Should I Put QR Codes on Labels?

Thanks to the uptick in popularity during the pandemic, QR codes are being used by more and more businesses on product labels as a way to deliver additional information. Our customers often ask us if they should put QR codes on labels to enhance the consumer experience. The answer is “Yes, use QR code labels on your products!”

We have gathered some of the benefits of QR codes on labels, and even some drawbacks to their use, so you can make your own decision about whether or not they are right for your business.

Benefits of QR Codes on Labels

When it comes to the use of QR code labels for products of any kind, there are certainly some benefits you need to know. Some of the main benefits of QR codes include:

• You can share more information with your customers without making the design and copy so busy that your message is lost.
• QR codes allow you to connect your offline marketing campaign with your online sales efforts.
• They invite consumers to further engage with your brand and learn more about your products and services.
• QR codes serve as a trackable data source.

Downfalls of QR Codes on Labels

While there are many valid reasons to include QR codes on labels, there are also some cons to their use. Keep these pitfalls in mind when planning a marketing campaign so you can avoid any issues in the future.

• The URL code links included in the QR code always need to be up-to-date and relevant. You don’t want to send consumers to a broken link or an outdated page that promotes an old special or product that is no longer your focus.
• Accessing the QR code can be inconvenient for some end users because they require a smartphone and reliable access to the Internet or a smartphone data plan for it to work properly.

Examples of QR Codes on Labels

Now that we have shared some of the common pros and cons of adding QR codes to labels, we also want to spotlight some examples of the use of codes on product labels. 

The most common industry where they are used successfully on a regular basis is the food and beverage industry. A QR code link is used to send customers to product information pages that allow them to learn more about the actual product or the philosophy of the brand. The website page can be an interactive page where customers click to learn more about the company history, different uses for the items, or information on the area of the world where the specific food or drink item was created

Another example is beauty brands due to the push for cleaner ingredients. QR codes give a brand the opportunity to help consumers learn more about the ingredients in the product, the environmental efforts of the business, and how the company is ensuring the product is made of natural ingredients. 
QR code labels are an effective marketing technique because of the positive benefits and branding opportunities they present for businesses. Ask our design team about including QR codes in your product labels or on any other printed item which you want to tie back to an online page or offer.

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