Like any marketing technology or application, QR codes work best when certain best practices are followed. Let’s look at a few of them.

1. Optimize for mobile sites. Because people will be snapping these codes with mobile cameras, you may want to make sure the content to which you are driving them is optimized for mobile viewing.This isn’t always necessary, especially as smartphone screens get bigger, browsing gets faster, and phones become more optimized for surfing on the go. But it’s a good practice if you can do it.

2. Make the codes easy to read. Keep the URLs simple. This makes the code easier for phones to read. Using a URL shortener like TinyURL is a great way to do this. Make sure there is enough space around the code so it’s not crowded by text or images. This reduces interference. If you’re going to be placing QR codes in permanent locations, think about things like reflections or shadows that might impact the camera’s ability to read the code.