05. How to use QR Code Generator

We are very happy to announce our new QR Code Generator!  This is a feature that will enable users to create QR codes for a variety of purposes including PURL campaigns, Contact information, URLs, Trigger Phone Calls, and Text Messages and more!   The QR Code Generator is very versatile and easy to use, with many features, including giving the capability to change background and corner colors, round corners, and insert images into the body of the QR Code image. QR codes associated with variable data brings tremendous power to your business, both for marketing campaigns as well as operational efficiency. As the world is moving towards contactless businesses, the significance of QR codes is increasing. MindFire has brought a solution here that provides a variety of QR code options with ultimate flexibility.  Details on using the QR Code Generator are below, and you can also watch this being demonstrated in the 2 Part videos:

Part 1

And Part 2

To access the QR Code Generator, log into your account in the MindFire Product Portal.  If you are unfamiliar with the MindFire  Product Portal, please view the introduction and demo here.

Once logged into your account, you will see an Assets icon in the menu bar on the left side of the screen.   

Clicking on this opens the Asset Library. In this area you will be able to add your digital assets. Once your library contains digital assets, you may use them in the building of campaigns.   Clicking on the +New button allows you to upload a new asset, or create a new form, email or landing page using the Design Editor.  Here you may also view existing assets. 

To create a new QR Code, click on the button in the main menu of the  Asset Library on the right hand side of the CTA Menu section.  

 The QR Code Generator will open and you can begin creating your new QR Code.  Be sure to give your new QR Code a name, and a brief description.  From the Let's set up your QR Code, control panel on the left-hand side of the screen you can step through the code creation options, beginning with the “Choose List” drop down menu.  Note that this is an optional, paid feature for creating multiple QR Codes from lists in your CRM databases for use in campaigns.  If the select from a list option is not available to you, please contact [email protected] to learn more about how you may have this feature included in your subscription.  

Next, select the Content Type from the dropdown menu for the type of QR Code that you want to generate.  Depending on the Content Type that you select, you will either enter the information into the Content area, or you will be presented with a pop up dialog box that you can fill in.  These content type options are:

• Personalized URL:  This option is only available if you are using a list, and will generate a QR Code that corresponds to the unique PURL for each person in a contact list.  This is for use in Direct Mail Campaigns for example. When working with the Personalized URL option, you can associate the QR Code with one of your Capture Leads, campaigns which you select from the drop down menu in the “Set the Targeted URL field. 

  

Or, ignore the Set the Targeted URL selector and  enter any URL that you would like the contact who scans the code to be directed to, such as when working with redirect campaigns, in the Content box. 

Be sure to enter any URL Parameters that you would like to use such as UTM tracking codes or query strings for site visitor tracking.  If you are using a Capture Leads campaign for your PURL, this information will automatically be populated, and you would only need to enter information here if you are redirecting to an non-campaign related URL

• URL: Connects the QR Code Image to a specific URL like a landing page or website.  Note that you may also include URL Parameters such as UTM codes or query strings for enhanced visitor or site traffic tracking.  Enter these into the URL Parameters (Optional) field. 

• V-Card:  Here you can create a QR Code that will share contact information that you supply within the form that will Pop Up. 

  The idea here is to send a QR Code that is formatted as a V-Card, so the recipient can scan the code and save the contact information for a sales person or customer service representative, etc. 

• When using the V-Card Feature with a List, you will be presented with a form that allows you to populate the V-Card with information that is taken from the list. This can be very useful for sending contact information of a target’s sales person for example such as when your target audiences may be individually assigned to different sales team members, or something similar.   This is done by entering the name of the field that you want to pull from and enter into the form in the variable format:

Be sure to note the field names that you want to use from your list, this can be done by viewing the list in the CRM tab.

• Text String: Show a simple text only message, like the answer to a quiz, or a discount code, etc. or perhaps an emoji. The text string option is quite versatile and is the “catch all” for all kinds of applications. 

  • The Text String can also be used when working with a list, in this case you could send a prepared message that you have entered into your contact list.  For example, each person in our contact list gets a different message or you have groups of contacts who receive different messages. To do this, enter the name of the message field from your list in the Content area using the variable tags for example: 

  • Or concatenate multiple fields such as ##custom1##, ##custom2## etc to build a QR code logic. 

Some examples are:

• Send a preset text message to a predetermined recipient.

• Initiate Payments

• Reveal offers or coupon codes

• Add an event to the calendar 

• WiFi code for your nearest store (as in a franchise situation)

• Follow someone’s social media profile

• Pull up your store’s menu

• Phone Call: Enter a phone number that the visitor will be able to automatically dial when scanning the QR from a phone or copied and dialed manually. Choosing this option opens a pop-up dialog box where you enter the phone number that you want to be called.
  
  

  • Phone Call may also be used in conjunction with a list. This is useful if your contacts will be directed to different phone numbers for various reasons like call tracking, or various sales team assignments.  When choosing Phone Call when using a list, enter the name of the phone number field from your contacts list in the format of a variable such as:

• SMS: Here you can enter a mobile phone number that starts a text message when the contact scans the code using their mobile device.  In this case you can have the call to action be to have the contact scan the code to send a text message to the mobile phone number you enter in the dialog box, and ask them to enter something in the body of the text.  “”Scan the QR Code with your mobile devices and enter Buy Now to get a special offer” for example.  When SMS is selected at the Content Type, a dialog box pops up asking to enter a mobile number.  The system will validate the entry to make sure it is a 10 digit number being entered.  

• SMS can also be used  with a list, you may pull the mobile number that the contact will be directed to when they scan the QR Code from the list you are using. The mobile number in this field will be associated with each contact’s individual QR Code, and this can be different for every contact. Enter the field name in the variable format as shown here:.

• Link to a Google map:  Enter the address of a location to show a Google Map of that location when the QR Code is scanned. 

• Google Map when used with a list allows you to pull the map address fields from the list that you are using.  This will enable you to to generate a unique Google Map for each user or groups of users when the contact scans the QR Code. Enter the field name for each address attribute in the pop up form using the variable format as shown here:

Move through the steps to designate the size of the QR Code image, and the file format.  

You also have the option of generating a QR Code String for VDP (Variable Data Printing) systems.  This option will add a text string to your data export that can be imported into many VDP printing production workflows.  Check with your pre-media, production department, or printer if this is needed vs. sending an actual image file.

We can now move over to the right side of the screen where we can customize the actual QR Code image.  Here you may select the color for the Main Area, Top Left and Right, and Bottom Left boxes of the code using the color picker, or you may enter the Hexadecimal Code for each color directly.  You may also select round corners, and grayscale only, as well as upload an image to be placed in the center of the code such as a logo. 

Clicking on the Preview button will display a preview of the final image.  

Once you have completed all of the steps to creating your QR Code,  Click  on The Save QR Code button if you code if you want to come back an use your code later, or clicking on the 

Will launch save the QR Code and launch the output process.   Depending on the type of content you are using, you will have the option to Save and Download the generated code, or if you are using a list, you can designate what email address you want the list and codes to be sent to.  And select the fields that will be included in the list that is downloaded. 

Your list will be generated automatically along with a separate file of the individual QR Code images, and an email will be sent to the email address you designate,  with links to download these files. 

Once generated, and or saved, your QR code will now be available to use as a CTA in a campaign, or can be included in your data list exports for use with Direct Mail and PURL campaigns, etc. 

Please let us know if you have any questions, or have use cases that we have not covered in this article.