A QR code lets someone you meet in person reach your link in bio page, booking calendar or sign-up form in one scan. For creators and small businesses who sell at markets, teach classes, run pop-ups or play gigs, it's the simplest way to connect the people in front of you with the audience you're building online.
Done well, a QR code turns a passing conversation into a follower, a booking or an email subscriber. Done badly, it's a small black square nobody scans, or worse, one that leads to a dead page. This guide covers where QR codes work best, how to make one people actually scan, how to avoid ever reprinting it, and how to tell whether it's working.
Key takeaways
QR scanning is mainstream: eMarketer forecasts, reported by Statista, put US smartphone users who scan QR codes at about 99.5 million in 2025. A QR code needs one line of text next to it saying why to scan, or most people won't. Point your code at a link in bio page or a short link you can redirect, never straight at a single product, so printed codes keep working when things change. Use a different tracked code in each place, so you can see which market stall, flyer or event actually brings people in.
Why QR codes are worth it now
QR codes went from novelty to normal during the pandemic, when restaurants put menus on them and people got used to pointing their camera at a square. That habit stuck. eMarketer's forecasts, reported by Statista, put the number of US smartphone users scanning QR codes at around 99.5 million in 2025. Almost every modern phone scans a QR code from the built-in camera app, with nothing to install.
For creators, that solves an old problem. When you meet someone at a market or after a class, they might be interested, but asking them to remember your handle or type a web address is a lot of friction. A QR code removes it. One scan, and they're on your page.
Where QR codes work best for creators
The best places are moments when someone is interested in you but can't easily act right now.
Market stalls and pop-ups. Shoppers browse, chat and move on. A code on the table that says "Scan to see the full collection" or "Scan for 10% off your first online order" lets them keep in touch, and lets you keep selling after the market closes.
Classes and workshops. At the end of a session, students are at their most enthusiastic. A code on the door, the wall or a small card that says "Scan to book the next class" captures that enthusiasm before it fades.
Product packaging. A code on the box or a care card can link to a care guide, a reorder page, a video of how the piece was made, or a review request. Every product you send out becomes a small route back to you.
Business cards and flyers. A code replaces a long address with one scan. It's especially useful on cards, where space is tight.
Events and gigs. On the merch table, the screen behind you or a poster at the door, a code can lead to tickets, your mailing list or your music.
Shop counters, menus and windows. For local businesses, a code can lead to ordering, reviews, a loyalty sign-up or opening hours. A code in the window works even when you're closed.
Make a QR code people actually scan
Plenty of QR codes get ignored. The difference is usually not the code itself, but what surrounds it.
Tell people why to scan
This is the most important detail. A code on its own is easy to overlook, because people don't know what they'll get. A single line next to it changes that: "Scan to book the next class", "Scan for the recipe", "Scan to join the drop list", "Scan for 10% off". The more specific and useful the promise, the more scans you'll get.
Make it big enough
As a rough rule, a code should be at least 2 to 3 centimetres (about an inch) across on a card or flyer, and much larger on anything seen from a distance, such as a poster, banner or screen. If people need to stand right next to it, many won't bother.
Keep the contrast high
QR scanners need a clear difference between the dark and light parts of the code. A dark code on a light background is safest. Brand colours are fine as long as the contrast stays strong; a pale orange code on a white card might look lovely and fail to scan.
Give it some space
Leave a clear margin of empty space around the code. Text, images or edges crowding it can stop it scanning.
Test it where it'll be used
Before you print hundreds, scan the code with at least two different phones, in the light where it'll actually be seen. Codes that scan perfectly on a bright screen can struggle on a glossy card under a market gazebo.
Point your code at something you can change
This is the mistake that costs creators the most, and it's easy to avoid.
If your QR code points straight at a specific product page and that product sells out, every code you've printed now leads to a dead end. If it points at last season's class timetable, it sends people to old dates. You can't edit a printed code.
The fix is to point your code at something you control and can update. There are two good options.
Your link in bio page. You can change what's on the page whenever you like, and the code keeps working. When the winter classes are announced, update the page, and every code on every card, flyer and door now shows the new dates. If you're setting up your page, see what is a link in bio page, and what should go on it.
A short link you can redirect. A short link, such as glee.link/class, can be pointed at a new destination at any time. Put that short link in the code, and when you need the code to go somewhere else, you change where the short link points rather than reprinting anything.
Track what's working
A tracked QR code counts how many times it's been scanned, and when. That turns guesswork into answers. Is the Saturday market worth the stall fee? Did the flyers at the café bring anyone in? Which event sent the most people to your sign-up?
The trick is to use a different code in each place. One code for the market stall, one for the flyers, one for the packaging, one for the gig. Each can point to the same page, but because they're separate codes, you'll see how many scans each one produced. After a few weeks, you'll know exactly which offline efforts pay off.
Turn scans into lasting connections
A scan is the beginning of a relationship, not the end. Send people somewhere that helps them stay in touch, not just somewhere that looks nice.
For a market shopper, that might be a sign-up with a small thank-you, such as a discount on their first online order. For a class student, a booking calendar for the next session. For someone who met you at an event, a save-contact button that adds your details to their phone in one tap.
The aim is the same as with your online audience: move people from a one-off moment to a channel you own. We cover that in how to grow an email list from Instagram and TikTok, and the same principles apply offline.
QR codes in Glee
Glee makes tracked QR codes in your colours and dot style, with your logo or a label underneath. You can point a code at your page or at any Glee short link, download it for print, file it in folders and see scan counts for every code in your analytics. Because Glee's short links can be redirected at any time, the codes you print never go out of date. Glee's digital business card also shares your details by QR code, NFC or link, with one tap to save.
You can make codes yourself, or ask Glow, Glee's built-in AI: "make a QR code for the studio door that goes to class bookings". It makes it and waits for your approval.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes expire?
A basic QR code doesn't expire; it's an image of an address. But if the address stops working, the code stops working too. Pointing codes at a page or short link you control avoids that.
How do I make a QR code for my small business?
Use a QR code generator or a tool like Glee, point the code at your link in bio page or a redirectable short link, add a line saying why to scan it, and test it before printing.
Can I change where a QR code goes after printing it?
Yes, if the code points at a short link or a page you can edit. Update the destination and every printed code follows.
How do I know how many people scanned my QR code?
Use a tracked QR code, which counts scans. Using a different code for each location shows you which places work best.
How big should a QR code be?
At least 2 to 3 centimetres (about an inch) across on cards and flyers, and much larger on posters or anything viewed from a distance.
Can I put my logo or brand colours on a QR code?
Yes, as long as the contrast stays high and the code has clear space around it. Always test a branded code with a couple of phones before printing.
