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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
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newsletter publication you want them to go. So how to generate a qr code for your publication where to put it of course you have to put it right right in center on your forehead stamp it to your forehead as i did it here then
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there are so many other funny writers ariel for instance she shared one guy asked me for my insta i made him sign up for my sub stick instead giving people my number no thanks telling people about my silly little blog on the internet well

Get More Subscribers With Substack's New QR Code

Anything that can make it easier for your readers to sign up is a win

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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Although I’m in my 30s, as a mom of two and a loving wife and daughter, I’m writing with the end in mind, thinking about my eulogy and leaving a legacy. That’s what drives me. I’d love to help you use your QR code to get more subscribers and learn how to hype yourself (even when you don’t like selling).

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Let's meet, Kristina!

🚀This month, inside Substack School…

you can join us LIVE or catch the replays of 3 LIVE workshops, and 1 LIVE session with

and 1 new cohort.

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Make sure to subscribe, like, and see you in the next short and sweet Substack School video post.

Hugs🤗,

P.S. 👻We’re also gonna have a Halloween Party on October 30! Will you join us or would like to teach something spooky (draw a spooky pet, design a spooky Canva design, write a spooky memoir)? Tell us in the comments.👻

Discussion about this video

User's avatar
Ayurvedic Menopause Collective's avatar

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?

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Sebastián Videa Burgos's avatar

I will have my Substack QR code as my wallpaper so it can be easily accessed any time!

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Anfernee's avatar

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.

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Kayla Hicks's avatar

Thanks for posting about this, this is such a neat feature. I will definitely have this available at my book signings.

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

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! 😂

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Kristina God's avatar

haha so you can take a screenshot and then ask Google Lense ^^

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

Google Lense? Huh. Thank you!

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

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!

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Kristina God's avatar

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.

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Kevin Lossner's avatar

I managed to overlook this before. Thank you. Now I'm spreading my two QR codes all over my presences....

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Dre Beltrami's avatar

I'm just discovering the brilliance of QR codes. How did I miss this for so long? The simplicity is blowing my mind.

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Charisse Tyson's avatar

You liked my comment but didn't answer the question, Kristina. Was I right to assume I should download it as a PNG?

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Kristina God's avatar

Hi Cat, still at my dad's house.

Absolutely. PNG is best. You can then add it to a Canva design or book 📚

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Charisse Tyson's avatar

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

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Diana Yu Rewinski's avatar

PNG is easiest. SVG requires software that can handle vector graphics.

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Kristina God's avatar

Hi Diana, 💯% thanks for answering Cat's question

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Lisa Cunningham DeLauney's avatar

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!

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Patty Asaad's avatar

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 😂

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Charisse Tyson's avatar

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.

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Despina Manenti's avatar

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.

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Shell Norman's avatar

So this is to sign up even if not charging money?

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

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.

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Gunnar Habitz's avatar

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

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Robert Puelz's avatar

I've seen the code and wondered how it could be used by writers. I found this post very funny.

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there are so many other funny writers ariel for instance she shared one guy asked me for my insta i made him sign up for my sub stick instead giving people my number no thanks telling people about my silly little blog on the internet well