Create Flyers with QR Codes for Local Distribution

What Exactly is a Flyer with a QR Code?

A flyer with a QR code is a printed marketing asset that includes a scannable code directing the reader to a specific online destination.

The QR code is the bridge between the physical flyer and your digital presence. When someone points their phone camera at the code, they are taken directly to a page of your choosing — a booking form, a landing page, a special offer, a menu, or your contact details.

The advantage over a traditional flyer is traceability. A plain flyer can only be counted by how many you hand out. A flyer with a QR code tells you how many people actually responded by scanning it — giving you real data on whether the distribution worked.

The flyer itself is designed to communicate one clear message. It includes your offer or headline, the key information a reader needs to take action, and a clear instruction to scan the code. Nothing more.

 

How the QR Code Setup Works

Step 1 — A destination URL is confirmed. This is the page you want people to land on after scanning — a booking page, a special offer, a landing page, or a contact form.

Step 2 — A dynamic QR code is generated and linked to the destination URL. Dynamic codes can be edited after printing if the destination needs to change, and they track the number of scans automatically.

Step 3 — UTM parameters are added to the destination URL so that traffic from the flyer appears as a separate source in your analytics — distinguishing it from other visits to the same page.

Step 4 — The flyer design is produced. The QR code is placed in a position that is easy to scan, with a short instruction confirming what happens when someone scans it.

Step 5 — The final flyer is delivered in print-ready format (PDF) and in a digital version suitable for online use if needed.

 

Why Printed Flyers Still Work

Digital advertising is effective, but it has one limitation — it only reaches people who are online at that moment.

Printed flyers reach people where they already are. In a neighbourhood. At an event. In a waiting room. At the counter of a complementary business. The cost of distributing a well-designed flyer in a targeted local area is low, and the audience is specific by geography.

For local businesses — hospitality, retail, services, trades — physical presence in the community still builds trust and awareness in a way that online ads cannot replicate. A flyer in someone’s hand creates a different kind of attention than an ad they scroll past.

When the flyer includes a QR code linked to a specific offer or action, it turns a passive piece of print into an active marketing channel. The scan is a commitment — it means the reader was interested enough to take out their phone.

 

Flyers That Reach Nobody and Track Nothing

Most business owners who try flyers fall into the same pattern.

They design something quickly, print a large batch, hand them out or leave them somewhere, and never know what happened next. There is no clear offer, no specific instruction, and no way to measure whether anyone responded.

The result is a marketing expense with no feedback loop — so the next time around, the same approach is repeated, and the results stay the same.

The fix is straightforward: a single clear message, a specific action, a tracked QR code, and a destination page that is set up to convert the visitor. When these four elements are in place, a flyer campaign becomes measurable — and something you can improve over time.

 

What We Will Do During Your Flyer Creation

• Confirm the campaign goal, target audience, and key message for the flyer
• Define the destination URL or set one up if it does not yet exist
• Generate a dynamic QR code with scan tracking enabled
• Add UTM tracking to the destination URL so flyer traffic is identified in your analytics
• Design a print-ready flyer in your brand colours and fonts (or establish a simple visual direction if no brand assets exist)
• Deliver the flyer as a print-ready PDF and a digital version for online use
• Provide scan data access so you can monitor performance after distribution

 

You Need This Task When

• You are running a local promotion and want people nearby to take action
• You are opening a new location or launching a service in a specific area
• You have an event, market, or pop-up and want to promote it in advance
• You are looking for a low-cost way to generate enquiries or bookings locally
• You have tried flyers before but had no way to measure whether they worked
• You want a physical marketing asset that connects to your online presence

 

What We Need From You to Create Your Flyers

To complete this task, the following information and assets are required.

• Your business name and a brief description of what you offer
• The offer, promotion, or message you want the flyer to communicate
• The destination you want the QR code to link to — a specific page, offer, or booking form (or confirmation that one needs to be created)
• Your logo in a high-resolution format, if available
• Your brand colours and fonts, if defined
• The physical size and format you want the flyer printed in (for example A5, A4, DL)
• Any copy or wording you want included, or confirmation that copy should be written as part of the task

If brand assets are not yet in place, a simple visual direction can be established as part of the work.

 

When You Should Create Flyers with QR Codes

Flyers work best when there is a specific, time-limited reason for someone to take action.

A general awareness flyer — one that simply tells people your business exists — rarely produces measurable results. A flyer tied to a specific offer, event, or call to action gives the reader a reason to scan the code and do something now.

The right moments for a flyer campaign include seasonal promotions, new location openings, local events and markets, referral schemes for existing customers, and introductory offers for a new service.

Flyers also work well as a supporting channel alongside other marketing activity. If you are running Google or Meta ads targeting a local area, a flyer in the same neighbourhood reinforces the message across two channels — increasing the likelihood that someone remembers your business and takes action.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track how many people scan the QR code? Yes. The QR code is dynamic, which means it has a built-in scan counter. You can see how many people scanned it, on which days, and from which locations. This data is available through the QR code platform and, with UTM tracking in place, through your Google Analytics account.

What does the QR code link to? That is confirmed before the flyer is designed. It can link to any page — a booking form, a landing page, a special offer, a menu, or your contact information. If the right destination page does not yet exist, creating one is a separate task that can be arranged beforehand.

Do I need to organise the printing myself? Yes. This task delivers the flyer in a print-ready PDF format that you take to any local printer or online print service. If you need guidance on print specifications or suppliers, that can be provided alongside the final files.

 

Want Your Flyers Created and Ready to Distribute?

Designing an effective flyer is not just about making something that looks good. It requires a clear message, a specific call to action, a QR code set up correctly, and a destination that converts the visitor once they arrive.

At 10x Marketing Lab, the task is handled end-to-end — from confirming the campaign message to delivering print-ready files with tracked QR codes and UTM parameters in place.

You receive flyers that are ready to print and distribute, with the tracking infrastructure to know whether they worked.