You printed a QR Code on a flyer, a shop window or a menu: how many people used it? Does the poster downtown work better than the one at the station? The answer is there, on one condition: the code must be dynamic. This guide explains how measuring works, what you can see and how to use the numbers to make decisions.
Why you need a dynamic QR Code
A static QR Code leads straight to the destination: nobody can count who scans it. A dynamic QR Code, instead, passes through a short address of the service that manages it: each scan is recorded and then the person reaches your page in a fraction of a second. If your code is already static, the only way to measure it is to replace it with a dynamic one. More details in the guide Static vs dynamic QR Codes.
What you can see
In the DenQr Statistics section, for all codes or for a single one:
- Total and unique scans: how many times the code was scanned and by roughly how many different people.
- Trend over time: day by day, to see the effect of an event, a campaign or a new print run.
- Location: top countries and cities, estimated approximately.
- Devices and operating systems: phone or tablet, iPhone or Android.
- CSV export: to analyse the data in a spreadsheet or share it.
Statistics are anonymous: the full IP address of whoever scans is not stored, and you do not know who scanned, only how many times, when and roughly where from.
How to compare two locations
The trick is simple: a different code for each location. If you put the same QR Code on the flyer and in the window, you only see the total. If you create two, “October flyer” and “Main street window”, leading to the same page, you find out which one works better. The same goes for two versions of a flyer or tables in different rooms.
How to read the numbers
- Peaks: a day with many more scans than usual usually has a precise cause (an event, a post, a delivery). Find it and repeat it.
- Times and days: on a menu they tell you when the venue is busiest; on a poster, when people actually walk by.
- Sudden drop: the support got damaged, covered or moved. Worth checking in person.
- Small numbers: with a few dozen scans, do not draw conclusions; wait for the data to grow.
One step further: visits on your website
Scans tell you how many people scanned the code; what they do afterwards on your site you see with your analytics tool (for example Google Analytics). To tell apart visitors coming from the QR Code, add UTM parameters to the destination address, such as ?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=flyer. With a dynamic code you can change them when you change campaign, without reprinting.
How long the data is kept
It depends on the plan: 30 days on Free, 90 on Starter, one year on Pro. If you need comparisons between seasons or years, export the CSV regularly or choose the plan with the longer history. The details are on the Pricing page.
You can start with a dynamic QR Code for your website and see the first scans the same day.