You can now generate a QR code for your Substack in your Settings Page to give people a super easy way to sign up for your Substack.
I think anything that can make it easier for your readers to sign up is a win. Your readers simply point their phone at it, and they are taken straight to the newsletter publication you want them to go.
So how to generate a QR code for your Substack publication?
And where to put it?
Of course, you have to put it right in the center of your forehead—stamp it to your forehead 😂
There are so many other funny writers.
, for instance, shared this:So, my idea is that you're..
going right now in your Settings
then you go on Branding
on QR code
Then you can use this QR code to share your publication. No typing required.
Having an avatar incorporated increases the hit rate
What I love about Substack's new QR code is that from a marketing standpoint, I think some people are suspicious of clicking on random QR codes if they are unsure what it might do to them or their data.
So having an avatar incorporated certainly increases the hit rate, I think. So here with me in the middle, I think this is awesome to have this avatar here.
My recommendation: generate your QR code right now.
In the past, I know that writers used, for instance, QR Code Monkey, or Canva, where you can also generate QR codes for free.
But I think having it native to Substack is a way better idea.
Where to put Substack’s new QR code?
And there are a couple of places to add your QR code.
For instance,
as a tattoo, or you can staple it to your forehead 😂
You can put it on your YouTube videos.
You can put it on stickers, stick it to coffee shops.
You can create business cards as
did, but Simon did it with a QR generator. Now he's also pretty happy that we now have this opportunity here.
There are physical flyers as
is using it for.Integrate your QR code into your book!
How other Substack writers are capitalizing on the new QR code on Substack
said:"Super cool! I also love the comparison of underground mag/zine with Substack. I write an underground mag here. Scan it! I can see myself doing this to friends of friends at parties. “
Which I love and shows the philosophy and spirit of Substack writers.
Then we have Simon again. I asked him about how he is using his QR codes. I asked him about book fairs. He said that you should use it for book fairs, but he seems to use it for workshops, panels, talks. And also, he’s been “known to mysteriously leave them in cafes and stick them up on pub notice boards just to see what happens," which I love.
So, a lot of inspiration coming from Simon.
There are so many people excited about this new feature.
And, for instance,
had the great idea to put his QR code on a mug for the world to see and scan.How my hubby is using his merch
My hubby has about 66,000 subscribers now on YouTube, and he's at a point in his creator life where he's also having some merchandise and swag for his fans. He has a cap and a mug for his .NET Web Academy.
So, this could be something, as
shared here, that we then would have this QR code on our mug.The platform that Patrick is using is called FourthWall. "Launch your brand on your terms." You can see many familiar faces and also some great examples, when you’re accessing the page.
The state of QR codes (on Substack)
If you're still here with me, let's talk about the state of QR codes just for a sec.
As I shared, I think anything that can make it easier for your readers to sign up is a win.
Did you know that QR stands for "quick response" and that they have been around for ages? They were invented in Japan back in 1994, and the idea was that they should replace the humble barcode.
And now we have these QR codes, and as I said, we can just use our phones, and then people can directly go to our publication.
I love that Substack is constantly improving. We've been getting all the updates we wanted as of late.
So, the thing I am now, of course, most interested in is:
🤔Where will you put your Substack QR? Tell me in the comments. 🤔
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I love the idea of publishing a QR code but... I'm not able to find branding under settings. I'm new to substack with just a handful of followers at this point. Is there some threshold I need to meet or am I missing something?
I will have my Substack QR code as my wallpaper so it can be easily accessed any time!
I think can have the QR in presentations slides, business card, banners and posters.
For those with published book, I think it will be a great opportunity to get readers to go to our Substack.
Thanks for posting about this, this is such a neat feature. I will definitely have this available at my book signings.
As an aside - if a person is watching your utube on their phone - how can they then scan a QR code WITH their phone. Asking for a friend! 😂
haha so you can take a screenshot and then ask Google Lense ^^
Google Lense? Huh. Thank you!
This is brilliant! (And so wonderfully presented - thank you) - I have been toying with the idea of creating a QR code and having punky cards made. (For my farm blog plus my developing substack) I travel - often and talk to people I will never see again - often - this would be an excellent way to show them what we are doing over here! I am going to make this today! Thank you again!
Wonderful to hear, Cecilia! Please share a picture once you have everything ready. I think that's a lovely idea. I was also thinking about a "business card" which I can then give people I talk to. last week I met a couple from Canada who then asked me about my newsletter.
It's nice just showing the QR code! We exchanged numbers but that's even better to stay conencted. Especially for you if you meet farmers and other people interested in your topics.
I managed to overlook this before. Thank you. Now I'm spreading my two QR codes all over my presences....
I'm just discovering the brilliance of QR codes. How did I miss this for so long? The simplicity is blowing my mind.
You liked my comment but didn't answer the question, Kristina. Was I right to assume I should download it as a PNG?
Hi Cat, still at my dad's house.
Absolutely. PNG is best. You can then add it to a Canva design or book 📚
Thank you, my friend. I want my face in the box instead of the logo. I know you are with your dad right now. I'm sure someone in the community can tell me if I can change that. God bless
PNG is easiest. SVG requires software that can handle vector graphics.
Hi Diana, 💯% thanks for answering Cat's question
This is super useful. I have one for LinkedIn, too. It could be cute on on t-shirt, especially for a baby - they get a lot of attention!
I’ve used a QR code since I began writing on Substack. I taped it to the back of my phone. It’s been one of the most effective ways I’ve promoted my Substack. Whenever it comes up in conversation, (and I make sure it does) I pull out my phone, show them my QR code and they subscribe immediately because I’m standing there watching them 😂
I presume you save the code as a PNG? It also offers saving it as an SVG. I don't know what that is. This should be fun. I want to do it right the first time.
I wondered what tattoo to put on my forehead!😊 I saw it, but I didn't know how to use it. As usual, Kristina, your article clarified it.
So this is to sign up even if not charging money?
I didn’t even know Substack had QR codes until your email! My YouTube channel has been blowing up. Now I’ll be including the QR in every video.
Thanks for the tip, looks so much better than a static 3rd party QR code! I also created a dericated URL for my Substack and important pages inside like www.42coffees.com
I've seen the code and wondered how it could be used by writers. I found this post very funny.