What is a QR Code and how to create one?
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:16 am
You're probably wondering not only what a QR code is and how to create one, but also how it can help you in your business and with your customers, and if it's as important as it seems.
For a long time, the usability of the QR Code within marketi vp quality email database ng strategies was questioned , because it was not considered relevant, however, nowadays, you can find them in public and television advertisements, restaurant menus, emails, vaccination cards, advertising posters, signs and many more.
Well, let's start by defining:
Article content [ Hide ]
1 What is a QR code?
2 How was the QR code created?
3 Elements of a QR code
4 How does a QR code work?
4.1 How to read or scan a QR code?
5 Types of QR Code
5.1 Static
5.2 Dynamic
6 Why use QR code in your business?
7 What is a QR code used for?
7.1 Redirect to a website
7.2 Authentication and security
7.3 Identification of operations and users
7.4 Alternative marketing experiences
8 How to create a QR Code?
8.1 What do you need?
8.2 What is a QR code generator?
8.3 How to create a free QR code?
8.3.1 Example of how to create a QR code
8.4 Options you want to perform with your code
8.4.1 QR code for your website
8.4.2 QR code for a PDF, Flyer, image
8.4.3 QR Code for a Menu
8.4.4 QR code for a WhatsApp contact
8.5 Testing QR code functionality
8.6 Monitor and analyze how the QR code has performed
9 Best QR Code Generators Totally Free
9.1 Visualize
9.2 GOQR.me
9.3 Tiendanube QR code generator
9.4 QR Stuff
9.5 MEQR
9.6 Unitag
9.7 QRCodeMonkey
9.8 QRCodeGenerator
9.9 Adobe Express QR Code Generator
10 How to use a QR code in your business?
10.1 Good practices
10.1.1 Display and location
10.1.2 Optimization
10.1.3 Information
10.2 Bad practices
10.2.1 Don't require your users to use a specific QR code scanner
10.2.2 Do not generate a QR code for fashion or to use it just for the sake of it
11 Uses of QR codes for different business sectors
11.1 QR codes in logistics
11.2 QR codes in transport
11.3 QR codes in retail sales
11.4 QR codes in business
11.5 QR codes in entertainment
11.6 QR codes in commercial operations
11.7 QR codes in banking
11.8 QR codes in the gastronomy sector
11.9 QR codes in cultural management
12 Conclusion
What is a QR code?
What is a QR Code and how to create oneQR codes, or Quick Response codes in English, could be said to be the improved version of the barcode.
They are modules in a quadrangular space where information is stored in a matrix of points (composed of small pixels) or in a two-dimensional barcode that are generally black and white, although they can have other colors and shapes.
Have you ever wondered why QR code reading is so fast? This is due to the 3 squares located, two in each upper corner, and one in the lower left corner, these elements are responsible for making the reading not only fast but also accurate and, in addition, they indicate the location of the code.
Although QR codes were originally designed for the Japanese automotive industry, due to their large storage capacity, this methodology was adopted by marketing professionals.
This was because beyond what a creative or integrated presentation could convey, the QR code provided additional information to consumers.
By opening the scanner on your mobile device and scanning a barcode, you will have access to additional information and other aspects. For example, you can access not only the Wi-Fi connection of a place. Let's say you want to promote a podcast in a coffee shop's advertising, then you could create a QR code to direct users to your Ivoox page where you store your program. It will only take a few seconds when they scan it. It also works to offer discounts in stores, promotions, and more.
How was the QR code created?
In the 1990s, Denso Wave created the QR code as an option to the limitations of linear barcodes.
However, it was used exclusively in the production process of the automotive sector, but over the years it began to be used in other industrial sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, among others.
What is a QR Code and how to create one
By then, the QR code was used to control merchandise and to respond to consumer demands regarding companies' production processes.
However, given its excellent reception and popularity among both industries and users, in 2002, the QR code was released for free use to the general public.
The goal of its release was to reach as many people as possible, and it was so much so that, in 2012, the QR code was adopted as a tool for companies of all sizes and even for education, and in areas of advertising/marketing it has become very popular and almost essential.
For a long time, the usability of the QR Code within marketi vp quality email database ng strategies was questioned , because it was not considered relevant, however, nowadays, you can find them in public and television advertisements, restaurant menus, emails, vaccination cards, advertising posters, signs and many more.
Well, let's start by defining:
Article content [ Hide ]
1 What is a QR code?
2 How was the QR code created?
3 Elements of a QR code
4 How does a QR code work?
4.1 How to read or scan a QR code?
5 Types of QR Code
5.1 Static
5.2 Dynamic
6 Why use QR code in your business?
7 What is a QR code used for?
7.1 Redirect to a website
7.2 Authentication and security
7.3 Identification of operations and users
7.4 Alternative marketing experiences
8 How to create a QR Code?
8.1 What do you need?
8.2 What is a QR code generator?
8.3 How to create a free QR code?
8.3.1 Example of how to create a QR code
8.4 Options you want to perform with your code
8.4.1 QR code for your website
8.4.2 QR code for a PDF, Flyer, image
8.4.3 QR Code for a Menu
8.4.4 QR code for a WhatsApp contact
8.5 Testing QR code functionality
8.6 Monitor and analyze how the QR code has performed
9 Best QR Code Generators Totally Free
9.1 Visualize
9.2 GOQR.me
9.3 Tiendanube QR code generator
9.4 QR Stuff
9.5 MEQR
9.6 Unitag
9.7 QRCodeMonkey
9.8 QRCodeGenerator
9.9 Adobe Express QR Code Generator
10 How to use a QR code in your business?
10.1 Good practices
10.1.1 Display and location
10.1.2 Optimization
10.1.3 Information
10.2 Bad practices
10.2.1 Don't require your users to use a specific QR code scanner
10.2.2 Do not generate a QR code for fashion or to use it just for the sake of it
11 Uses of QR codes for different business sectors
11.1 QR codes in logistics
11.2 QR codes in transport
11.3 QR codes in retail sales
11.4 QR codes in business
11.5 QR codes in entertainment
11.6 QR codes in commercial operations
11.7 QR codes in banking
11.8 QR codes in the gastronomy sector
11.9 QR codes in cultural management
12 Conclusion
What is a QR code?
What is a QR Code and how to create oneQR codes, or Quick Response codes in English, could be said to be the improved version of the barcode.
They are modules in a quadrangular space where information is stored in a matrix of points (composed of small pixels) or in a two-dimensional barcode that are generally black and white, although they can have other colors and shapes.
Have you ever wondered why QR code reading is so fast? This is due to the 3 squares located, two in each upper corner, and one in the lower left corner, these elements are responsible for making the reading not only fast but also accurate and, in addition, they indicate the location of the code.
Although QR codes were originally designed for the Japanese automotive industry, due to their large storage capacity, this methodology was adopted by marketing professionals.
This was because beyond what a creative or integrated presentation could convey, the QR code provided additional information to consumers.
By opening the scanner on your mobile device and scanning a barcode, you will have access to additional information and other aspects. For example, you can access not only the Wi-Fi connection of a place. Let's say you want to promote a podcast in a coffee shop's advertising, then you could create a QR code to direct users to your Ivoox page where you store your program. It will only take a few seconds when they scan it. It also works to offer discounts in stores, promotions, and more.
How was the QR code created?
In the 1990s, Denso Wave created the QR code as an option to the limitations of linear barcodes.
However, it was used exclusively in the production process of the automotive sector, but over the years it began to be used in other industrial sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, among others.
What is a QR Code and how to create one
By then, the QR code was used to control merchandise and to respond to consumer demands regarding companies' production processes.
However, given its excellent reception and popularity among both industries and users, in 2002, the QR code was released for free use to the general public.
The goal of its release was to reach as many people as possible, and it was so much so that, in 2012, the QR code was adopted as a tool for companies of all sizes and even for education, and in areas of advertising/marketing it has become very popular and almost essential.