Tracking QR Codes in Google Analytics — Easy as Pie.
Sometimes the simplest things go unnoticed. Recently, a client informed me that they were going to start including QR codes in their print marketing and did I know of a good tracking program. About half an hour into researching the right solution for them, I had an epiphany/head-meet-desk moment when I realized that they were already hooked up with GA and could easily track a QR campaign in their existing account. Here’s how!
Google Analytics URL Creator
Thoughtfully, Google provides a fool-proof way of creating unique urls with urchin tracking modules (or UTM) parameters appended to the URL so that you can track the QR campaign in Google Analytics. Here’s a screen shot of the setup:
Now shorten that LONG URL
After you create the URL, plug it into your favorite URL shortener. Why should I? You may ask. It’s true, it does add another step to the process, but it’ll be well worth your while. See, the more characters a url has, the more information needs to be embedded in the QR Code. This means that the actual QR Code ends up being much more dense, for lack of a better word. That means it’ll be harder for a mobile device to scan it.
When you’re making QR codes for print advertising purposes, it’s likely that that QR Code isn’t going to take up much real estate. That makes this denseness issue even more important. Plus, using a URL shortener like Bit.ly is super quick and easy.
Dense, hard to scan QR Code
Open, Easy To Scan QR Code
That Shortened URL Into Your Favorite QR Code Generator!
I like to use QRSTUFF because you can download hi res versions of the QR Code that will print nicely. Save the file and give it to your publisher and every time someone scans that flier you will be able to sort by Campaign in Google Analytics.
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Great post. Easy and well explained!
The URL shortener is a brilliant idea for QR code setup and tracking
Also worth taking a look at Google’s own shortener http://goo.gl/ which makes the QR code for you. If only it also did the GA tagging!
Just after I posted that last comment, Techpad Tweeted a link to a tool they had built for adding the tags and creating the QR code. But I don’t think it includes shortening, so the point about the benefits of shortening the URL still apply. http://techpad.co.uk/custom/tools/qr_code_generator.php
Thanks for the kudos everyone! Tim, great link to the techpad tool. Will be adding that to my toolkit.
Actually, Bit.ly even automatically creates a QR code for every URL it shortens. You can find it by adding “.qrcode” at the end of the shortened URL, for example: http://bit.ly/palcodigital.qrcode. Additionally, the usual “+” Bit.ly stats page for each shortened URL (in this case, https://bitly.com/palcodigital+) offers referral stats at a glance.
I use free version of http://tagomobile.com for qr code tracking. Also you are able to reallocate qr code link at any time.
Sorry for dropping links to my own site, but since my tagging too includes URL shortening and QR codes, I hope it is OK.
savio.no/blogg/a/82/google-analytics-campaign-url-builder-with-short-url-and-twitter-postingcampaign
I’d like to track QR codes that point to my mobile Google Places page. This method won’t work for that since my Analytics script isn’t on that page. Do you have any suggestions for how to track these effectively?
I use goo.gl url shortener to make short URLs for the QR codes but their tracking is limited at best.
Thanks for any ideas.
physio
I have QR codes that shows .mp4 videos. It is uploaded to a library on our website but doesn’t show on a page. I have followed your instruction but I can’t see the statistics in Google Analytics. Do I have to do something i Analytics so it shows? Or does it only track links to pages on the website?
I will be very grateful for your help
Have a nice day!
Gabriela
Can you track QR codes which do not have a link to a webpage but has text embedded in it
Hi, have you tryied uqr.me? Is one of the best qr code generator world wide… Permit to link to urls, files, a full customizable mobile ready page, a paypal payment, a vCard and they permit to beautify your QR with rounded corners, gradients, centered image etc..
Thanks for some other great article. The place else may just anybody get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the look for such info.
Well explained. Thanks for the post. Google URL creator is a tool that can be used not only for tracking QR codes but for any link you want to analyse.
I’m a Realtor, and I track webpage visits to each property listing that I have in google analytics. I also now have the qr codes for each property that I would also like to track. I can’t figure out how to merge the two together to get one report in one location google/analytics).
Hi Lunametrics,
I was able to create a qr code with the google snippet following your instructions… The code links to a specific page on the site and that’s what i want to track.
my problem is with the analytics side of things.
I’ve created an account with GA beta and it has given me a tracking code to install on each page of the website. The problem is that 1) i don’t want to track the website per se, and 2) the wordpress theme doesn’t allow customization of the header – i read through some GA forum posts. Should i create the account again and use code generated by the URL Builder? Any suggestions would be welcome – i’m new to this stuff!
Thanks – I was completely lost until I read this blog – easy as pie
i actually made a script that makes all this easier, a;;though generally it follows your process just fill out a form and its does the rest qr-tracking.net/ I dont make any cash out if it as its more of a toy so its not an advert, you can also output to svg or eps for use in illustrator etc.
You have to excuse my english.So what I’m trying to learn is for example if a QR code appears on a website at a certain hour how can I track it without having to searcj all those pages on that website.Is there a program for tracking QR codes on websites?Just enter the url and it shows the qr code.I would really appreciate your help.Thanks!
I?ve learn several good stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you set to create this type of wonderful informative website.
I use tagomobile.com to manage and track my QR codes, easy & very professional. Love it!
Hello visit FreebiesStore[.]net to get the same for free.
You can give me morning head all you like BK.no eye contact.
It’s important to note that QR Codes are not the only way to connect offline to online. A comprehensive mobile marketing strategy would also contain the following options to connect the consumer to a mobile experience in their mobile:- SMS- Email- PhoneAlso it’s important to understand that mobile internet usage is much different than PC internet usage. Once you get them from the physical paper (or sign) into your mobile experience, make sure the experience is thought through for mobile.I keep seeing QR codes misused in the Real Estate industry ( and others ). Whatever you do, don’t point the code to a website that’s meant to be shown in a big screen !
Ok… But once I thru those steps and generate the QR code; how do I actually track in in my google analytics account?
I’m wondering the same thing as Chris. Now that I have my QR code, how do I track the results???