QR Code Promotion: How Brands Use QR Codes to Drive Engagement

What Is QR Code Promotion?

QR code promotion is the use of scannable QR codes in a marketing strategy to direct customers to digital content via physical touchpoints.

Instead of asking customers to search, type, or remember a URL, QR codes create instant access using a smartphone camera.

Common QR code promotion uses include:

• Digital menus and ordering

• Promotional landing pages

• Product information and storytelling

• Loyalty programs and sign-ups

• Review collection and feedback

• Event check-ins and gamified experiences

For brands operating in physical environments, QR codes bridge the gap between real-world interaction and digital engagement.

Case Study: La Sperlongaise’s No-Touch Menu Experience

When La Sperlongaise introduced QR codes at its restaurant tables, the goal was not just to improve hygiene. It was efficiency, flexibility, and brand control.

How It Worked

This restaurant uses a QR code to get its customers’ orders.

QR codes are no longer new to people. Most QR code menus we see in pubs are table displays or tabletop banners, but this one is unique to us.

La Sperlongaise’s menu code is printed on a metal disk.

Everyone who dines at the restaurant will definitely find this unusual.

But how can this no-touch menu help the brand in marketing during this post-pandemic?

1. Eliminate menu sharing between customers.

One of the most significant advantages of using QR codes is that they reduce customers’ contact with surfaces inside restaurants. The pandemic made people more cautious about their surroundings, especially when outside their homes. In restaurants, a menu is often circulated so customers can choose what to order. Doing this practice would be unsafe for customers.

La Sperlongaise’s QR code menu allows customers to place their orders without waiting for their turn on the menu board. They simply need to scan the code on the metal disk, and it’s done. They can easily browse the menu. In that way, people feel safer while doing the transaction.

2. Reduce staff contact with customers.

Using QR codes makes restaurant staff and customers safe. Instead of attracting the server’s attention to request the menu, customers can place their order via the QR code. Of course, staff will still deliver food to customers’ tables, but this minimizes social contact. Indeed, La Sperlongaise’s menu disk makes viewing the menu completely hands-off for customers.

3. Speed Up Table Turns

It is normal to see customers waiting for servers to show the menu. There are times when restaurant staff cannot attend to customers immediately because they must attend to those who arrive first. As a result, they must wait their turn before placing their order. And that is not a good experience for them.

Having a QR code menu at each table allows customers to order their food upon seating. In that way, it can avoid frustrating diners. Customers can also order additional items during the meal if they forgot to place the order earlier or decided at the last minute.

4. Can update the menu anytime.

There are times when a special menu is not available in your kitchen. It is a hassle for restaurant staff to notify customers that food is currently unavailable repeatedly. What’s worse is when customers are craving that specific food, only to find it’s unavailable at the counter.

Let your customers see what’s on your menu today. Show them right away what food is available. Doing so will allow customers to choose what’s on the list. Clearly, one advantage of using a digital menu in restaurants is its ability to provide accurate information. You can update it as often as you like without any hassle.

5. Save money on printing costs.

Most restaurants allot a budget for their menu boards or displays. Menus made from paper or cardboard fade through time. The standard menu display we see in diners and other food outlets is made from PVC or acrylic. Those are also ideal materials for a long-lasting menu display. However, if you invest in something that lasts for years, the metal menu is the right choice.

La Sperlongaise’s metal menu QR code really intrigued us. We have seen many QR code promotions; thus, this is not our first time seeing QR codes on metal. What makes us fascinated is its disk-like form. It’s unique for us and really stirs every customer’s curiosity, especially those new to the place. It is also better both for indoor and outdoor dining.

Best Practices for Effective QR Code Promotion

Execution matters more than the technology itself. Brands that see results follow a few consistent rules.

1. Add a Clear Call-to-Action

Never assume users know what the QR code does.

Good examples:

• “Scan to view today’s menu”

• “Scan for a limited-time offer”

• “Scan to watch how it’s made”

2. Optimize the Landing Experience

The destination page must be:

• Mobile-friendly

• Fast-loading

• Simple and focused

A poor landing experience wastes the scan.

3. Place QR Codes Where They Make Sense

QR codes perform best when placed at decision points, such as tables, shelves, packaging, entrances, or checkout areas.

4. Use Dynamic QR Codes

Dynamic QR codes allow content changes and scan tracking without reprinting, giving brands flexibility and insight.

Why QR Codes Work So Well in Promotional Campaigns

The strength of QR codes lies in their contextual relevance. When the scan adds value (saving time, offering clarity, or unlocking something useful), customers engage willingly.

For promotional products and physical campaigns, QR codes extend the lifespan of branded items by linking them to evolving digital content.

More QR code integration ideas

Take a look at this wooden menu. We’ve seen this in one of the restaurants we have dined in before. Using a wooden frame is indeed an excellent idea, and using a QR code is also great.

Enough of boring catalogues and traditional posters? Further your brand awareness with this QR Code Wrist Band.

See how Maryland Cookies promotes contest giveaways using QR codes in marketing. Check this out.

Pens are a trendy promotional tool. Why not make it even more effective by integrating QR codes on them?

Contact ODM

Want to design your menu board like La Sperlongaise’s? We at the ODM Group can help you. We create a range of restaurant promotional items, including tabletop displays, custom menu holders, display stands, and POS display units.

In addition, we offer services including custom promotional giveaways, curated brand packaging design, and gift-with-purchase ideas. Name it, and we will create it for you. Here at ODM, we turn your ideas into reality.

Explore more promotional product ideas from ODM

FAQs About QR Code Promotion

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