Where and how to display your QR code in-store so people actually scan it

A QR code is useless if nobody scans it. And the secret isn't the code — it's where you put it and what you write next to it. Here's how to actually get your code scanned. (Need to create one first? See how to make a free QR code.)

The 4 best spots

• The window — visible from the street, working 24/7 even when you're closed. Eye level, facing out.
• The counter / till — right at the moment of payment, when the customer is already looking down and waiting.
• Tables / waiting area — idle time is scan time. A small sign on each table or by the seats.
• Receipt, bag or flyer — a take-home code so they find you again later.

The 3 conditions for a scan

Every scanned code meets all three. Miss one and the code is dead weight:

• Visible — at eye level, not down by the floor or above the door.
• Big enough — the further the viewer, the bigger the code (a window code seen from the pavement needs to be far larger than one on a table).
• A reason to scan — see below.

What to write next to it

Never label it “QR code” — that's not a reason to act. Write the payoff: “Scan for our deals,” “Scan for the menu,” “Scan to book,” “Scan to leave a review.” One short line turns a curiosity into a scan. The same logic applies to your on-page buttons.

Mistakes that kill scans

• Too small, or stuck too high / too low.
• Behind glass with glare, or under a glossy laminate in direct sun.
• No call to action next to it.
• A code that points to a dead or outdated link.

Print a ready-made poster in one click

You don't need a designer. From your SmartShopAgent dashboard, the “Print my poster” button generates an A4 poster with your name, your QR code and a call to action you can customise — ready to put in the window or on the table. And because the code points to your page, you can track exactly how many people scan it.