QR codes for events
every placement, counted live.
Put a code on the booth, the badges, the stage slides and the signs, and see which one people actually scan while the event is still on. Each code opens a short link you control, so a page that changes on the day doesn't mean a reprint.
Quick answer
Make one tracked link for each place a code will appear, such as the booth, a badge, a slide, a sign or a table, and print a QR code from each. Every scan is recorded before the page loads, with the time, approximate location and device, and shows up in the dashboard within seconds. If a page changes during the event, change the link's destination and the printed code follows. Wi-Fi codes are the exception: they connect the phone directly and can't be tracked.
Main stage
Hall B
Booth 14
Entrance
Latest scans
What event codes usually open
The code is only the way in. What matters is that the page behind it loads quickly on a phone and asks for as little as possible.
- Many events already print a code on attendee badges for the organiser's lead scanning app. Leave that one alone and put yours on staff and speaker badges.
| Placement | What the code opens |
|---|---|
| Invitations and the registration desk | Registration or check-in page |
| Staff and speaker badges | A contact card, booking page or profile |
| Booth | A lead form, a demo booking page or a product sheet |
| Stage slides | The slides, a resource page or a feedback form |
| Signage | The agenda, a venue map or the session list |
| Tables and seats | A feedback form or a poll |
One code per placement
The same code everywhere counts total scans and can't say whether the booth banner or the slide did the work. Make a tracked link for each placement, named after where it is printed: booth-banner, slide-keynote, sign-hall-b. They can all open the same page; the dashboard keeps them apart.
Add a utm_content to each destination if your website analytics should tell them apart too, and put the event's name in utm_campaign so next year's numbers sit beside this year's. See UTM parameters for QR codes.
The time of each scan helps as well: a brochure people take home keeps being scanned after the booth is packed away.
Watch scans while the event is on
Scans show up in the dashboard within seconds, so you can see a placement working during the day instead of in a report afterwards. The real-time view shows them as they land.
That helps with small decisions on the day: move a sign nobody scans, put the slide with the code back up at the end of a talk, check the registration code before the doors open.
Scans are not attendees. One person can scan twice, and some phone camera previews and apps load a link without anyone opening it. Compare placements; don't read the total as a headcount.
Change a code mid-event, or close it after
Rooms move and sessions get swapped. When a page has to change, change the link's destination in your dashboard, from your phone if need be, and every printed copy of that code opens the new page.
Afterwards, point the codes at the recordings, the slides or a thank-you page, so people who scan a badge or brochure weeks later land somewhere useful. On Pro and above, an expiring link does it on a set date, forwarding late scans to a fallback page.
Change the destination, never the slug. The slug is part of the address inside the printed code.
Two things to plan for
Wi-Fi codes can't be tracked. A Wi-Fi QR code holds the network name and password and joins the phone without opening a web link, so there is nothing to count. Print a tracked code beside it, as described in QR codes for Wi-Fi.
On Free, QR codes scanned at a normal pace skip the short branded notice other free links show. One code scanned extremely fast, such as a keynote slide in front of a full hall, can trip a fraud guard and show the 2-second notice for the rest of that hour. Paid plans redirect straight away.
How to set up QR codes for an event
- 1List every place a code will appear: booth, badges, slides, signs, tables and handouts.
- 2Create one tracked link per placement, named after the spot, and point each at its page: registration, agenda, slides, lead form or feedback form.
- 3Make a QR code from each link and export SVG or a large PNG. Size each for the distance: roughly 1 cm of code for every 10 cm people stand away is a common rule of thumb.
- 4Test-scan the printed pieces at the venue with an iPhone and an Android phone, from where people will stand.
- 5Watch scans live during the event, re-point any code whose page changes, and send the codes to a follow-up page afterwards.
What event scan tracking does not do
- It doesn't identify attendees. A scan records the time, approximate location and device, never a name or identity. To collect contacts, put a short form behind the code.
- It doesn't count Wi-Fi codes, which join the phone to the network without opening a link.
- Free includes 3 saved QR codes and 1,500 clicks per month. An event with many placements or a large audience needs Starter (25 saved QR codes) or above, and expiring links need Pro.
- If scans go far past your plan's monthly clicks, printed codes keep opening their page but the extra scans are not recorded.
Questions people ask
How do I make a QR code for an event?
Create a tracked link to the page you want people to reach, such as registration or the agenda, and make the QR code from it in your dashboard. Each scan is recorded, and you can change the page later without reprinting.
What should a trade show booth QR code link to?
Something short that works on a phone: a lead form, a demo booking page or a one-page product sheet. Give the booth banner, the counter and any handouts their own codes to see which one people scanned.
Can I change where an event QR code goes during the event?
Yes. Change the destination of its link in the dashboard and the printed code opens the new page from the next scan. Keep the slug the same, since it is part of the address in the code.
Can I see scans in real time?
Yes. Scans show up within seconds with the time, approximate location and device. The real-time view shows them as they land.
Can I stop a QR code working after the event?
You can point it at a follow-up page at any time, on any plan. To close it automatically on a date, with late scans sent to a fallback page, use an expiring link, available on Pro and above.
Can I track scans of a Wi-Fi QR code?
No. A Wi-Fi code holds the network details and joins the phone without opening a web link, so nothing passes through a tracked link. Print a tracked code beside it for the agenda or an offer.
Will I know who scanned the code on my booth or badge?
No. A scan records the time, approximate city and country, device and browser, never who the person is. To collect contacts, put a short form behind the code.
More places to put a tracked QR code
QR code tracking
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QR code for flyers and posters
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QR code for business cards
Know when a contact scans the card you handed them.
QR code for a restaurant menu
Update the menu without reprinting the table cards.
UTM parameters for QR codes
Tell print scans apart from web clicks in your analytics.
Count every booth, badge and sign scan
Start free with 10 tracked links and click analytics, no credit card.
Create a trackable QR code