Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Creating a QR code for your website can generate interest and potential followers. You can send people directly to your blog roll or to a specific book you want to highlight. The possibilities are great and it won’t cost you a single dime to implement.
The best part is that creating one is extremely easy and highly effective, especially when used in public.
Because there are so many different ways to create a free QR code for your website, I’m only going to highlight three of my favorites. In reality, I could probably put together an entire book on the subject, but I don’t want to go overboard.
Regardless of what method you choose to use, they can be quite engaging when placed correctly.
Method 1: Using Canva
Canva is a great tool for just about everything visual. From adding images to blogs to B-roll for videos, it has a ton of functionality for a variety of creators. In this case, we’re using Canva to create a free QR code for the blog.
Step 1: Launch the QR Code App
From the Canva dashboard, click on “Apps” on the left side.
Search for “QR Code” in the text field.
Canva has a lot of QR apps available for a variety of purposes. In this instance, we’re going to keep it light and easy. Click on the “QR code” app. It should be the first app that appears.
Step 2: Create a New Design
The app will ask if we want to use it in an existing design or create a new one. In this case, we’re creating an entirely new image. However, you can add the QR block to anything you have already created.
Click the “Use in new design” option.
Canva will then ask what type of document we want to create. You can add the QR block to a long list of things ranging from a basic document to a social media post. Today, we’re just going to create a 500×500 image.
Click the “Custom size” option from the list.
Enter the dimensions of the image you want to create and click, “Create new design.” In this instance, I am using 500 x 500 pixels, but you can use whatever you wish.
Step 3: Adjust QR Code and Download
Initially, the QR code will be a blank image. That’s because it needs the URL of the site the code will take the users. Input the website address for the QR code and click “Generate code.”
In this case, I’m using my personal blog as that is where people can easily find the books I’ve published.
From here, you can change the size by using the points in Canva to fill the canvas to your liking.
Once all of the adjustments are made, click the “Share” button on the top right.
In the Share screen, you can send it to a variety of places online. If your Dropbox or OneDrive accounts are connected to Canva, you can directly save the QR code to the cloud. Or, you can send it to your phone.
In this tutorial, we’re just going to download it so we can use it later in images, promotional materials, or perhaps even add it to our book covers.
Click the “Download” option. This will bring up the download settings for Canva and you can save it to your computer.
It’s as easy as that.
Keep in mind that there are all kinds of ways you can customize the QR code in Canva. I suggest spending some time and checking out all of the possibilities as it may give you some ideas for using the code.
Method 2: Using QR Generator
QR Generator is a free web-based app to make codes for a variety of purposes. You can make them for everything from basic links to blogs to YouTube videos.
It is probably one of the quickest and easiest ways to generate a QR code. You don’t have to log into an account or search for apps. All you need to do is go to the website and set it up.
There are a few customization options available as well if you want to add a bit of pizazz to the code.
If you want to track how many clicks the QR code receives, you will need to upgrade to a paid service for dynamic codes.
From the QR Generator dashboard, make sure “Link” is selected. Then, add the URL to your writer’s blog or book. You can even use the link to the Amazon page of your book if you’d like.
After inputting the URL, the code will automatically generate.
From here, you can save the image or use the design options below the URL to give it a bit more flair. For example, I decided to make this one purple.
You also have overall design options, adding logos, or putting a frame around the image.
Once you’re done making adjustments, click the “Save” button under the QR code.
You can save it as a PNG, SVG, PDF, or send it directly to your printer. The choice is yours depending on what you need at the moment.
That’s all there is to using QR Generator. It’s a quick and easy way to get a code that you can share or print for virtually any reason.
Remember, you can always upgrade to make dynamic QRs so you can track how often it’s actually used.
Method 3: Using the ME-QR Generator
ME-QR is a free generator you can use for a variety of purposes. The nice thing about ME-QR is that you can track the analytics of your QR codes for up to one year if you create a free account.
If you’re interested in that kind of data, it might be worth considering.
From the ME-QR website, click the “URL / Link” option.
Add your URL to the text box and click the customize and download button.
NOTE: You can also choose to name the QR and add it to a content category if you have an account set up on ME-QR.
ME-QR provides a lot of different options to make your code stand out. You can use premade templates, frames for the holidays, themes, add text, include logos, and more.
ME-QR supports PNG, SVG, PDF, EPS, and JPG file types. You can also choose image dimensions from 200 x 200 up to 2000 x 2000 px.
When you’re done making all of your selections, click the “Download QR Code” button and save the image to your computer.
ME-QR uses a redirect URL. When someone scans the code, the qr-me URL will appear but they will be taken to the correct address once it’s clicked or tapped. It is perfectly safe to use as ME-QR is a trusted source.
Why Not Use a WordPress Plugin for QR Codes?
There are quite a few QR code plugins you can add to WordPress to make them for your blog posts and content. However, there are a few reasons why you might want to shy away from using them.
Taking Up Resources
First of all, every WordPress plugin you install takes up resources. I’m not just talking about drive space, but also inodes if your web hosting counts those.
Not to mention that the more plugins you install, the more things could potentially go wrong on your website. A lot of plugins bog down the loading time and increase the likelihood of incompatibility issues.
Some plugins just don’t play well together, especially when it comes to security and firewalls.
In any case, you don’t really need a plugin to generate QR codes as there are several online platforms that work just as well without tapping your hosting resources.
Not As Customizable as Other Platforms
A lot of the plugins I tried are not as customizable as some of the online options. At least, not without paying to upgrade to a “pro” version of the tool. And why pay for something when there are free options available that work just as well?
Don’t get me wrong, some plugins for WordPress are worth paying to upgrade as the list of functions vastly increases. However, a lot of free QR code generators simply work better than most of the free plugins without having to upgrade.
External Options Work Great
The bottom line is that the online options for code generation work great without worrying about potential issues with your website. In all instances, QR Generator and ME-QR were much faster to implement than a plugin.
In reality, these two also were faster to implement than Canva.
Regardless, there’s no reason to bog down a WordPress site with extra plugins if the online options work better.
7 Ideas for Using Your QR Code
There’s a lot you can do with QR codes. And since they are easy and free to implement, it’s another method to help you market your books or blogs without costing extra cash.
Of course, that also depends on how you use them. Like any marketing material, these image blocks don’t mean much if you’re not using them correctly.
So, what are some ideas for getting the most out of your QR codes?
Display On or In Printed Books
I’ve seen quite a few authors add QR codes to their books, such as on the back cover or on one of the internal pages. A lot of them will link back to an author’s website or other books the authors want to promote.
For instance, you could put a QR code on or in the second book of a series leading to the first. That way, if someone didn’t know there was a book before that one, they could buy it.
Or, you could simply use the code to link to your author site or YouTube channel. This might help boost visitors and subscribers to either platform.
Promoting at Book Events
I saw a couple of authors use QR codes at Read Between the Stars. In fact, I’m using one when I go to Worldbuilding 101 at Tattered Cover on January 11th, 2025.
A couple of ways you can use QRs include:
- Printing the code and displaying it on your table somewhere.
- Adding the QR to a promotional banner or poster.
The idea is to make it visible so anyone walking by can use the QR code with their smartphones.
Printed on Business Cards
I’ve seen a lot of professionals use QR codes on their business cards, especially at events like WordCamp. It’s an extra level of promoting themselves by linking to portfolios, blogs, resumes, and other mediums.
Although printed business cards are not as popular as they were more than a decade ago, they are still a worthwhile investment. As a professional myself, I collect all kinds of business cards from people. I never know what services I’ll need in the future.
Use in Slideshow Presentations
If you’re using slideshows, adding a QR code may prompt the audience members to use it. We’re using QRs in our presentation at Worldbuilding 101 and I saw Neil deGrasse Tyson use one to promote a signed copy of his book when I attended one of his shows.
And because of technology today, you can use QRs in online presentations even if someone is viewing them from a phone.
I’m going to start adding them to videos and live streams, especially during the interviews. I could create a QR code for someone’s book and add it as an overlay to the video.
Share on Social Media
You can also share QR codes on social media to further promote yourself as a writer or author. It’s not as common of a practice today, but it’s still an extra level of marketing that is free and costs perhaps a minute or two of your time.
However, you probably don’t want to fill your feed with nothing but QRs. After all, most followers want you to be social and less promotional. It’s OK to promote your works on sites like Threads or Twitter. Just make sure you’re offering something more than just marketing content.
Linking to Discounts or Coupons
OK, we talked a bit about what you can do with the image itself, but what about the links? Sure, you can create QRs for blogs, books, and eCommerce platforms. But what about special case discounts and coupons?
For example, you could create a QR for a 20% off of your book that is not advertised anywhere. It might get your fan base to start scanning your QRs more often.
Or, you could create a code for a specific coupon page or offer sign-up forms.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of things you can do with QR codes that could generate a lot of interest.
Using QRs to Boost Subscriptions
If you’re an author, you probably have a newsletter or something similar on the Internet. You can use QR codes to promote those services in the hopes of gaining a greater audience.
For instance, I plan on using a QR code to promote both my substack as well as the WriterSanctuary YouTube channel. What would be nice is if I could find a place to hang them in public without worrying about the image getting taken down.
FAQs About QR Codes
A static QR code cannot be changed, meaning that once it’s created, it cannot be modified. A dynamic QR code can be adjusted after creation. This lets you change the purpose of the QR code to fit your needs, such as moving to a new website or if a URL changed on your blog.
Most smartphones nowadays simply use the camera function to scan the QR code. Once the content is read, you’ll see a link that you can tap to follow where the code is taking you. Launch the camera on your phone and aim it at the code.
There are a lot of online QR generators that are free to use. However, most of these only provide static QRs unless you pay to upgrade the account. At that point, you also get analytics data for your code from a lot of these online generators.
Most online generators offer QR code generation without requiring setting up an account or agreeing to a subscription system. However, creating these accounts can help you keep track of the free QRs you create as well as making it easier to transition if you decide to upgrade.
Some free generators may redirect your URLs to malware and other potentially harmful or inappropriate websites. Always research the brand before using any free online tool.
QR codes are not absolutely safe and can be tampered with in a variety of ways. Some will use stickers to modify the code while others might adjust the embedded link, taking the user to an entirely different site or app.
A dynamic QR code only tracks how people use them. Much like how Google Analytics will use visitor tracking for websites, a dynamic host can track usage. This includes metrics such as your location based on the IP address of your Internet connection. Static QRs, unfortunately, do not have tracking enabled.
Marketing Your Book with a QR Code
There’s a lot of great potential to use a QR code to promote yourself as an author. From placing them on books to sharing links on your table while signing autographs, they can help share more information about you and your library.
You don’t necessarily need to use QRs for promotional materials as they can be used to simply guide people to your social media profiles.
Since static QRs are free to create and use, you lose nothing but a minute or two of your time to potentially reach a wider audience.
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