Your Guide To Scanning Snapcodes and QR Codes with Snapchat

When you think of social media marketing, you probably think of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. However, Snapchat can present a goldmine of opportunities for savvy business owners.

Snapchat offers a number of features business owners can use to market their products and brands. One of these exciting features is “Snapcodes,” which lets you easily share and scan QR Codes from the app using your Snapchat camera.

Below, we’ll share everything you need to know about how to elevate your social media marketing strategy using Snapcodes and QR Codes.

What is a Snapcode?

A Snapcode is a special type of QR Code that you can create, share, and scan within Snapchat. These codes feature Snapchat’s recognizable ghost icon. People can use Snapchat QR Codes to add new friends, unlock filters and lenses, link to websites, and share exclusive content.

Is a Snapcode the same as a QR Code?

Snapcodes share a lot of similarities with QR Codes, particularly the fact that both can link to digital content after scanning. However, Snapcode technology is proprietary to Snapchat, and they offer distinct functionalities tailored to that platform.

Where can you find your own Snapcode?

Every Snapchat user gets a unique Snapcode that links to their Snapchat profile. To find yours, open the app and click on your Bitmoji profile icon at the top left corner of the screen.

This will take you to a page where you should see a yellow, square-shaped icon with your Bitmoji at its center. Clicking on this will bring you to the “My Snapcode” page where you can download and share your Snapcode.

Why is scanning a Snapcode useful?

Snapcodes offer major potential for both standard Snapchat users and business owners using Snapchat as a marketing platform. Here are just a few of the scenarios where Snapcodes come in handy:

Add friends with ease

If you want to grow your friend list, using Snapcodes is one of the easiest ways to share your profile. To add a new friend using a Snapcode, just send it to them. They can then scan the image using their mobile device and add you as a friend with a single click.

Give brand content access to Snapchat users

Business owners can use Snapcodes to give users instant access to content like promotions, custom filters, and other exclusives.

Using QR Codes to share digital content is one of the best ways to level up your technology marketing strategy, and Snapcodes make sharing exclusive content on Snapchat fun and easy for you and your followers alike.

Incorporate web links

Along with linking Snapchat users to exclusive content, you can also use Snapcodes to send users to your website or landing page. Snapcodes provide an instant bridge between Snapchat and external websites. They’re especially useful when combined with customized URLs using a tool like QR Code Generator PRO, helping you stand out from competitors and build brand loyalty.

Promote and engage with fans

Engaging with your followers in fun and creative ways is a vital element of any successful social media marketing strategy. On Snapchat, influencers and content creators routinely use Snapcodes to connect with their followers.

From sharing exclusive content to putting Snapcodes on posters and t-shirts to promote your profile, there’s no shortage of ways you can use them to engage with your audience and promote your brand.

Bridge physical and digital connections

One of the primary purposes of QR Codes in marketing is to serve as a bridge between physical and digital connections—and this is true of Snapcodes as well. By putting them on physical materials such as fliers, posters, and business cards, you can easily send people to associated digital content or experiences.

Linking to your business website, promotions, and digital experiences, such as Snapchat’s augmented reality (AR) try-on tool, are just a few examples of how Snapcodes can bridge physical and digital connections.

They’re also a great sustainable marketing practice since they reduce the need for physical materials.

How to scan a Snapcode

If you want to scan a friend’s Snapcode or any other one you find, there are a couple of ways to do so:

With the Snapchat app

To scan a Snapcode using the Snapchat app, all you have to do is open Snapchat and access the camera screen (which is the first page that will come up). From there, hold your device steady and point the camera at the Snapcode you want to scan. 

Press and hold your finger on the Snapcode on your screen, and Snapchat will automatically detect it’s a Snapcode. You’ll then get a pop-up confirming the action associated with that code, and you can click this to complete the process.

With your phone camera

To scan a Snapcode using your phone’s camera, you’ll need to start by saving an image of the Snapcode to your device. You can do this by tapping and holding the code until you see the prompt Save Image, or you can take a screenshot.

After saving the Snapcode to your camera roll, you can open it simply by tapping on the saved image. (On some devices, you may also need to select an option like Open with Snapchat from the menu.)

This will open the Snapchat app and automatically scan the Snapcode you selected from your camera roll.

Creating your own QR Code for Snapchat with QR Code Generator

Snapcodes offer a range of marketing use cases, and they are even more powerful sales tools when you use them in tandem with a platform such as QR Code Generator.

QR Code Generator lets you generate custom QR Codes, including custom Snapcodes. To create a Snapcode using QR Code Generator:

  1. Select Social Media QR Code in the options menu.

  2. Link it to your Snapchat profile.

By using QR Code Generator to make Snapcodes, you unlock capabilities like custom QR Codes with branded links and the ability to track your QR Code metrics in real-time from a user-friendly dashboard.

If you’re serious about Snapcodes for digital marketing, you need a platform that lets you unlock their full potential. Check out QR Code Generator’s powerful Social Media QR Code features, and start creating custom codes designed for social media marketing.

Customize your branding efforts on Snapchat today

Snapcodes are wonderful for enhancing Snapchat experiences and providing a seamless bridge between physical and digital marketing materials. 

With QR Code Generator, you can effortlessly create fully customized Snapcodes and track their scans, shares, conversions, and more in real time.

Sign up for QR Code Generator today and start customizing and optimizing your Snapchat marketing efforts!

Author
Tobias Funke

Tobias Funke is Bitly’s Vice President of Product. With a background in software engineering, he has a decade of combined experience in product development and the QR Code space. Tobias leads a team that developed one of the most successful and popular QR Code generators available. His entrepreneurial and growth mindset helps build products that continuously disrupt the market. You can connect with Tobias on LinkedIn.

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