QR Codes for Trade Shows

trade show marketing with qr code on a display with people walking by
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Benefits of Using QR Codes for Trade Shows

Using QR codes for trade show marketing strategies is the most effective way to share the most content possible in an eco-friendly way. Using videos on your website and augmented reality (AR) experiences for clients and colleagues in your industry will make your brand stand out. Bringing heavy, printed materials to trade shows is no longer necessary. Reduce paper, ink, printing costs, and weight, by bringing posters with QR codes and smaller, lighter materials with QR codes printed on them instead of brochures and pamphlets.

1. It’s effective for relevant content sharing

Trade show marketing ideas that incorporate QR codes can now share virtual experiences with interviews, testimonies, and give discounts or allow sign-ups for free trials without using paperwork. The scans are unlimited and the information behind the code can offer more than what you would use on printed materials. You can also change the information at any time in a dynamic QR code to keep consumers up to date.

2. It reduces printing costs and materials

Printing materials that get forgotten or thrown away is costly and heavy. It is more effective to have a QR code that keeps the information on a mobile phone after scanning. QR codes take up the minimum amount of space while offering a lot more information than can fit on brochures and flyers and is a more eco-friendly option to reduce paper and ink.

3. You can create a QR code quickly

Creating customisable QR codes according to your needs is simple. Include business logos, use branded colours, design beautiful frames, and personalise a message. Consumers will remember your brand by having a recognizable QR code.

4. It’s tempting to use for customers

QR codes on trade show booths, materials, samples, and merchandise, will entice the customer to scan a QR code after meeting with you, making it a more memorable experience. Having a QR code with a clear message will incentivize customers to scan and check out the information.

5. Analyze each scan to measure the success of your campaign

Tracking QR codes enables businesses to analyze the performance of each of the scans and the trade show marketing strategy in general. Now you can track how many scans you receive at the trade show specifically to be able to know exactly how many followers, buyers, and relationships you have gained as a measurable result in the Supercode analytics dashboard.

QR codes on banners for trade show
Image source: StarLine / Shutterstock

Applications for QR Codes for Trade Shows

1. Provide product and service information

Place QR codes next to items on display with videos, stories, and pricing. It is also possible to set up appointments for a service by using a URL QR code to route customers to your online appointment portal.

2. Increase sales by making it easier for visitors to order and re-order

Being able to order and reorder products that you can't bring on the road or that you have run out of, will be convenient for customers who are ready to buy now. Connect a QR code to your e-commerce site so customers can have products delivered straight to their homes or go to onsite locations to pick up their products.

3. Engage with consumers, sales representatives, and industry colleagues, through social media

Make sure people are following you through Supercode's social media QR code. If Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites are where you promote events, collect feedback, and announce new products, gain followers quickly and easily when they have a mistake-proof QR code straight to your content information. Even make a QR code business card to keep in touch. You don't even need to print physical business cards. Just allow people to scan the code from your mobile phone to theirs.

4. Run sales promotions and limited time offers

Are you offering a discount or promotion for a limited time or a season? Offer a discount or sample to encourage customers to scan your QR code to follow you on social media or give feedback and receive valuable discounts as an incentive.

5. Share stories about your company

What is the story behind your brand? What are the values of your business? When consumers click the QR code to your social media or website, they can view stories in videos or blogs you upload so they can get to know your products and your brand.

6. Collect feedback and improve customer service

Do you care about what consumers are saying about you? Maybe you would like specific feedback on how others enjoyed the trade show and what they could have done differently at their booth. How about improving your products and creating new ones?

Use a Supercode feedback QR code to get feedback with star ratings about your products. Share them online or keep them to yourself for product improvement. Consumers can add comments right away and Supercode's analytics dashboard tracks where the feedback is coming from in the world immediately. Consumers even have the option of leaving their contact information so you can engage with them or send them product and event information in the future and keep the relationship going.

7. Allow guests to check-in by QR code

Easily register your check-ins by scanning a QR code and then analyzing how many people attended the trade show in real-time.

How to Create a QR Code for Trade Shows

Creating QR codes on Supercode is easy and takes seconds. Here is a quick guide on how to create QR codes for trade shows to achieve your marketing and sales goals.

1. Choose the right type of QR code. Here are some of our suggestions:

  • URL QR Codes - perfect for sharing website content or sending customers directly to brand information, stories, and booking appointments for services. 
  • Social Media QR Codes - ideal for brands aiming to increase the number of followers on their social media accounts. 
  • Feedback QR Codes - great for placing a QR code on materials to see how you can improve your products, customer service, or their trade show experience.
  • Email QR Codes - fantastic for questions regarding customer service, returns, appointments, or suggestions. 
  • SMS QR Codes - amazing for information that is necessary in an already prewritten SMS message. This code works everywhere as it requires no internet connection. Great for inspiring visitors to request information about your products and services.
  • vCard QR Codes - the easiest way for sharing specific contact information that is automatically input in the contacts of the user's phone. A wonderful way to keep in touch with other industry experts, salespeople, managers, and consumers you have connected with at the show.
  • Plain Text QR Codes - best for making discount codes for seasonal or limited-time promotions. These codes are static and cannot be changed.
  • Bulk QR Codes - best for making many codes at one time with dynamic or static options, or one-off scans.
  • Image QR Codes - inspire your TA to book a call or a demo with a CTA button in addition to your URL, with a beautiful photo gallery that appears when they scan.
  • PDF QR Codes - amazing for replacing paper brochures and can be downloaded and stored in mobile phones.
  • WhatsApp QR Codes - perfect for the sales reps that want to give international contacts a direct line they can connect to when they have internet connection.
Supercode different types of QR codes

2. Create a code

Creating a code on Supercode is easy and takes seconds. Choose the type, the link or the content to include and click on save when you are ready.

create a QR code on Supercode QR code generator platform

3. Modify the design

Create the QR code to match your branding guidelines and make your code attractive for customers.

modify design of a QR code on Supercode QR code generator platform

4. Add your QR code to a folder to organize your workspace

Add customizable categories for new folders in the Supercode dashboard. Or, add your new QR code to a preexisting folder, both of which you can share with your marketing and management teams.

save QR codes to different folders on Supercode platform

5. Test the code

Scan the code by directing your phone camera on it and check if all the content displayed is correct. To make changes, simply go back to the dashboard and edit the code.

 bright colourful QR codes generated on Supercode platform

6. Print the code

Print the QR code on posters, columns, displays, samples, and any useful materials. Make it stand out and encourage clients and colleagues to click with special offers and incentives.

Supercode QR code printed on a business card

7. Track analytics

Visit the analytics dashboard to get more information about how your QR codes are performing.

Supercode analytics dashboard with QR code scans performance

Learn how to create bulk QR codes with Supercode's bulk QR code generator.

Best Practices Using QR Codes for Trade Shows

1. Sharing information, education, and scheduling

Kodak's trade show marketing strategy included using QR codes for various reasons to educate their guests. "At the International Consumer Electronics Show, Eastman Kodak Co. displayed nine different QR codes that could be scanned to access everything from additional product information to the schedule of presentations inside the exhibit's K-Zone theater," reported Exhibitor Online.

Kodak trade show QR codes displayed in the conference room
Image source: Exhibitor Online

2. Create a scavenger hunt

At a Google trade show, attendees were encouraged to scan QR codes for a fun scavenger hunt that led to another QR code with a clue, where they found the next QR code with a clue and so forth, and at the end of the hunt they were rewarded with a surprise. This trade show marketing idea got people moving and scanning.

QR code google scavenger hunt poster at trade show
Image source: Motivated Models

3. Easily increase followers on social media

Qubica AMF Bowling Alley Construction and Supplies placed QR codes leading straight to their social media sites to increase followers and promote their business. They displayed their banner with their logo and clearly printed QR codes at a trade show, making it simple for people to follow.

QR code banner for social media accounts at trade show for qubica amf
Image source: Exhibitor Online

4. Clearly display codes with a call to action

At the Fit Bloggin' Conference in Baltimore, Eggland's Best created this interesting trade show booth by clearly displaying several QR codes for a selection of reasons: nutritional information, a link to their Facebook, promotion of the organic and cage-free eggs, and an option to sign-up for their newsletter. This trade show marketing strategy targeted bloggers who write about health and fitness so they created QR codes for that specific audience. With a clear presentation, incorporate QR codes for a call to action to virtually enhance any trade show booth. 

a poster with four QR codes at eggland's best trade show
Image source: Brand & Market

5. Place on objects for a real-life effect

Nissan placed a QR code on their Titan V8 truck at a trade show, to incorporate a digital experience into their trade booth. Having videos with driving experiences and informational knowledge for everybody is an amazing way to go beyond handing out expensive brochures to people not interested in making a serious purchase.

QR code on door of nissan titan
Image source: Apple Rock


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