketing performance.
Ready to make your QR Codes work for you with more powerful CTAs and branding? Get started with Bitly today!
