QR codes have been around a while now, and they don’t seem to be going away any time soon. That’s a good thing because they can benefit your WordPress site for sales, awareness, engagement, and more.
Though they look complicated, adding a WordPress QR code is simple to do — and free!
Are they that great? Well, considering mobile QR code coupon redemptions are expected to surge and surpass 5.3 billion by 2022 — it’s a better time than ever to use QR codes to your advantage.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at:
What Are QR Codes?
Using QR Codes with WordPress
QR Code Plugins
QR Code Google Chrome Extension
There are a lot of ways to implement them with plugins and other resources, such as QR Code Google Chrome Extension (which we’ll be going over).
Even Dev Man takes advantage of the convenience of QR codes.
After reading, you’ll understand how QR codes can add additional value to your WordPress site and your users.
a recent CNN article mentions that QR codes are potentially going to be used with COVID-19 passports as a means of knowing who is vaccinated.
With all of that being said, let’s take a look at…
QR codes on WordPress.
In print media, they are often used to make it easier to visit a website by encoding a URL in the code. When scanned, the code will open the website on a phone’s browser, saving the user the trouble of typing in the address. However, if your visitors are already viewing your website, this isn’t a helpful way to use them!
While it might be tempting to start using QR codes all over your website due to their novelty factor, less is more. It’s best to use them wisely to ensure they benefit your visitors rather than become a distraction.
So let’s take a look at some example uses for QR codes.
vCard format.
A vCard can give a user all kinds of information.
This gives your visitors an easy way to store your details in their phone as one of their contacts, rather than entering them manually.
Defender, has a 2FA feature that uses a QR code in collaboration with Google Authenticator.
To take things to the next level, you can set your website to require that a trusted device scans the QR code on the login page.
This helps ensure that even if your passwords get compromised, unless a hacker also has access to your mobile device, they won’t be able to log into your site.
If this sounds like an appealing way of increasing your WordPress website’s security, Rublon is a free plugin that adds QR code-based two-factor authentication to a WordPress site.
Rubion can help add QR codes to your WordPress site free of charge.
For an alternative, you can explore these six security authentication plugins for WordPress.
Kaya QR Code Generator makes it quick and easy to add a QR code to your WordPress site. It’s all done via a widget or shortcode.
What’s nice about it is you can customize the settings to send any user to a link, text, and even currency pages. Plus, you can change the color, size, alignment, and more.
The QR codes can be static or dynamic. It’s suitable for WooCommerce products and also multisite.
QR Redirector makes it a snap to use a QR code repeatedly and redirect users to any link. You can update the QR code at any time, so you won’t have to repost a new one continuously.
It’s all done with a shortcode that you can copy and paste on any acceptable widget, posts, and pages.
There’s not much to this plugin when it comes to visual editing. There are numbered sizes you can choose from, and that’s it.
However, it has an Error Correctional Level that can be adjusted. It will automatically update all of the shortcodes on your WordPress site when adjusting the size or Error Correctional Level.
QR Code MeCard/vCard Generator
Need to share contact info? QR Code MeCard/vCard will do the trick.
The QR Code MeCard/vCard Generator was made for sharing contact information with a QR code embedded on your WordPress site.
Like previously mentioned plugins, it uses shortcodes that can be copied and pasted in an acceptable widget, pages, and posts.
It has options to choose between a vCard or MeCard. Plus, you can select your margins, correction level, and label.
The card fields area allows you to input all of your information (name, email, etc.). It can be customized and adjusted at any time.
Qyrr lets you get a bit more unique with your QR codes, considering its customizable options.
You can design your QR codes with custom colors, configurable corner radius, custom labels, and more.
If you have a logo, you can easily upload it with the QR code. Also, you can customize the font to match your brand or website.
Additionally, this plugin creates QR codes that can be easily printable as a PNG when exported from your WordPress site.
QR Code Generator for Google Chrome. It’s another platform for creating (for free, of course) QR codes and applying them to your WordPress site, printouts, coupons — anything.
Once installed, any URL you want a QR code for can be generated with a click of a button.
For example, if I’m on our website (wpmudev.com), clicking on the QR Code Generator will instantly create a QR code for our site.
I recognize a few of those characters in the background.
From here, I can Edit or Scan the QR Code.
If you edit, you have a ton of options on deciding what information to provide the user. And if you want to go beyond just the URL (which it provides by default), you can provide them with:
Customized Text
Different URL
Your Contact Information
A Phone Number
An SMS
Here’s a look at the Contact information fields you can edit and add:
As you can see, there’s a lot of information that you can add here.
To add the QR code to your WordPress site, you have the option of saving it as a PNG, SVG, or EPS file.
Just click on the option that you want to save it as.
Once saved, upload your file to any page or posts — and you’re all set!
The QR Code Generator for Google Chrome is a simple, accessible, and convenient way to add a QR code to any WordPress site in just a few clicks. You can get more information in this short video:
It’s worth checking out the QR Code Chrome Extension for yourself. You might find you’ll prefer this over a plugin.
Leesley Films. Jamison is a published author, writer, and director. When he’s not writing or directing, he can be found playing live music, fishing, tubing, or anything outdoors.
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