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Making simple QR codes

QR code created with short link

This is a QR Code. When you scan it with a QR code scanner app on a smartphone you can quickly get to a website, online document, or anything else with a URL. Here’s how to make one:

  1. Copy the website URL you want the code to take you to- eg: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ETk_vHQ8meD5xcFWn4v3jKqK8P8sjGGdra774KeYVks/edit?usp=sharing

  2. Go to https://xrb.link/ to shorten the URL.
    You need to do this because long links (like the one above) make complicated QR codes, which are harder for phones to scan. Without URL shortening, a long URL would create a very detailed code like this, which is harder to print well on a small flyer. Below takes you to the same place as the much simpler QR code at the top of the page but it's messy and might get blurry and unscannable if it was printed small.

QR code created with long link

1.png

  1. Click shorten and your shortened link will appear.

2.png

  1. Click copy.

  2. Go to any of the many free QR code creation websites Eg:

  1. For all these options above the process is the same, you enter the URL that you want to turn in to a QR code and there will be an option to create and download a QR code.

  2. It's best not to use any tracking offered by these sites - as it can sometimes put a expiry time on your QR code and stop it working. If you need tracking - contact that Data Insights and Analytics team on their mattermost reception here

  3. And that’s it, you have simple QR code which you can put on your leaflets, stickers and posters so people can get to your sign-up sheet, website, fundraider, Facebook page or whatever you want!

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