The Return of the QR Code for Nonprofits

QR codes have been round for a very long time, and I used to actually hate them.

I believed nonprofits used them in conditions the place they made little or no sense to me (like on a billboard or on a web site) and the place a shortened URL — one thing simple to recollect and to kind — made infinitely extra sense. That was very true once you wanted a particular app to learn them. For these and lots of different causes, they actually didn’t catch on.

(What’s a shortened URL? You should utilize one thing like bitly.com or simply create a redirect from your personal website like nonprofitmarketingguide.com/tendencies or purchase a shorter area and use that as your personal shortener: npmg.us/tendencies)

COVID-19 modified all that by encouraging individuals to the touch fewer shared surfaces like menus. Now you see QR codes in lots of extra locations, and at the moment most digital camera telephones will course of them mechanically (or with a fast affirmation that you’re attempting to scan one thing moderately than {photograph} it).

So ought to your nonprofit begin utilizing them? Perhaps!

You continue to have to assume by the use case. Anticipating individuals to focus a telephone on a billboard (even when they aren’t driving) remains to be actually silly in my thoughts. Identical goes for placing a QR code on-line — simply give individuals the hyperlink to click on!

You additionally should be sure that what they see after they scan the code is mobile-friendly!

However I do assume it’s value considering by whether or not QR codes may very well be useful in locations like these:

• Bodily signage, so I can see a map of the place I’m or get different info.
• On different bodily merchandise, the place you need somebody to have the ability to study extra about the merchandise they’re holding
• When somebody must take fast motion that may be executed on a telephone, like coming as much as an info desk, scanning the code, and filling out a quick registration or permission type of some type.
• On unsolicited mail or different printed merchandise, in order that I can shortly get to the webpage the place I can take motion. On this case, PLEASE nonetheless embody a shortened URL
• The place you need somebody to do one thing on their telephone like obtain an app
• On TV, possibly. So long as you possibly can preserve it on the display lengthy sufficient for individuals to get it. I’ve seen this executed with large telethon-type fundraisers.
• The place it’s essential to shortly change info with somebody. You pull up your code in your telephone, and so they scan it on theirs.

Want extra particulars? DonorBox has some good suggestions and assets.