How to Track QR Codes in Google Analytics (Easy Guide)

QR codes are a fantastic way to bridge the gap between offline and online engagement, but how can you track how many people are scanning them and engaging with your content? By using Google Analytics, you can easily monitor the effectiveness of your QR codes.

In this simple guide, I’ll show you how to track QR codes in Google Analytics step by step so you can see who’s scanning and visiting your site.

Step 1: Create a QR Code with UTM Parameters

To track QR code scans in Google Analytics, you need to add UTM parameters to the URL before generating the QR code. UTM parameters are tags you add to your URL to give Google Analytics more information about where the traffic is coming from.

Here’s what UTM parameters look like in a URL:

https://yourwebsite.com/?utm_source=QRcode&utm_medium=offline&utm_campaign=fall_sale

Each UTM parameter tells you different things:

• utm_source: Identifies where the traffic is coming from (e.g., QR code).
• utm_medium: Describes the type of medium (e.g., offline).
• utm_campaign: Refers to the specific campaign (e.g., fall_sale).

Step 2: Use Google’s Campaign URL Builder

Google provides a handy tool called the Campaign URL Builder to help you create URLs with UTM parameters. Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to Google Campaign URL Builder.
2. Enter the URL you want the QR code to direct to.
3. Fill in the utm_source, utm_medium, and utm_campaign fields.
4. The tool will generate a complete URL with UTM parameters that you can copy.

Step 3: Generate the QR Code

Once you have the URL with UTM parameters, you can generate your QR code using any free QR code generator. Here’s a quick way to do it:

1. Copy your UTM-tagged URL from the Campaign URL Builder.
2. Paste it into a free QR code generator, like QR Code Generator or QRStuff.
3. Download your QR code image.

Step 4: Monitor QR Code Traffic in Google Analytics

After you’ve distributed your QR code, you can track how many people scan it in Google Analytics. Here’s where to find the data:

1. Log in to your Google Analytics account.
2. In the left-hand menu, click on Acquisition > Campaigns > All Campaigns.
3. Look for the Campaign name you assigned in your UTM parameters (e.g., fall_sale).

This view will show you how many users have scanned your QR code and visited your website, along with other data like session duration, bounce rate, and conversions.

Step 5: Analyze the Results

Use the data to assess how your QR code campaign is performing. You can see how many users visited your site, how engaged they were, and how many converted (made a purchase, signed up for a newsletter, etc.).

Conclusion

Tracking QR codes in Google Analytics is a simple yet powerful way to measure the success of your offline marketing efforts. By using UTM parameters and Google Analytics, you’ll be able to see exactly how your QR codes are driving traffic and conversions. Try it out with your next campaign!

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