QR codes for San Francisco businesses and events

What makes a QR code useful in San Francisco

In San Francisco a QR code is useful when it saves someone a step, because the audience is used to scanning and quick to skip anything that wastes their time. People here scan codes at meetups, markets and cafes without a second thought. What they will not do is type a long URL or wait for a slow page.

linqr gives you a short link, onsonara.com/q/…, behind every code, and you can change its target in your account at any time. linqr is an online tool, not a Bay Area agency, and it works the same everywhere. You start with the free QR code generator; the ideas below are about using it well in the city. For more places, see the city guides.

Tech conferences, meetups and demo days

At a tech event the best code opens exactly one thing: the demo, the waitlist, the repo or the job post. Moscone Center hosts large tech conferences, and the city has a constant flow of smaller meetups, hackathons and demo days in offices and coworking spaces. Attendees scan dozens of codes in a day, so yours should be clear about what they get.

• Booth and sticker codes: point to a waitlist or a trial page with a frame that says what happens, like “JOIN THE BETA”.
• Last slide of a talk: a code for slides and resources. Swap the link to the recording once it is published.
• Swag and laptop stickers: a code for your careers page or community channel; update it when roles change.
• Name badges at meetups: a code for each organizer's profile or calendar booking page.

Farmers markets, cafes and neighborhood shops

For market vendors and small food businesses a QR code replaces the questions they answer all day: where else can I buy this, do you deliver, what is in it. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and neighborhood markets across the city bring vendors face to face with customers who often want to buy again later.

• Market stall sign: a code for your online shop or subscription box, so customers can reorder between markets.
• Product labels: a code for ingredients, sourcing or recipes. Update the page when the harvest changes.
• Cafes and bakeries: a code on the counter for the menu or preorder page; details in QR code for restaurant menus.
• Boutiques in Hayes Valley, the Mission or North Beach: a window code for store hours and the online shop, useful when the door is closed.

Ask the market organizer about their sign rules before you print a banner; each market sets its own.

Tourism: cable cars, the waterfront and visitor guides

For businesses that serve visitors, a QR code is the quickest way to hand over a map, a booking page or a guide in several languages. Tourists spend their days around Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, Chinatown and the cable car lines, often with a phone in hand and no idea where to eat next.

• Tour operators: a code on the ticket stand for departure times and booking. Change it when the schedule changes for fog or wind.
• Hotels and hostels: a code in the lobby or on the key card sleeve for your own city guide and transit tips.
• Bike rentals for the Golden Gate Bridge ride: a code for the route map and a waiver form.
• Restaurants near the waterfront: a code for the menu with prices, since visitors like to check before they sit down.

If you plan to post a sign on a pier, sidewalk or public plaza, check with the property owner, the port or the city first. linqr only makes the code.

Create a San Francisco code step by step

1. Copy one clear destination

   A waitlist, shop page, menu or booking form. Open it in a private window to be sure it loads without a login.

2. Paste it into the creator at the top

   The “mint-lines” style and a “SCAN TO JOIN” frame are preset. Replace the label with your call to action, such as “SHOP ONLINE” or “BOOK A TOUR”.

3. Style the code

   Upload a logo, pick colors with enough contrast and wait until the creator shows Scans correctly.

4. Download, save and test

   Click Download QR code and save the code to a free account. Print a test copy and scan it where people will stand, in fog as well as sun if it goes outdoors.

Fog, hills and wind: print tips for the city

San Francisco weather is mild but damp: fog, drizzle and wind wear out paper signs faster than you think. Outdoor codes should go on weatherproof vinyl or rigid board and be fixed firmly, because a flapping banner is hard to scan. The QR code printing guide explains which file to send and how to size it.

On a steep street people stand at an angle to your window, so place codes low enough to face them directly and avoid reflective glass where the afternoon light hits.

Reviews and measuring results

Once customers have scanned your menu or shop page, a review code can bring them back to your listing. A “REVIEW US” card by the register can open your Google review form; the details are in QR code for Google reviews. Every linqr code also records scans: totals, unique scans, a 30-day chart, top countries and devices on Free, and cities, hours and a year of history on Pro.