Customers keep calling from the parking lot. “Which door is it?” “Is there parking?” “My map says you’re in the middle of the road.” If people get lost on the way to you, a location QR code opens the right spot in their maps app with one scan, so they can head straight to your door.
Why customers get lost finding you
Your address may be perfectly correct and still cause trouble. Common reasons include:
- Shared buildings and plazas. A suite number doesn’t tell anyone which side of the building you’re on.
- Hidden or side entrances. The address points to the front, but your door is around the back.
- Confusing parking. Customers don’t know where they’re allowed to park, so they circle or give up.
- Map pins in the wrong place. New developments, large sites and rural addresses often land a pin a little off.
- Typing addresses is error-prone. One wrong letter in a street name can send someone across town.
A QR code skips the typing and drops people on the exact point you choose.
How to help customers find you with a location QR code
- Find your exact spot. Open your maps app and drop a pin on the entrance customers should use, not just the middle of the building. Check it in satellite view.
- Decide where the code should send people. For most businesses that’s the main entrance. If parking is the bigger problem, you might point to the lot and explain the walk in.
- Add a short written direction. A line like “Entrance is on the left side, next to the blue awning” or “Free parking behind the building” answers what a map pin can’t.
- Create the QR code and give it a clear call to action: “Scan for directions to our entrance.”
- Put it where people plan the trip. Appointment cards, confirmation printouts, flyers, event invitations, delivery instructions and your business card are all good spots.
- Put it where people get stuck. A sign at the parking lot entrance, the building directory or the main door of a shared building helps people who are already nearby.
- Test it from the street. Scan the code from a few blocks away and follow the directions yourself. If you end up at the wrong door, adjust the pin.
Moving or adding a second entrance?
With a dynamic QR code, you can change where the code points after it’s printed. That’s handy if you move, open a temporary entrance during construction or run a pop-up somewhere else for a weekend. Each scan is also recorded with the date, time, approximate city and device type, so you can see which printed piece people actually use.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Pinning the building, not the door. For large or shared buildings, the entrance is what matters.
- Relying on the pin alone. Add a one-line written direction for parking or the entrance.
- Using a static code for a temporary location. If the spot might change, use a dynamic code so you don’t have to reprint.
- Only putting the code on site. People who are lost need directions before they arrive, so include it on anything sent ahead of a visit.
- A code too small for a sign. Codes people scan from a car window or across a lot need to be much larger than a business card code. See our QR code size guide.
Troubleshooting
- The map opens, but in the wrong place: recheck the pin or coordinates and zoom in further when you set them.
- People still call for directions: make the written note more specific, mention a landmark and add a sign at the turn-in.
- The code opens a browser instead of a maps app: that depends on the phone and its settings. Most phones offer to open the location in an installed maps app.
- Nobody scans the outdoor sign: drivers can’t safely scan while moving. Place outdoor codes where people are parked or on foot.
How to do it with Infinite QR
In the QR code generator, choose the Location type and enter your address or exact map position. Customize the colors, add your logo and download the code as PNG or SVG. The Location type is included on all paid plans, starting with Starter at $1 a month.
On a budget? On the Free plan you can create a dynamic URL code that points to a maps link for your entrance, which you can copy from the share option in most maps apps. You get scan tracking and up to 3 dynamic codes. When you’re ready, compare plans and create a free account to get started.
