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Enabling QR Codes

How to enable a QR code​

The QR code is part of a mailer's message. Set it in either place:

  • On a creative (reused every time you send it, from the dashboard, a campaign, or an integration): go to Creatives, click the creative (or start one with New creative), and go to its message step - Back for postcards, Inside for notecards, Letter for letters. See Creating a creative.
  • On a single send: in Send Mail, on the Message step.

Then:

  1. In the QR code section, enter where recipients should land in QR code destination (optional):
    • Custom URL - any publicly accessible URL (booking page, product page, landing page). sms:, mailto:, and tel: links also work.
    • Default thanks.io landing page - click Use default for the built-in landing page. It tells recipients you'll reach out soon, shows the contact details from your branding, and emails or texts you on each scan.
    • Dynamic URL - use replacement variables in the URL (e.g., https://yoursite.com/welcome?name=~FIRST_NAME~) for per-recipient links. See Dynamic QR URLs.
    • Custom field URL - enter just ~CUSTOM1~ (or any of ~CUSTOM1~ to ~CUSTOM10~) to use each recipient's custom field value as the full URL. See Use a Custom Field as the Full QR URL.
  2. Check the preview beside the editor to see where the code prints.
  3. Save the creative on its Review step, or carry on with the send.

Leave the field empty for no QR code. You can also use Add QR code above the message text, which opens the same setting in a dialog.

note

QR codes are a paid-plan feature. On the Free plan the QR code field is locked and shows an upgrade badge.

Sending a creative through the API or an integration​

A creative sent through the API, Zapier, n8n, or a HubSpot workflow uses the QR code saved in its message. Those sends can also add a QR code URL of their own (qrcode_url in the API, QR code URL in HubSpot and n8n), even when everything else comes from the creative.

Tips & best practices​

  • Use the thanks.io default landing page for campaigns where you don't have a specific URL - it tells the recipient you'll be in touch, shows your branding contact details, and alerts you to each scan.
  • For high-intent campaigns, use a custom URL pointing to your booking calendar or product page.
  • Always test your QR URL by scanning a preview piece before launching a campaign.
  • Combine with Move Recipient on Scan to automate follow-up when someone scans.

Setting a QR code for an entire mailing list​

You can set a default QR code URL at the mailing list level. Every recipient on that list will receive that URL as their QR code destination, unless a more specific URL is configured elsewhere.

  1. Go to Mailing Lists in the sidebar and open the list.
  2. Open the list's Advanced settings (from the list's menu, or the link below its recipients).
  3. In the Tracking URL card, enter your destination URL in the QR Code URL (optional) field. It must start with http:// or https://.
  4. Click Update.
note

The Tracking URL section requires a Business plan.

QR code priority order​

When multiple QR URLs are set, thanks.io uses the highest-priority one:

PriorityWhere it is set
1 (highest)Mailing List - Tracking URL
2The message - QR code destination on the creative or the Send Mail Message step
3Zapier / API

VisitorView retargeting lists and QR URLs​

For VisitorView retargeting lists, the Tracking URL section works the same way - set a URL there to override the message's QR destination for everyone on that list.

QR placement on your mailer​

Where the QR code appears on the finished piece depends on the mailer type:

Mailer typeWhere QR appears
Postcards, notecards, and lettersPrinted on the message side - enter a URL in the message's QR code section and check the preview to see the position
Postcard (front/design side)Can be added to the design side by using a Dynamic Image in the front design
Gift cards and MagnaCardsQR codes are not available

Placing a QR code on the front (design side) of a card​

By default, the QR code prints on the message side. If you want a QR code on the front of a 4x6 or 6x9 postcard - for example, on a real estate "just listed" postcard linking directly to the property website - build the front as a Street View design, whose layouts include a QR code.

Steps:

  1. In the creative wizard, on the Front step, choose Street View design (or Edit the Street View design on a creative that already has one).
  2. Pick a Layout - it sets where the photo, your text, the QR code, and your logo sit.
  3. In the QR code and images section, enter the QR code URL, or click Use message QR to send front scans to the same URL as the message side's QR code. Scans from the front are tracked too.
  4. To make it per-recipient, use a replacement variable such as ~CUSTOM1~ in the URL so each card links to the correct listing.
  5. Save the design and check the preview - the QR code renders on the front of each printed card.

See Dynamic Images for more on dynamic fronts.

Real estate use case

For just-listed campaigns, set the front's QR code URL to the individual property listing page. Prospects who scan the QR code on the front of the card are taken directly to the property website, no need to flip to the back.

Limits & gotchas​

  • A creative's QR code is saved with its message. If the same creative is used across multiple campaigns, they all share the same QR destination URL. To give one campaign a different destination, Duplicate the creative and change the copy's QR code, or set a Tracking URL on that campaign's list.
  • The QR code on each piece is unique to that recipient even when the base URL is the same - thanks.io appends tracking parameters automatically.