NIGHTMARE COME TRUE - you do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on fancy marketing materials, only to find out the QR code printed on it simply does not work. 💸💸💸 This post is lengthy, but worth reading every single word if you are wanting to print a QR code on anything. We are looking out for you and always want you to have the BEST! 

Can you believe it? QR codes seem to be making a comeback, in large part due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. 🤯 So much of our day-to-day lives and how we do things have been greatly impacted - including how we obtain public information. For example, in many restaurants across the States, physical menus are no longer handed to you - but rather they have a large QR code printed in the center of the dining table (or at the order bar) in which you can scan it with your phone and WA-LA, you are now viewing the menu on your own mobile device. 

I will say that I still prefer a real physical menu!! It's soooooo much easier to see all the options and appreciate the design aspect involved in laying it out. 😉 But here we are and we do what we need to do. 

All that being said, below are some very important things to consider & keep in mind when printing QR codes!!​

Shorter is better when it comes to the url link that is connected to the QR code. In the image above you will see a comparison of a short link and a long link. The long link causes the grid pattern itself to be a lot more dense and therefore much harder (nearly impossible at times) for a mobile device to properly read. The short link allows the grid to be more sparse/spread out - making it way easier/quicker to scan. There are definitely ways to take your long website address and shorten it with a program like Bitly. You would be responsible for creating an account with Bitly (or something like it) and generating the shorter url link. You can then provide that to your designer/printer.

QR codes are definitely not the most aesthetically pleasing thing to look at and its blocky-ness can really disrupt the flow of a design. It is tempting to want to make the QR code "small" in size so that it is less noticeable... but that defeats the point of the QR code and once again, makes it incredibly hard for a mobile device to be able to read the code. We recommend having the QR code printed at a size no less than 1/2", but preferably 1" in size. 

If you get nothing else from this blog post, THIS IS IT! 🛑🛑🛑 When your designer/printer provides you with a digital proof/mockup for your order, be sure to double-triple-quadruple-check the QR code on the proof. Just hold your phone or other mobile device up to the code (on screen) and see if it works and does what you want it to do. The QR code will print as-seen on those digital proofs, so that is the time to make sure it works. If it is not working for you, be sure to bring this to the attention of your designer/printer prior to this item going into production. DO NOT approve the proofs/mockup unless you are certain the QR code is working. 

Not all QR codes are created equal. There are two types - static and dynamic. By default, the QR Codes we offer here at ShaynaMade™ are static. This means the QR code is created to link to one specific url code​ always and forever. That link can never be changed after it is printed. This option is free and perfect if you are linking over to your website or Instagram page that you never plan to change. 

The other option is a Dynamic QR Code - there are many websites on the world wide web that offer such a service and it does tend to come at a monthly fee. However, it allows you to create a QR Code that you can link to whatever you'd like, whenever you'd like. For example, if you want it to link over to your most recent blog post or a new landing page on your website ... you can change the url link without having to reprint a new QR code. Technology is pretty cool!! 

For best readability, it is recommended that your QR Code is printed in a bold color with little distraction around it. This is why you so often see the all black QR code printed onto a white background. This makes it so much easier and quicker to scan with a mobile device. You can definitely have the QR code printed in hot pink if you'd like, but just make sure it stands out well against the background color and is not cluttered with other little details all around it. Less is more. Simple is best. 

Although we absolutely loooooooove everything foil and shiny here at ShaynaMade™, we strongly discourage adding Foil or Spot UV Gloss on top of your QR Code. The reflection from the foil and shine will make it a lot more challenging for a mobile device to scan and read quickly. Foil and Spot UV Gloss can definitely be added to other parts of your design (like your logo, contact information, etc), but we do not recommend adding it to the actual QR code.

✔ You've turned your passion or hobby into a business
✔ Website & social media presence 
✔ Sales have been rolling in

... but you know that your sales need to increase.
... your client base needs to expand.
... you're scraping the tip of an ice berg & there is more to achieve.
... but how can you make 2021 the year?

♡ Truly connect & interact with your followers. Social media (like Instagram) makes this so easy and FREE to do. I absolutely LOVE following many of our clients - seeing their new creations, hitting business milestones, and perfecting their talents. It's easy to scroll through those square shaped windows on ig and window gaze. And it's not much harder to actually "like" and leave a genuine comment on their post. I am always so encouraged when folks like and comment on our posts, and aim to intentionally do the same. Spread the love generously. Take a solid 10-15 minutes of your day to intentionally interact with your followers/past client base.


♡ The more YOU enjoy your work, the better business is going to be. When you are passionate about something, it will be easy to make the work FUN. Sure, we all know there are aspects of owning a small business that are absolutely no fun at all (like filing taxes or handling hard to please customers). But if you are intentional, most of the work should be joy-filled. As a result, your product is going to be better and the customer experience is going to be awesome.


♡ To be an entrepreneur, you must be able to improvise and make decisions fast. Were you sooooo excited about that new product release, but your client base is just not feeling it at all. Don't be afraid to let something go or move it to the backburner for future revamping. Re-evaluate your top selling items and top reviews. Focus on those things that you know your repeat clients adore. 


♡ Piggy backing off the last one ... always try new services/products the most economical way first. So important when testing out a new product. For example, if you are going to launch a new candle scent it is best to have a trusted circle of friends/clients that can sample that scent out for you and are not scared to give you an honest review. Listen to their reviews and do not become defensive. You want to launch products that will create profit for you. You do not want to spends hundreds of dollars of special containers and product labels, only to find out no one purchases that particular scent. It happens to the best of us.


♡ On another note, if you notice one of your products is doing AWESOME in comparison to others and getting lots of attention - invest in it. Back to the candle scent example, let's say your Cinnamon Coffee Cake Candle is flying off the shelves & folks just can't seem to get enough of it. Maybe it's time to invest more into that product - offer it in a variety of containers/sizes. Create some fancier product labels for it. Collaborate with an artist to create a piece of inspired artwork. Have an enamel pin or keychain designed that reads "Cinnamon coffee cake all day, every day." People LOVE stuff like that and it gives you more avenues for profit. Maybe even experiment with making some incense sticks or potpourri with that same scent. You never know how big that single product can be unless you explore all the avenues.


♡ DO NOT underprice your service or product. I repeat this to myself often, as this was a hard lesson for me to learn. It is so exhilarating to see new sales come in. But if those sales are just helping you to break even or worse yet, spiral into debt... than you need to raise your prices. If you're not making money, it's not a real business; it's a hobby. If it's a business, you're making money and are profitable. Triple check and make sure you are adding in alllllllll of the actual costs that go into making your product and definitely charge for the time it takes for you to create that product and do the service. Then build in enough markup to make a true profit on each and every order. This is a game changer and I promise will make owning your own small business a LOT less stressful. Be confident in your products/services and know that there is a client base out there willing to spend the money deserved for your art!

What should your enamel pin look like?
The cooler the pin design - the better. You ultimately want people to LOVE the pin so much that they want to display it and wear it (and maybe even purchase a few extra from you for friends).

• Logo Design - If you have a well known recognizable brand, then it may strictly be a pin of your logo. Think Nike's check mark, Mac's apple, Chanel's double c's, etc.
  
  
• A Fun Phrase - Let's say you own a brewery, you could get pins in the shape of a pint glass with the words "Liquid Gold @  ______ Brewery!" 🍻 Or let's say you are a the baker of glorious donuts. You can have a donut shaped pin with the words "Donut Give Up!" 🍩 Possibilities are truly endless and remember, you can always have your actual logo or IG page stamped on the backside. Or just the words, "2020 I'm a Survivor." 😁
  
  
• Art Based - This would be a pin with no words on the front side, but rather just a super cute image/emblem that people can't refuse. A fun unicorn floating in space, a lady holding a delicious cupcake, a hand with elaborate nails, your own personal drawing. Just about ANYTHING can be turned into a custom enamel pin.  

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