QR codes have become a very important tool in different industries. Today, their usage has increased by over 57% globally and is now projected to increase by 22% by 2025. In essence, many brands have leveraged these two-dimensional barcodes in the most innovative ways to enhance their marketing strategies. For instance, WhatsApp uses it to simplify syncing its Web platform with smartphones. Similarly, Apple integrates it for effortless pairing of HomeKit accessories.
From retail tags and wine bottles to produce packaging, these QR codes now enhance product engagement. This guide explores practical QR code examples and their functionality across various categories of people, activities, and industries.
QR code examples: How Individuals, Professionals, Businesses, And NGOs Use Various QR Code Types
Generally, QR codes have revolutionized the way people can gain access to information by using a single scan. Meanwhile, there are over 20 QR code examples based on functionality. These QR codes are generally divided into two primary categories — Static QR Codes and Dynamic QR Codes.
On one hand, static QR codes are used to store fixed digital information that does not require updating. On the other hand, dynamic codes are used to store short URLs that redirect users to the actual content stored on a server. Here are some QR code examples that can be used by individuals, professionals, businesses, and non-governmental organizations.
Static QR Codes
ViralQR currently offers 7 static QR code examples that can be used by individuals, professionals, businesses, and NGOs.
URL or Website QR Code
They are used to sharing a personal blog, professional web pages, or portfolio. When scanned, the QR code directs users to a website or any online resource.
Use Cases
- Individuals: In many cases, people create a QR code for a travel blog URL and print it on postcards or souvenirs to share adventures with friends or followers.
- Professionals: A professional photographer can create a QR code linking to their online portfolio, placing it on their business cards or event flyers for potential clients to view their work.
- Businesses: Restaurants direct customers to their website by adding QR codes to printed menus.
- NGOs: Organizations working on wildlife conservation use QR codes on event posters to direct participants to their donation page.
Text QR Code
They are used to conveying short messages or quotes.
Use Cases
- Individuals: People can generate digital tags containing a motivational quote and include it on a greeting card for a friend.
- Professionals: A professional speaker can use a text QR code on presentation slides for excerpts and summaries.
- Businesses: Many retail stores use QR codes to share promotional codes for future purchases.
- NGOs: NGOs place QR codes with campaign slogans on flyers or merchandise.
vCard QR Code
This example of a QR code is used to store contact information.
Use Cases
- Individuals: Job hunters place this type of barcode on resumes for interviewers to gain access to their contact details.
- Professionals: Real estate agents can attach vCard QR codes to promotional materials for easy access to contact details.
- Businesses: Sales representatives append vCard digital barcode to their business cards for professional objectives.
- NGOs: The head of fundraising can include a vCard QR code on business cards, allowing potential donors to save their contact information quickly.
Email QR Code
This type of digital tag encourages email communication.
Use Cases
- Individuals: They are used to sharing pre-filled email templates with flyers, making it easier for recipients to send inquiries.
- Professionals: A legal consultant can include this type of digital tag on their digital marketing site that refills an email template for inquiries, streamlining outreach to their target audience.
- Businesses: A tech support team can display a QR code on their products’ user manuals that pre-fills a support request email template.
- NGOs: An NGO can use an email QR code on newsletters, encouraging recipients to contact them directly with questions or collaboration requests.
Send SMS QR Code
Similar to text QR codes, they facilitate text message communication.
Use Cases
- Individuals: People use this type of barcode to pre-fill text messages to RSVP for private events.
- Professionals: A professional event organizer can use a QR code to allow attendees to send pre-filled text messages to confirm attendance.
- Businesses: A travel agency can use this QR code on interactive content, allowing customers to send an SMS to request more details about holiday packages.
- NGOs: A disaster relief organization can use this QR code to let people send pre-filled SMS messages to donate or inquire about volunteering.
Wi-Fi QR Code
As the name implies, they simplify Wi-Fi access sharing.
Use Cases
- Individuals: They are sometimes displayed in the living room to allow access to home Wi-Fi network credentials with guests.
- Professionals: In an office setting, a co-working space manager can display a Wi-Fi QR code in common areas to allow visitors to connect without typing in credentials.
- Businesses: A coffee shop can display a Wi-Fi QR code for patrons to connect to the network without needing to type the password.
- NGOs: At an awareness campaign, an NGO can display a Wi-Fi QR code to allow attendees to connect to the network and participate in live polls or surveys.
Bitcoin QR Code
They are the most recent QR code marketing examples used to enable cryptocurrency transactions.
Use Cases
- Individuals: For individual purposes, you can use this type of QR code to share your Bitcoin wallet address for peer-to-peer payments.
- Professionals: Since the digital world is evolving, professionals can accept cryptocurrency payments or donations using this type of digital code.
- Businesses: A tech-savvy retail business can use a Bitcoin QR code at the payment counter, allowing customers to pay using cryptocurrencies.
- NGOs: An NGO that supports global causes can use a Bitcoin QR code to receive donations in cryptocurrency from international supporters.
Dynamic QR Codes
ViralQR currently offers 9 dynamic QR code examples that can be used by individuals, professionals, businesses, and NGOs.
💡 You may also be interested in what analytics can be collected using dynamic QR codes.
URL or Website QR Code
The URL QR code marketing example is used to share links that redirect users to landing pages and important content. Unlike static codes, this QR code example is a redirect link that can be updated. Hence, they are called editable QR codes.
Use Cases
- Individuals: People use this type of QR code to share an evolving project portfolio link that has been updated over time.
- Professionals: A freelance writer can use this QR code to share their personal blog or published articles, ensuring the content stays current as they update their portfolio.
- Businesses: An event management company can use this QR code on event posters to guide attendees to a landing page with event details that can be updated as needed.
- NGOs: An environmental NGO can use this QR code on social media posts to direct users to an updated campaign page.
PDF QR Code
This type of digital tag is used to link users to any information stored in PDF format.
Use Cases
- Individuals: They can be used to link resume PDF files to business cards.
- Professionals: An architect can use a QR code to share blueprints or project proposals during a client meeting.
- Businesses: A real estate firm can create a QR code linking to a PDF brochure of property listings, making it easy for potential buyers to access details.
- NGOs: An NGO can include a QR code linking to their annual impact report on event brochures or newsletters.
Image QR Code
This type of QR code is used to link users to images, albums, and other visual content, allowing quick access to artwork, product images, or galleries.
Use Cases
- Individuals: Many people use this type of QR code to link a family photo album and share it with relatives during a reunion.
- Professionals: A graphic designer can create this type of QR code linking to their latest design work, allowing clients to view their creative pieces in high resolution.
- Businesses: A fashion brand can use an image QR code on in-store displays to share lookbooks or behind-the-scenes photos of their collections.
- NGOs: An NGO can create a QR code linking to a gallery of images from fieldwork to showcase their impact and encourage donations.
Reviews QR Code
This type of barcode is used to gather feedback on personal projects or events.
Use Cases
- Individuals: People can easily use ViralQR to generate this example of a QR code that links guests to a landing page for their input.
- Professionals: A consultant can include this type of QR code on their service invoices, encouraging clients to leave reviews on a dedicated landing page.
- Businesses: A hotel can use a review QR code on room key cards for feedback based on customer experience.
- NGOs: An NGO can display this QR code at events, directing attendees to a landing page to share reviews about their experience or suggestions for improvement.
App QR Code
Like other dynamic QR codes, app or augmented reality QR codes are used to link directly to mobile applications, making it easy for users to download or access an app.
Use Cases
- Individuals: In cases where people decide to recommend a new app to friends, they can easily share a barcode with direct download links for iOS and Android.
- Professionals: A fitness coach with a custom app for clients can use this QR code to direct users to download it on their preferred platform.
- Businesses: An e-commerce company can use this QR code in its packaging to encourage customers to download their shopping app for future purchases.
- NGOs: An NGO running a fitness-based donation campaign can use this QR code to encourage participants to download their activity-tracking app.
vCard QR Code
This type of code is used to store digital contact information.
Use Cases
- Individuals: For individual purposes, this type of code can be used to grant people access to updated phone numbers and emails without generating a new QR code.
- Professionals: A financial advisor can use a dynamic vCard QR code on their digital signature to ensure clients always have their updated contact details.
- Businesses: These days, corporate executives append QR codes in their email signatures to share their updated contact details.
- NGOs: Program managers place barcodes on official correspondence, ensuring contacts always have their latest details.
Link in Bio (Multi-URL) QR Code
These are examples of QR codes used to link users to a landing page that contains multiple URLs.
Use Cases
- Individuals: People use this unique QR example to share blogs, Instagram, and YouTube links with friends or followers.
- Professionals: A tech speaker can use this QR code to link attendees to their presentation slides, social media, and workshop registration page, all in one place.
- Businesses: A fitness center can use this QR code to provide links to class schedules, membership options, and promotional offers all in one place.
- NGOs: An e-learning organization can use QR code examples in education to share links to virtual resources, donation pages, and Google forms for volunteers to sign up.
Social Media QR Code
This is a QR example that contains profiles, pages, or specific content on social media platforms.
Use Cases
- Individuals: Just as it implies, they can be used to share social media platforms between family and friends.
- Professionals: A digital marketer can include this QR code on their email signature, allowing clients and collaborators to connect with them across multiple platforms.
- Businesses: This is one of the best QR code advertising examples. A bakery can display this QR code at its storefront, allowing customers to follow it on social media platforms for updates on new items and special offers.
- NGOs: An NGO can display this QR code at events, encouraging attendees to follow and share their social media profiles.
Business Page QR Code
This barcode is used to encrypt business information with access to services.
Use Cases
- Individuals: If you are a freelancer, you can use this code to display a landing page with your services, contact details, and operating hours.
- Professionals: A management consultant can use this QR code to provide clients with a landing page containing their services, contact information, and operating hours, acting as a mini-website.
- Businesses: A consulting firm can share a business page QR code that includes its services, office hours, and contact information, making it easy for potential clients to learn about the company. Since they are dynamic, they can be used for QR code tracking to increase user engagement.
- NGOs: Over the years, QR codes have been a proper source for marketing materials, offering a mini-website with their mission, achievements, donation options, and contact information.
QR Code Examples Across Industries
QR codes have benefitted a wide range of industries by simplifying information sharing.
Retail and E-commerce
In the retail industry, the URL Digital barcode is an essential QR code example used to link users to an online store for product browsing. Shop owners display these digital tags in physical stores and industries for customers to access online.
Food and Beverage
Today, virtually every big restaurant has replaced physical menus with this dynamic QR code menu.
Hospitality
This aspect of the industry generally makes use of the business page QR code. This type of custom QR code can be found in hotel rooms, linking users to room service menus, spa services, and local attractions. In many substandard resorts, users are provided with this QR code marketing example to download loyalty apps.
Apparel & Clothing
Clothes sellers use image QR codes as a means of showcasing product variations. Clothing tags are used by many virtual stores to drive traffic.
Healthcare
Clinics provide custom QR codes for patients to save appointment details.
Education
Students can now easily access e-books, tutorials, and course content by scanning a single code with multiple URL links. Universities also use business page QR codes in brochures, linking students to admissions information.
Entertainment
Festivals use social media QR codes for attendees to share live updates on Instagram or Twitter.
Real Estate
Realtors use unique QR codes on yard signs linking to property descriptions, videos, or virtual tours.
Government and Public Services
When attached to campaigns or important news, text QR code marketing campaigns convey important health or safety information.
Nonprofits
Global charities use micro QR codes for contributions. They also use Bitcoin QR code in case of cryptocurrency funding. Moreover, most of their events display social media QR codes linking to campaigns on social platforms.
Arts and Culture
Theater productions have added encrypted codes to promote gallery websites and learn more about featured artists.
Production
Factories use PDF QR codes for employees to access manuals or safety guidelines.
Communications and Media
Many publications use social media QR codes to link readers to multimedia content on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
Social Media Platforms
There are two major ways the social media industry utilizes QR codes.
Use of Third-party Generated QR Codes
Many businesses use a third-party QR code to link clients to their entire portfolio on one website. By using QR code generators, they can direct viewers to any channel using a multi-URL type of QR code.
In-built QR Code Features in Platforms
Modern platforms integrate in-built QR code functionalities to improve user experiences. These features enable users to generate QR codes directly within applications, eliminating the need for third-party tools. Applications like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, Telegram, and Spotify.
One of the most popularly used in-built digital tags is the WhatsApp QR code. All these QR code examples fall under the social media QR code.
Real QR Code Marketing Examples
L’Oréal Incorporated QR Codes
Image source: L’Oreal website.
For many years, L’Oreal has improved customer engagement through QR codes. For example, the Kerastase brand uses QR codes to offer personalized hair care product recommendations.
Image source: L’Oreal website.
Image source: L’Oreal website.
McDonald's
Over the years, McDonald's has made significant advancements. Today, they use QR codes for special promotions and deals, including an offer on Chicken McNuggets in the U.S., where customers scan a QR code to access a $1 deal. This initiative is used to drive traffic and encourage customer feedback with McDonald's promotional content.
Photo by Road Ahead on Unsplash.
MDL Marinas Group
A sample of the QR code can be seen in MDL Marinas Group. This encryption QR code is used as part of a marketing interactive campaign to increase sign-ups for their membership programs. By placing a specific QR code example on marketing materials, MDL captured thousands of sign-ups from interested customers.
“A few years back you needed a separate app for scanning QR codes, so people didn’t tend to do it. Now that the technology has caught up, QR codes are an underutilised medium for pulling people in. They’re very easy for customers to use, so long as the artwork explains very simply what they need to do.”
Tim Mayer, Sales and Marketing Director at MDL Marinas.
Coca-Cola
Since the inception of time, the Coca-Cola company has used QR codes in most of its promotional campaigns. One major example is Spin Magic Over the Table, where customers could scan QR codes in participating restaurants to unlock augmented reality experiences.
Image source: www.coca-cola.com.
Image source: www.coca-cola.com.
Marimekko's Digital Product Passports
Marimekko is a Finnish fashion and lifestyle brand that has implemented digital product passports using QR codes. It allows customers to access detailed product information such as material origins, manufacturing processes, and sustainability practices by scanning the QR codes on product tags.
“It works by scanning a QR code in the product’s care label, which allows customers to access information on the sustainability aspects of the product. The QR code opens a webpage where it is possible to present more information about the product. In our pilot, we provided, for example, information on the manufacturing process by listing raw materials and manufacturing locations,”
explain Masaki Kato, Project Manager, and Marjut Lovio, Sustainability Manager.
Real QR Code Advertising Examples
Nike
Nike has integrated QR codes into their marketing materials to guide customers to exclusive product launches and promotions.
Image source: www.nike.com.
Tesco’s First Virtual Store
Tesco created the world’s first virtual store with QR codes, allowing customers to shop for groceries from posters in subway stations. Customers scanned QR codes to add items to their carts, promoting convenience and an innovative shopping experience.
Image source: archello.com.
Real QR Code Examples In Education
Joy of Plants QR Codes
The Joy of Plants website offers QR codes on plant care packaging with other educational content related to plants.
The Whitney Museum of American Art's Mobile Guide Access
The Whitney Museum in New York has incorporated QR codes into its exhibitions, offering visitors mobile guides and enhanced accessibility features. Visitors can use QR code scanners at exhibit locations to access additional multimedia content, artist insights, and virtual tours.
Red Cross Certificates
The Red Cross uses QR codes to share certificates for courses such as CPR and first aid. Scanning the code allows users to download, print, or verify their certification online.
Other QR Code Examples
Japan Travel QR Code
The Japan Travel website uses QR codes to inform travelers about visa requirements and travel tips. These QR codes make it easier for tourists to access up-to-date information directly from their smartphones.
Contactless Ticketing and Payments in Mumbai Metro, India
Mumbai's metropolitan subway offers a virtual payment method using a quick response code. This method has enhanced the convenience of passengers during transit.
Dubai's Digital City Initiative
Dubai's Digital City Initiative includes the use of URL QR codes in public spaces and government services, allowing residents to access smart city features based on their location.
Tartu's Smart Public Transportation
Tart implemented smart public transportation using QR codes. This is the reason passengers can use a QR code scanner to access real-time schedules and pay fares.
California's Student Mental Health Resources
California's government has rolled out digital codes on school campuses to connect students to mental health resources. Scanning the codes links students to authorities in the position of rendering help.
Image source: x.com.
Food Packaging QR Codes
QR codes on food packaging are used for tracking product origins and sharing nutritional information.
Blaze Pizza's QR Code for Drink Refills
For the past few years, Blaze Pizza has implemented QR code campaigns in their stores to offer customers free soda refills.
Left stock image credit: Getty. Right image credit: TikTok/phatprincessa
deSter's Reusable Pizza Boxes with Tracking
deSter is a packaging manufacturer that places QR codes on reusable pizza boxes. These QR codes allow them to track the recycling of product packaging based on their location.
Skin Care Products
In the skincare industry, QR codes on product packaging are being used to check authenticity and learn more about the brand.
UNICEF Feedback Collection
UNICEF uses QR codes to collect feedback and donations during their field operations, such as during disaster recovery efforts. By scanning QR codes, supporters can contribute and share their experiences to help improve future projects.
Image source: www.unicef.org.
