QR Codes — StudioM Platform Guide¶
Who this guide is for: Anyone who wants to create scannable QR codes for print materials, business cards, in-store displays, or marketing campaigns. Time to read: Approximately 6 minutes
What Are QR Codes?¶
QR codes are scannable images that, when photographed with a phone camera, take the person directly to a web page, booking form, contact card, or other destination. The platform includes a built-in QR code builder — no third-party tool needed.
Why build QR codes here instead of a separate tool: - All your codes are managed in one place alongside your funnels and campaigns - Built-in scan tracking — see how many times each code has been scanned - Easy to update the destination without reprinting the code
How to Get There¶
Navigate to: Sites (left sidebar) → QR Codes
QR Code Types¶
| Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
| URL | Opens a webpage when scanned (most common) |
| vCard | Saves your contact details directly to the scanner's phone contacts |
| Business Card | Opens a hosted digital business card page with your details, photo, and social links |
| Phone | Initiates a phone call |
| SMS | Opens a pre-filled text message |
| Opens an email client with your address pre-filled |
Creating a QR Code¶
- Go to Sites → QR Codes
- Click + Create QR Code
- Give it a name (internal — for your reference)
- Select the type (URL, vCard, Business Card, etc.)
- Enter the destination (URL, contact details, etc.)
- Customise the design (see below)
- Preview it — scan the preview with your phone to test it
- Click Save
- Download the image file
URL QR Codes¶
The most widely used type. When scanned, opens a webpage on the person's phone.
Best destinations: - Your appointment booking page - A specific landing page or offer - Your website homepage - A form or quiz - A Google review page (great for in-store review requests) - A video or product page
Tip: Link to a specific action page (e.g., "Book a Free Consultation") rather than your homepage — a focused destination converts far better.
vCard QR Codes (Digital Contact Cards)¶
When scanned, the person's phone offers to save your contact details directly to their address book — instant contact exchange.
Fields you can include: - Name and job title - Company name - Phone (mobile, work) - Email address - Website - Physical address
Great for business cards, name badges, and networking events.
Business Card QR Codes¶
Goes beyond a plain vCard — links to a hosted digital business card page that includes your photo, bio, social media links, and a "Save to Contacts" button.
Advantages: - Looks more professional than a plain vCard - Can be updated any time without reprinting the QR code - Includes clickable social media links
Best for: printing on physical business cards (scan to see the full digital version), or sharing in email signatures.
Customising Your QR Code¶
Colours¶
- Foreground (the dark pattern): change from default black to a brand colour
- Background: change from default white to a light brand colour
- Important rule: Always keep strong contrast — dark foreground on a light background. Poor contrast makes codes unscannable.
Adding Your Logo¶
Place your logo in the centre of the QR code for instant brand recognition: 1. Click Add Logo in the design panel 2. Upload a PNG with a transparent background 3. Keep the logo to about 20% of the total code area — larger than 30% risks making it unscannable
Frame / Border¶
Add a frame around the code with a call-to-action label: - "Scan Me" - "Get Your Free Quote" - "Book a Call"
Frames help — many people don't automatically know to scan QR codes; a CTA phrase removes the ambiguity.
Shape Options¶
Some styling is available for the dot pattern and corner modules (square, rounded, circular). Use these to match your brand aesthetic, but keep scannability as the priority.
Downloading Your QR Code¶
| Format | Best For |
|---|---|
| SVG | Print materials — infinitely scalable without losing quality |
| PNG | Digital use, email, presentations |
| Print-ready, embeddable in documents | |
| JPG | Smaller file size (slight quality loss — avoid for print) |
For anything that will be printed, always download as SVG. It scales to any size with perfect sharpness.
Print Size Guidelines¶
| Use | Minimum Size |
|---|---|
| Business card | 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm |
| Flyer / brochure | 3–5 cm × 3–5 cm |
| Poster | 5–10 cm × 5–10 cm |
| Window / banner | 10 cm+ |
Always test: Scan the QR code at the intended size and distance before printing in bulk.
Tracking QR Scans¶
Each QR code has its own analytics:
- Go to Sites → QR Codes
- Click on a code name → view Analytics
| Metric | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Total Scans | How many times the code has been scanned |
| Unique Scans | Distinct devices that scanned |
| Scans Over Time | Day-by-day trend graph |
| Device Breakdown | iPhone vs Android split |
| Geographic Data | Where scans are coming from |
Practical use: If you have QR codes in multiple locations (e.g., different shops or marketing materials), compare scan counts to see which location or material is generating the most traffic.
Updating a QR Code Destination¶
One of the biggest advantages of building QR codes here: you can update the destination URL any time without creating a new code or reprinting materials.
- Go to Sites → QR Codes
- Click on the code → edit the destination URL
- Save — the existing QR code image now points to the new destination
This means you can print codes on evergreen materials (signage, banners) and change where they lead for different campaigns without reprinting anything.
Best Practices¶
- Always test before printing — scan with both an iPhone and Android at the final size
- Use SVG for all print — guarantees sharp output at any size
- Keep contrast high — dark foreground on light background; never reverse this
- Add a CTA label — "Scan to book your free call" significantly increases scans vs. a naked QR code
- Make the destination mobile-friendly — everyone who scans is on a phone; if the landing page isn't mobile-optimised, you'll lose them immediately
- Use a specific landing page — link to a page designed for the campaign, not your homepage
- Name codes clearly — use a convention like "Campaign — Location — Month/Year" for easy management
Common Use Cases¶
| Use Case | QR Code Type | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Business cards | Business Card or URL | Digital business card / booking page |
| In-store review requests | URL | Google review page |
| Flyer or postcard campaigns | URL | Dedicated landing page |
| Appointment booking (retail/clinic) | URL | Calendar booking page |
| Networking events | vCard or Business Card | Contact save / digital card |
| Post-purchase follow-up | URL | Review request or loyalty sign-up |
| Product packaging | URL | Video demonstration or warranty form |
Troubleshooting¶
| Issue | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Code won't scan | Too small, low contrast, or logo too large — increase size, improve contrast, reduce logo |
| Code scans to wrong page | Edit the destination URL in the platform |
| Blurry in print | Re-download as SVG format |
| Scans not showing in analytics | Make sure you're using a code created in the platform (tracking is built in) |
Need Help?¶
Contact StudioM Support any time.
- Email: support@makoa.us
- Live Chat: Available inside the platform
Related guides: Funnels and Websites · Reputation Management