How to Create a QR Code Landing Page: Step-By-Step Guide

Landing pages are a powerful way to attract new customers and capture their contact information. But, like any other marketing strategy, they’re only as good as their distribution. You need a fast, frictionless way to guide traffic toward the landing pages you create.

This is a use case that makes QR Code marketing so valuable: Anyone can visit a landing page by scanning a QR Code with their smartphone. Better yet, with the right tools, you can build landing pages and QR Codes quickly and at scale. 

Let’s take a look at why you should use QR Code landing pages, and how you can create one in just a few steps.

*Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.

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Why you should create a QR Code landing page

Is creating a custom QR Code landing page worthwhile? Absolutely! Here’s how QR Code landing pages can help you reach customers more effectively:

  • Create seamless transitions between offline marketing materials and digital landing pages.

  • Streamline lead generation by driving traffic toward lead magnets with QR Codes, such as exclusive content or promotions.

  • Enhance customer engagement by making your print marketing more interactive.

  • Create a positive brand impression with a consistent look across your print materials, QR Codes, and landing pages.

  • Collect web traffic data to help you understand your target audience and how they interact with landing pages.

  • Gain insights through QR Code analytics to round out your landing page data.

  • Improve conversion rates by using data to refine your landing pages and QR Codes over time.  

How to create a QR Code landing page in 9 steps

The design of your QR Code and landing page directly affects how users engage with your content and whether they take action. To drive results, you need a landing page that’s optimized for mobile, aligned with your brand, and tailored to the needs of your audience. Here’s how to create a custom QR Code landing page designed to help generate more leads and sales:

1. Define your goal

Before you start, take some time to think about what the landing page is for. What exactly should it achieve?

For example, you might build a landing page to get more loyalty program sign-ups, get sales for a seasonal promotion, or collect leads from a business event. Each objective calls for a different layout, visual identity, and tone, so clearly defining the goal determines the direction you’ll need to take in the next steps.

2. Build the landing page

There are many ways to build a landing page, depending on your resources and time frame. You may work with an in-house development team, use tools built into your CMS, or opt for a standalone no-code landing page builder.

Make sure that your landing pages are mobile-optimized and responsive: People use their smartphones for QR Code scans, so your landing page will mostly be viewed on mobile devices and should be easy to navigate.

3. Write a compelling call to action (CTA)

Your CTA drives the primary outcome of the page, so make it count. A clickable and captivating CTA will increase the likelihood of engagement.

It’s best to use just one CTA per landing page, and it should be aligned with the goal of the page. For example, if your landing page is about your loyalty program, your CTA should encourage program sign-ups rather than directing viewers to your newsletter or unrelated content. 

You can repeat the CTA multiple times on a page (like a few “Sign up here!” buttons that viewers will see as they scroll down the page) but it should always point to the same place.

To make your CTA more effective:

  • Offer an incentive for visitors to click, such as an exclusive discount or content.

  • Place the CTA in a prominent position, or use sticky or pop-up buttons.

  • Use color contrast to draw attention. (Pro tip: Using color psychology may help drive conversions!)

Keep your CTAs short, clear, and actionable with verbs to encourage a response. For example, “Join our loyalty program” may be more effective than “Click here for more info.”

An example of a QR Code on landing page with a clear CTA

QR Codes on landing pages should have a clear CTA

4. Write strong headings

The heading is the first thing visitors see when they open a QR Code landing page. Use it to improve your chances of driving conversions. Just like a CTA, keep headings short and to the point. Be clear and transparent, telling visitors exactly what to expect from your landing page, and use vocabulary and tone of voice that resonates with your target audience to ensure your content is relatable and relevant. 

5. Follow your brand’s style guide for colors, fonts, and copy

Landing pages are designed to move visitors further along in the sales process. Unlike a homepage or blog which might provide general information, a landing page has a clear purpose: driving sign-ups, collecting leads, or promoting a specific offer.

That focused goal should shape the copy and design. Keep the messaging direct, limit visual distractions, and use your brand’s fonts, colors, and tone to create a cohesive experience. For example, a landing page promoting a seasonal discount should use urgent, action-driven language and bold visuals that reinforce the limited-time nature of the offer, while staying true to your brand. Extend that same branding to the QR Code itself. With tools like QR Code Generator PRO, you can customize the QR Code frames, colors, and logo to match the page and create a seamless path from scan to conversion.

Example of customization options from QR Code Generator software
Example of customization options from QR Code Generator software

6. Include social links

Most landing pages are focused on a single action, such as driving sales or collecting leads. But if your landing pages get a lot of traffic, you can also use them to drive social media engagement. 

To avoid cluttering your landing page, only include social links to platforms that are popular with your target audience.  For example, Instagram and TikTok are great options for brands that target Gen Z consumers, as these are among their most commonly used apps. Alternatively, if you just want to increase social media engagement for your business, you can simply create a Social Media QR Code that takes visitors directly to the target social media platform.

An example of a custom Social Media QR Code
An example of a custom Social Media QR Code

7. Generate the QR Code

Once your landing page is ready, link it to a QR Code using a reliable generator. It’s easy to create branded URL QR Codes with QR Code Generator PRO. 

Sign into your QR Code Generator account and select the Create a QR Code button. Choose the Website option for a landing page. 

Type in the landing page’s web address and hit Create to bring up the editing options. 

This is where you can edit the QR Code’s colors, shape, and frame—or even incorporate your brand logo.

8. Test the QR Code and landing page

You can scan the code directly from your QR Code editor to confirm the link works, but you’ll need to test it in real-world context: printed materials, signage, packaging, or wherever it’ll be displayed. This is because the placement, size, image resolution, and lighting all determine whether or not a QR Code is scannable.

Download your code in the appropriate file format (for example, PNG or JPG is fine for screen displays, but not in print or on product packaging). Then perform QR Code testing by scanning from a range of distances, in a range of lighting conditions, and with a couple of different smartphones.

9. Track performance

To know whether your QR Code and landing page are working, track key metrics like how many people scanned the code, where and when they scanned it, and what devices they used. When you use a reliable QR Code generator like QR Code Generator PRO, you get access to detailed scan analytics like scans over time, by operating system, and by location (city and country). This helps you understand how well your campaign is performing across different regions and audiences.

Demo version of QR Code tracking metrics available with QR Code Generator software
Demo version of QR Code tracking metrics available with QR Code Generator software

Once you have a baseline, you can A/B test to identify the best version of your landing page. Test variations of your headline, CTA placement, visuals, or copy, and compare how each version impacts metrics like page visits, conversions, or sign-ups, and use the data to inform future campaigns

Improve your QR Code landing page with QR Code Generator PRO

QR Codes and landing pages are effective marketing tools. Combined, they’re a compelling way to recruit leads, make sales, remove friction from the customer journey, and build loyal relationships. Speed, convenience, and clarity are the most important elements of QR Code landing pages. You’ll need crystal-clear design, writing, and calls-to-action to get a high conversion rate. Lightning-fast QR Codes and mobile-optimized landing pages help to minimize friction even further. 

QR Code Generator PRO has all the tools you need to connect customers with your landing pages. The dashboard makes it easy to create and manage codes, even at scale, with a full suite of branding features. You’ll also have access to detailed analytics about how people interact with your QR Code landing pages.

Sign up for a free trial now and get higher conversion rates with QR Code landing pages!

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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