QR Codes on Billboards: Transforming into Interactive Advertising

Billboard advertising remains the top choice for businesses seeking a location-based target and constant ad exposure. In 2024, the global spending on billboard advertising reached USD 8.65 billion, while the entire Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising spending was USD 38.96 billion worldwide. 

Despite their popularity, traditional billboards have drawbacks like limited customer engagement, outdated information, and the inability to track performance metrics. Integrating QR codes on billboards helps solve these problems. 

Today, billboard QR codes are popular among businesses seeking flexible or dynamic advertising. These pixelated squares turn regular displays into interactive platforms by connecting physical and digital information. QR codes on billboards capture customer attention and allow them to take the intended actions through digital access. 

Let’s delve further.

How do QR codes on billboards work?

QR codes on billboards work the same way as ordinary QR codes. Users need to scan the code on the billboard using smartphones and click the displayed link to access the predetermined page or digital content. 

Businesses often use billboard advertising to promote websites or social media pages, direct office locations, sign-up inquiries, registration forms, and more. The codes convert physical platforms into interactive experiences for users.

Benefits of using QR codes on billboards

Let’s explore several benefits of using billboard QR codes for businesses.

✅ Easy to catch customer attention: Billboards easily capture customer attention due to their large advertising displays and placement in high-traffic locations. QR codes enable customers to access all the information on their smartphones without manually typing the target destination. 

✅ Allowing instant action: With quick access to digital information or the actual sign-up page after a scan, users can instantly take action. This enhances customer experience and boosts their engagement. 

✅ Comparative insights for different locations: QR codes on billboards enable brands to gather real-time comparative insights about the performance of billboard advertising for various locations. This will allow marketers to redefine their strategies for poor-performing locations and maximize their efforts to reach the target audience better. 

✅ Tracking ROI: Billboard QR codes allow businesses to measure the results of their campaigns. Using analytics, marketers can get deeper information using metrics like click rates, impressions, and conversion rates. This way, brands can keep track of their return on investment (ROI) when running billboard advertising for a longer period. 

✅ Editable after printing: When using dynamic QR codes on billboard advertising, brands don’t need to worry about outdated information. You can easily edit and update the information anytime after printing the QR codes on billboards, saving printing costs. After updates, customers will get access to updated information. 

How to create a QR code to use on billboards?

Using QRcodeChimp, creating a QR code for billboard advertising is straightforward. 

The simple steps are:

Step 1: Choose the QR code solution you want to use for billboard advertising.

Step 2: Enter the information and choose the dynamic code to make components editable after printing.

Step 3: Customize it to align your business brand and logo (optional)

Step 4: Test, save, and generate it. Once generated, you can print it into your banner used for billboard advertising. 

How do you choose the QR code solutions for billboard advertising?

Depending on your marketing targets, you can generate different billboard QR codes. Check out the table below:

Purpose	QR code solutions	What should brands do?
Product promotion	Add a product QR code to the billboard to promote your products	Offer limited deals and discounts.
Event registration	Use form QR codes to allow instant access to registration forms.	Offer exclusive discounts for early sign-ups.
Urban navigation	Place Google Maps QR codes on the billboard to direct customers to your office locations.	Inform customers about your new office locations or new stores.
Website traffic	Use URL QR codes to link to your website and print them on billboards.	Inform customers to visit the website to increase online traffic or learn about newly-launched products.
App download	Include app QR codes to allow people to directly download your app using app store links.	Encourage users to download for a better experience
Donations & Charity	Integrate payment QR codes on the billboard for charitable causes.	Motive and encourage people using your noble causes

Best practices to create a billboard QR code

Maximize QR code scan on billboard advertising by following the given checklists:

☑️ Clear call-to-action: Clearly state what customers will get after scanning the QR codes, like “Scan to unlock 10% off” or “Scan to find our new office location.” A clear call to action near the QR code helps encourage users to scan. 

☑️ Branding factor: Incorporating your brand’s colors and logo in the QR code design will help gain customer trust and feel secure when scanning. 

☑️ Placement and size: Place the QR code on billboards where customers can easily spot and scan it from certain distances. However, the code should not overpower the billboard. Calculate the ideal scanning distance to QR code size, as it may vary due to different billboard sizes.

☑️ Testing before launching: After printing the QR codes on billboards, test the code from different directions and distances using various devices and under different lighting conditions. 

Conclusion

QR codes on billboards have significantly transformed the OOH advertising landscape as they allow interactive advertising by bridging the gap between physical and digital platforms. Integrating the codes in advertising enhances customer engagement and creates meaningful connections.

Frequently asked questions