The people you are trying to reach with your bulletins have only a short time to notice what you posted and to figure out how to act on it. Keep your content simple and to the point, and give them somewhere to go. Provide a clear, obvious, and easy-to-remember way to find more information.
You have two key tools for this: QR codes and short URLs. In most cases, your bulletins should use both, with both going to the same destination. The QR code gives your audience a way to reach your information directly using their phones. A shortened URL gives them a destination they can remember and use later.
This bulletin includes both. The shortened URL is shown below the QR code, which makes it easy for viewers to find both options. (The URL is a bit small, but the overall approach is good.)
Also, when generating a QR code, use the shortened URL as the destination for the code. QR Codes that represent long URLs can get dense and hard for phones to read. The shorter the URL, the simpler the QR code.
CHSSWeb offers a URL shortener. This shortener also generates a QR code for each shortened URL. It also provides an easy way to include Google Analytics campaign tracking so you can see the traffic your links and codes generate.
The university also offers a URL shortener which was developed by students and is equally effective. It does not include the Google Analytics feature but includes rudimentary tracking for the person who created the code.
There are also many free QR code generators and URL shorteners. We suggest you use one of the Mason offerings so you can retain control over your codes.
November 28, 2022