Quick Response code or shortly QR code is a machine readable two dimensional bar code. The bar code can be read by special readers on mobile devices and trigger the embedded action. For example, you can create a QR code for your WordPress site and trigger to open the blog URL when scanned with readers. In this article we will explain how to create QR code for your WordPress site and checking with scanner.
Creating QR Code Using Plugin
The easiest way to create QR code is to choose one of the free WordPress plugins. There are many plugins offering similar function and we will explain with shortcodes ultimate plugin. This plugin offers more than 40 shortcodes hence it can be used as a free bundle instead of choosing a dedicated plugin for QR code. Once the plugin is installed go to the post editor for adding shortcode inside the post. You can also insert the QR code image in sidebar or footer of your site using the same shortcode.
Click on the “Insert shortcode” button and choose the “QR Code” option.
Fill out the required details like data, title, image size, etc. and insert the shortcode for your QR code.
You will see the shortcode like below:
[su_qrcode data="https://www.webnots.com/" title="WebNots" align="center" link="https://www.webnots.com/" target="self"]
The QR code will look like below on the published site. The URL link provided in the data section of shortcode will be opened when someone scans the QR code.
Scanning and Reading QR Code
Now that you have created the code and the next step is to read it. There are plenty of apps available in App Store and Google Play store for scanning and reading the QR code. Download and install one of the apps on your smartphone. Open the app and scan your QR code to see the URL you have given on the data section of the shortcode will open automatically.
As the QR code is merely an image, you can also make it a clickable link.
What Else You Can Do with QR Code?
Linking URL is the very basic thing you can do with free QR code generators. There are many other online services offering QR code generation with multiple other functions. In general all services offer limited option for free and charge for getting complete features. For example, using some online QR code generator you can link URL, VCard, Email, PDF, MP3 etc to your QR code. Also you can add the logo of your site in center of QR code to maximize brand visibility. Some QR code generator tools allow you to add custom text, choose the size and quality level.
Generating QR Codes from Browser
Chrome, Bing and many other browsers offer an easy way to generate QR code for any webpage that you read. This is a useful function that you can generate the code and keep it for later reference. You can use this feature similar to bookmarking or reading list. On Google Chrome, right click on the page and choose “Create QR code for this page” option. Alternatively, you can click on the QR code icon on the right side of the Chrome’s address bar if it is available.
Chrome will show a QR Code for the page which you can scan using any scanner app or using iPhone and other smartphone’s camera. You can also download the image in 370×370 pixels PNG format for using it later. As you can see, Chrome will show a T-rex icon at the center of the generated QR code.
Currently on the Bing.com homepage Microsoft displays a QR code as shown in the below picture. When you scan the QR code using smartphone, it will automatically take you to the app download page.
So the usage of QR code is unlimited, check out how it can be used on your WordPress site to attract more audience.
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