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QR Codes - FAQs

How do I add a QR code to my mailer?​

QR codes can be configured in three ways:

  • On a creative - In Creatives, open the creative and go to its message step. In the QR code section, enter your destination in QR code destination (optional), or click Use default for the thanks.io default landing page. Every send of that creative carries the code.
  • In Send Mail - the Message step has the same QR code section for a single send.
  • API - Pass your QR destination URL as qrcode_url in the API request when sending programmatically. It can be added even when you send a creative by creative_id.

See Enabling QR Codes.

My front design already has a QR code printed in it. Can thanks.io track it?​

Yes, on a postcard, notecard, MagnaCard, or gift card front that uses your own image. When you put the design on the creative wizard's Front step, thanks.io checks it for a QR code and offers to track it. Confirm where scans should go and click Make it tracked. At print time, thanks.io covers your printed code with a tracked thanks.io QR code, unique to each piece, and the rest of your design prints exactly as you uploaded it. Scans count in Analytics and your scan notifications like any other.

To undo it, click Remove tracking on the Front step; your upload prints as it was, with its own code untracked. Replacing the front's image drops the tracking, so make a code in the new image tracked again if you want its scans counted. See Tracking a QR code already printed in your design.

What happens when someone scans my QR code?​

The recipient is taken to your specified URL or the thanks.io default landing page, which tells them you'll be in touch and shows the contact details from your branding.

Can I track who scanned?​

Yes. Every scan is recorded with the recipient's details, the order, and the mailing list. View scans in Reports → Analytics (scan rates by creative, design, message, list, and campaign), on each order, in the Global Scan List, and on the Lead Board, and receive real-time email, text, or webhook notifications.

How do I keep track of following up with people who scanned?​

Use the Lead Board under Reports in the sidebar. Every mailed piece that gets scanned becomes a card in New; drag it (or use its Move to menu) to Contacted, Follow Up, and Done as you work the lead, and add notes along the way. There is one card per mailed piece, and a repeat scan updates the card's last scan time without moving it. The board is available on every plan. On the Business plan and up, stage webhooks can send each lead to your CRM as it enters a column. Callers to your AI Receptionist number get cards on the same board. See Lead Board.

Can I use a custom URL?​

Yes. You can set any publicly accessible URL as the QR destination. Dynamic per-recipient URLs are also supported - the QR code encodes recipient-specific parameters so your landing page knows exactly who scanned.

What is the Global Scan List?​

The Global Scan List (also called All QR Scans) automatically adds every scanning recipient. Use it as a source for follow-up campaigns.

Can I move a recipient to a different list on scan?​

Yes. Move recipient to a list on scan automatically moves a scanning recipient to a list you specify, which can trigger a follow-up campaign automatically.

How do I remove the QR code from my mailers?​

When you use your Branding background, a QR code is automatically included on your mailers. To remove it, update or remove the background image that was added by Branding. You can do this from Branding in the sidebar, on the Branded designs tab, which holds your default backgrounds for each mailer size. To drop the background from just one creative, choose No background on its message step.

If you set a QR code destination on a creative's message, clear the QR code destination field to remove it.

If you made a QR code in your uploaded front design tracked, click Remove tracking on the creative's Front step. The front goes back to your upload exactly as it was, so the code printed in your artwork still appears, untracked. To print no code there, upload a version of the design without it.