QR code analytics: what to track (and how to prove your QR campaign worked)
If you put a QR code on a poster, menu, packaging, or a business card, the first question you should ask is not "does it scan?"
It is:
Did it drive the outcome we wanted?
That is what QR code analytics is for.
This guide shows the practical setup that lets you measure scans, clicks, and conversions without turning your campaign into a data science project.
TL;DR
- Use a dynamic QR code so you can edit destinations and measure scans.
- Track three layers: scans, landing page behavior, conversion.
- Use UTM tags for campaign attribution.
- Report a simple weekly snapshot: scans, unique scanners, top locations, conversion rate.
- QRShuffle makes this easy: one QR, editable destination, and scan analytics.
What QR code analytics actually means
A QR code is just a way to open a link.
Analytics means you can answer questions like:
- How many people scanned?
- When did they scan?
- Where were they when they scanned?
- Which placements worked best?
- Did people take the next step (signup, purchase, form submit)?
To do that reliably, you need a QR code that points to a trackable redirect.
That is why businesses choose dynamic QR codes.
Related:
- Dynamic QR code: what it is, how it works, and why businesses use it
- Editable QR code: what it is and how to make one
The 3 layers to track (scans, behavior, conversion)
Layer 1: QR scans (top of funnel)
This is what most QR tools track out of the box:
- total scans
- unique scanners (approx)
- time of day and day of week
- device type
- rough location
Use this to compare placements.
Example: poster A got 400 scans, table tent B got 40 scans.
Layer 2: landing page behavior (middle of funnel)
Once the QR opens your page, your website analytics can track:
- bounce rate
- time on page
- button clicks
- scroll depth (optional)
This tells you whether people were interested after scanning.
If scans are high but bounce is high, your landing page is the problem, not the QR code.
Related:
Layer 3: conversions (bottom of funnel)
A scan is not revenue.
Decide the conversion event you care about:
- email signup
- booking request
- checkout purchase
- app install
- review submitted
Track that event in your analytics setup.
How to set up QR tracking with UTMs (the simple way)
UTM tags are the most common method to label traffic.
Example URL:
https://example.com/offer?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=summer_promo&utm_content=poster_1
What matters is consistency.
Pick a naming convention and stick to it.
If you want a full breakdown:
A simple QR campaign analytics template (copy this)
Use a weekly report like this:
- Goal: (signup, order, booking)
- Time window: (last 7 days)
- Placements: (poster, packaging, menu)
Metrics:
- Scans: ___
- Unique scanners: ___
- Top locations: ___
- Best placement: ___
- Landing page conversion rate: ___
- Cost per conversion (if paid): ___
Notes:
- what changed vs last week
- what you will test next week
This is enough to make decisions.
Common mistakes that ruin QR code analytics
- Using a static QR code for a campaign you want to measure
- Sending scans to a slow page (people bounce)
- No UTMs so you cannot separate placements
- Changing naming every week
- Comparing different contexts (weather, time, foot traffic)
If you want to avoid printing failures too:
- Why QR codes fail in the wild (and how to prevent it)
- QR quiet zone explained: the print rule that saves scans
The CEO way to use QR analytics
Do not overcomplicate it.
Run a loop:
- launch with 2 to 3 placements
- measure scans and conversions for 7 days
- improve the worst performer (design, placement, CTA, landing page)
- scale the best performer
CTA: create a trackable QR code with QRShuffle
If you want QR code analytics without reprinting every time something changes, use a dynamic QR code.
QRShuffle lets you:
- create a dynamic QR code in minutes
- edit destinations later
- add UTMs and run multiple placements
- view scan analytics so you can report results
Create a trackable QR code here: