QR codes are everywhere again: on flyers, shop windows, business cards, menus and vehicle signage. For a small business they are a simple way to take someone from something printed to your website, reviews page or booking form in one scan. But a QR code that doesn’t scan, or sends people to the wrong place, is worse than none at all.
This guide covers where QR codes work well for small businesses, how to make one with our free QR code generator, Qwirl, and how to make sure it scans every time.
Where QR codes work well
- Flyers, brochures and posters, linking to a specific offer or landing page.
- Counter and table cards, linking to your Google reviews. See how to get more Google reviews.
- Business cards, linking to your website or contact details.
- Shop windows and signage, linking to your booking page after hours.
- Guest Wi-Fi, so visitors can connect without typing a password.
- Packaging and product labels, linking to instructions or reorder pages.
How to make a QR code with Qwirl
Open Qwirl, our free QR code generator. Everything happens in your browser, and nothing is stored or uploaded.
- Choose what it opens. A link, plain text, a Wi-Fi network, an email, a phone number or an SMS. Fill in the details and the preview updates instantly.
- Style it. Choose square, rounded or dot shapes, and set foreground and background colours to match your brand.
- Add a logo or photo if you want. Upload your logo for the centre, or blend a photo into the whole pattern. Qwirl boosts error correction to High automatically so the code still scans.
- Download. Choose PNG for social media and most printing, or SVG if you need it sharp at any size.
There is no sign-up and no watermark. By default, codes carry a small Madexify mark in the centre, which you can switch off or replace with your own logo.
Make sure it scans
- Test before you print. Scan it with a couple of different phones, at the size it will actually be printed. Qwirl reminds you to verify every code before you publish it.
- Keep strong contrast. A dark code on a light background is the safest choice. Pale colours and busy backgrounds make codes harder to read.
- Don’t go too far with photo blends. Bolder blends look more like the photo but are more likely to trip up older scanners.
- Leave space around it. Don’t crowd the code with text or crop it tightly.
- Know the SMS limitation. SMS codes work reliably on Android, but most iPhones won’t recognise them when scanned with the Camera app. A link or phone number is usually safer.
Link somewhere you control
A printed QR code can’t be changed once it is on a thousand flyers. Point it at a page on your own website, such as a dedicated offer page, rather than a long third-party link that might change. If the offer ends, you can update that page instead of reprinting. See how to structure a service page.
Make sure the page it opens works well on a phone, since everyone scanning will be on one. See mobile-first web design.
Tell people what they get
A code on its own gives no reason to scan. Add a short line next to it, such as “Scan to book”, “Scan for the menu” or “Scan to leave a review”. Include it in your print design from the start, not squeezed in at the end. See print design basics.
Want help with your print and signage?
Madexify designs flyers, signage, business cards and landing pages for small businesses across Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield, Berwick, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Clyde and Bunyip. See our digital marketing services, or contact us to talk about your marketing materials.
This article is part of our Small Business Branding Guide. Browse all our guides on the guides page.
