QR codes & useful links

Create a useful QR code and check where it leads

BeginThings editorial · Updated 6 October 2026 · Worked examples with sample data

Start with the next action

Imagine a printed event poster. The next action might be ‘View the programme’, ‘Find the venue’ or ‘Register your interest’. Choose the exact page that supports that action.

A generic homepage adds another decision for the visitor. Use it only when that is genuinely the appropriate starting point. Avoid including private or temporary account links in public material.

Choose a destination you can maintain

A static QR code continues to contain the same information after you create it. That does not guarantee the linked website will remain available: pages can move, domains can lapse and redirects can stop working.

Before committing to printed material, check who controls the destination and how it will be maintained. If a service adds a redirect or subscription condition, understand that condition separately from the QR image.

Label the code in plain language

Place a short description beside it, such as ‘View the programme’. Keep the purpose visible even to someone who cannot or does not want to scan. For digital material, provide a normal clickable link as well.

Keep enough clear space around the QR code and avoid artwork that makes it hard to distinguish. Check the final exported or printed version rather than relying only on a large on-screen preview.

Test the actual handoff

• Scan from another device.
• Confirm the final destination is the intended page.
• Check whether the page requires an unexpected login.
• Test at the planned printed size and viewing distance.
• Recheck after changing the artwork or destination.

For payment or contact information, verify the recipient carefully. A successful scan alone is not confirmation that the contents are correct.

Use links and QR codes together

A clickable link suits a digital message; a QR code can suit a poster or presentation. Give both the same clear purpose. Where campaign measurement is useful, use a consistent naming plan and review the UTM guide.

Link clicks and scans show an interaction, not a completed enquiry or purchase. Measure the actual next action separately where the destination supports it.

Create and review your code

Use the free QR code generator for the standalone task. BeginRooms also includes QR and link tools in its native canvas Toolbox for project work.

Link shortening is a separate online action. Check the current tool’s processing notice before submitting a destination. Keep the resulting code, its intended URL and a useful label together so the next person can review it.

Examples explain user-facing choices and outcomes. Product availability, limits and current terms are shown on the linked product pages.