QR Tracking Overview
What it is
QR tracking makes every physical mailer measurable. When you add a QR code to a mailer's message, thanks.io generates a unique, trackable link for each recipient. When someone scans, thanks.io:
- Fires an instant notification to you (email, text, or webhook)
- Optionally moves the scanning recipient to a new mailing list (triggering a follow-up campaign automatically) - configured in the mailing list's Advanced settings under When someone scans a QR code…. By default the recipient is taken off the list they were mailed from, so its campaigns stop mailing them; uncheck Remove them from this list (move instead of copy) to copy them instead
- Optionally appends missing email or phone data to the recipient's record - configured with Append on Scan under Settings → Mail Preferences
- Logs the scan in Analytics (under Reports in the sidebar)
- Adds the recipient to the Global Scan List for easy cross-campaign follow-up
- Puts the scanned piece on the Lead Board (under Reports in the sidebar) as a card in New, so you can track your follow-up
How QR tracking works
- You set a QR code destination in the message - on a creative's message step, or on the Message step of Send Mail - either a custom URL or the thanks.io default landing page. See Enabling QR Codes. A QR code can also go on the front: a Street View design carries its own, and a QR code already printed in your uploaded design can be made tracked. See Tracking a QR code already printed in your design.
- At send time, each recipient's mailer gets a unique QR code that encodes their recipient ID and destination URL.
- When a recipient scans, thanks.io logs the scan event, fires notifications, and runs lifecycle automations.
What happens on a scan
| Event | What happens |
|---|---|
| Recipient scans QR | Scan logged; notifications sent |
| Move Recipient on Scan | Recipient moved to destination list (or copied, if the list is set to copy) |
| Append on Scan | Email/phone looked up and appended ($0.20/lookup) |
| Global Scan List | Recipient automatically added to "All QR Scans" |
| Lead Board | First scan of a piece adds its card to New; repeat scans update its last scan time |
Tips & best practices
- Add a QR code to every creative's message - there is no reason to send mail without tracking.
- Connect scans to a follow-up campaign via Move Recipient on Scan for fully automated lead nurturing.
- Review the Global Scan List regularly - it is your most engaged segment across all campaigns.
- Work new scans from the Lead Board: move each card from New to Contacted, Follow Up, and Done as you reach out.
- Use Analytics to compare scan rates across creatives, designs, messages, mailing lists, and campaigns.
Limits & gotchas
- QR scan webhooks are at-least-once delivered - build idempotent webhook consumers.
- Append on Scan costs $0.20 per lookup and is off by default.
- A QR code that is part of your uploaded artwork isn't tracked on its own. Make it tracked on the creative wizard's Front step so its scans are counted.