What is a QR code?

A QR Code is a matrix barcode that is readable by scanners, including mobile devices. QR = quick response. They are sort of like barcodes.

How do I use a QR code in my campaigns.

With our merge tag (where X=timecouponcanbeused and Y=sizeofcouponincampaign), you can send unique coupons to each of your recipients. These coupons will be scanable with our iPhone app, "Pyow!", (you'll need that app, too) so you can keep track of who has used the coupon and how many times they've used it.

You'll add the merge tag with your own conditions into your content (just like regular text). Make sure you put a description of your offer into the text as well, as the merge tag will just turn into a pretty black and white box. *|QRCOUPON:$2 off any coffee drink:5:2|*
QR Code example

Let's break the tag down into four parts.

  1. QRCOUPON: Inserts the QR code image
  2. The text, “$2 off any coffee drink” is a description that appears whenever you use the iPhone app to scan the QR code. It’s only visible by the person scanning the coupon, not by the email recipient. The email recipient just sees the black and white box.
  3. 5 = X = your first variable. The “5″ is how many times the coupon can be used by that recipient. You might set a high number if you want to promote coupon sharing.
  4. 2 = Y = your second variable. The number “2″ is for setting the size of the QR image. 2 is small, 10 is ginormous. We only allow sizes 2-30. Anything smaller than 2 or larger than 30 will not be displayed.

    5. how the QR code is displayed

How Does My Customer Use the Coupon?

Your subscribers only need to print out the coupon you sent them, or show it to you on their smartphone, whenever they show up where you are (at your store, or show, or theatre). The only person who needs the free Pyow! app is the person who issued the coupon. You will scan the customer’s coupon, and it syncs back with the your MailChimp account to verify that it’s valid and to record the transaction.

open Pyow! scan the barcode, you don't have to click anything click use it and you're done

Who Used the Coupon?

Each recipient that you send your campaign to gets an individual QR code specific to their email and that particular campaign. That unique code has a limited number of uses that are tracked as clicks.

To see who used the code, you'll want to look under most clicked URLs in your campaign's subscriber activity report.

  1. Go to your reports tab.
  2. Click on the campaign title.
  3. Click on subscriber activity.
  4. Look for the long URL that includes list-manage.
  5. Click on the URL to see a list of subscribers who clicked on that URL.

The QR code merge tag can only be used within campaigns. The QR code coupon can't be used in signup forms or the final welcome email. It'll work in HTML and Mobile versions of your campaign, but won't display in the plain text version.

More tips for using Pyow!.

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