8 Chinese New Year QR Code Marketing Ideas for Businesses

Boost your Lunar New Year business earnings with a Chinese New Year QR code campaign to engage with customers and drive sales.

While the tradition originates from China, Chinese New Year has now evolved into an occasion that is celebrated across the world, providing businesses with a great opportunity to earn more, attract customers, and strengthen brand loyalty. 

The good news is that businesses can now further enhance their marketing efforts during the holiday using QR codes—convenient and interactive marketing tools that pique interest and trigger conversions.

Find out through this article how you can effectively use QR codes on Chinese New Year and create custom ones using Free QR Code Generator.

Why Chinese New Year is an attractive time for businesses

QR code marketing is an effective strategy across different industries because of how it can effectively engage customers from both online and offline platforms.

According to Statistica, 45% of shoppers in the United States engage and scan marketing-related QR codes, demonstrating the potential for businesses to engage with a larger audience using this technology.

The Chinese New Year is a particularly favorable time for businesses to launch their creative QR code-powered marketing campaigns. In 2023, the annual expenditure during the holiday reached $1.5 trillion worldwide.

By linking campaigns that resonate with consumers during this festive season into QR codes, marketers and businesses can gain a significant advantage over their traditional competitors.

Must-try Chinese New Year QR code marketing ideas

From traditional retailers to e-commerce giants, businesses of all sizes are turning to QR codes to create memorable experiences for their customers today.

You can also gear up for this vibrant celebration by incorporating these QR code marketing ideas into your Chinese New Year campaign. Ideas below:

Digital red packets (hongbao)

You can put special discounts or promotional offers on these digital envelopes, providing customers with a delightful surprise and incentivizing their purchases.

Share these virtual red packets through email newsletters, social media posts, or in-store promotions.

Greeting cards

Foster a sense of connection and appreciation to your customers by sending them personalized Chinese New Year greetings using text QR codes. 

Giving greeting cards demonstrates a commitment of your business to go the extra mile to make customers feel valued and appreciated, giving your business a competitive edge.

You can also feature your company logo, colors, and branding elements in the QR code cards to keep your brand top-of-mind during the festive season.

Lucky draws

People don’t want to miss out on the chance to win something valuable. Host a giveaway for the Chinese New Year to create buzz around your brand.

You can make use of a Google Form QR code to streamline the submission of entries. Participants can also easily share the details of the giveaway through the QR code, increasing the virality of the giveaway.

Those who participate in your giveaway can also explore other products or services you offer, leading to additional sales opportunities.

Chinese New Year animals horoscope

You can jump right into this fascination by offering Chinese New Year horoscope predictions accessible via QR codes to provide customers with an entertaining experience and encourage them to interact with your brand on a deeper level.

When customers scan the URL QR code for their Chinese animal zodiac sign, they can access a website where they can see forecasts and affirmations that can guide and motivate them throughout the year.

Limited edition products

Selling limited-time products for holidays like the Chinese New Year can help businesses tap into the festive spirit and drive sales during peak periods.

Attach a product packaging QR code that customers can scan to get buy-one-get-one-free offers or free gifts with purchases.

With each scan on the QR code, you can encourage customers to explore additional offerings and increase the average order value of the items.

Chinese New Year food and drinks menu

Attract new customers who are looking to celebrate the holiday with traditional or festive cuisine by offering a special menu for the Chinese New Year. 

You can make this accessible via a menu QR code to allow customers to browse the menu, select items, customize their orders, and submit payment seamlessly on their smartphones.

By using a QR code to promote your restaurant’s unique and seasonal dishes, you can pique the interest of diners, expanding the customer base and attracting curious food enthusiasts.

Scavenger hunt 

One of the Chinese New Year activities your business can organize is a scavenger hunt that uses QR codes as clues. 

Participants can scan the location QR codes to reveal hints or challenges leading them to the next location.

Make sure to offer prizes or discounts to participants to amplify the reach of your campaign and foster community engagement.

Event promotion

Promote your business’s Chinese New Year events, such as giveaways, discount sales, and demonstrations, through an event QR code. 

Integrate the QR code on your online and offline promotional materials and allow people to access essential event information, such as date, time, and location, and quickly share the news with a wider audience.

Companies that use a Chinese New Year QR code in marketing

A growing number of brands are embracing QR code technology to engage customers, drive sales, and celebrate the spirit of the holiday in a digital age.

Here’s how these businesses innovatively use QR codes on their Lunar New Year campaigns to connect with their audiences while honoring tradition:

DBS QR red packet

Customers can get a QR ang bao that they can scan using the DBS PayLah! mobile app’s special QR code scanner and load a cash value of up to SGD 999.

When the recipients scan the QR code, they can instantly receive the amount on their mobile wallet.

McDonald’s cutting-edge Lunar New Year campaign

The long-running fast food chain McDonald’s never misses the chance to showcase its cutting-edge campaign for the Lunar New Year.

In 2023, the fast food giant released an ad in collaboration with digital content creator Karen X Cheng, showcasing her childhood memory of the holiday through neural radiance fields (NeRF) technology.

It also features a QR code that leads users to a landing page that contains buttons for AR filters on Instagram, a metaverse experience on Spatial, and the artist and company’s social media handles.

Coca-Cola festive gift pack

Coca-Cola also has a heartwarming ad campaign that revolves around the story of a rabbit family and their cross-generational connection, which is highly relevant in Asian families.

But it does not end there. The company also incorporates a Chinese New Year QR code on the packaging of its limited-edition festive gift pack.

These QR codes lead users to an AR animation of a rabbit family that generates a customizable virtual greeting card that users can share with loved ones.

Steps to create a custom QR code for the Chinese New Year

Now that you know the potential of QR codes in enhancing the festivities and driving marketing campaigns to new heights, it’s time to create your own QR codes for the Chinese New Year.

You only need reliable QR code software like this to generate one. Follow the instructions below to be guided:

1. Go to Free QR Code Generator website.

2. Select a QR code solution. 

3. Input the information you want to convert into a QR code.

4. Select a static QR code and generate it for free. You can also create 3 dynamic QR codes when you sign up for a freemium plan.

5. Personalize the QR code to match the occasion. You can change its color, shape, and pattern or add a logo and frame with a Call-to-Action (CTA) to it.

6. Run a QR code test to see if it is working. 

7. Download in PNG or SVG image format.

Directly share the QR code with others or integrate it on any of your online and offline materials and disseminate.

Best practices for businesses with Chinese New Year QR code campaigns

While integrating QR code technology into your marketing campaigns can lead to very promising results, you need to have strategies to maximize their effectiveness. Below are the best practices you should take note of:

Link it to interactive content

Successfully get your target customers’ attention by linking your QR code to interactive and valuable content that resonates with the festive season.

For example, you can lead users to an immersive video advertisement that showcases the interaction of Chinese New Year animals or to a landing page where they can get a fortune slip, as inspired by Coca-Cola Japan’s campaign. 

Add in your brand identity

While red and gold are the dominant colors during this holiday, don’t forget to maintain your identity on the QR code design by adding your brand colors and logo to the QR code.

Blend it well with the overall layout of your Lunar New Year campaign materials to evoke the spirit of the holiday and reinforce brand recognition.

Make sure to use a reliable free QR code generator to ensure high-quality QR codes.

Strategic placement

Consider placing QR codes on marketing materials such as flyers, posters, product packaging, or digital advertisements to capture attention and encourage engagement.

Display these materials in visible and accessible locations to ensure that customers can immediately notice and recognize them.

Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Create a sense of urgency or FOMO (fear of missing out) by adding a compelling QR code call to action to your Chinese New Year QR code campaigns that prompt users to scan and get the item or discounts quickly.

Use action-oriented language such as “Unlock exclusive deals” to encourage engagement.

Post on social media

According to an eCommerce blog from Tinuiti.com, 44% of shoppers are influenced by someone on social media to buy a product. 

Aside from displaying it on your storefront and areas with foot traffic, post your digital marketing materials on social media to capture more attention and encourage engagement.

Reasons why using QR codes from Free QR Code Generator is an advantage

With the rise of QR code usage across various industries, the demand for easy-to-use QR code software has grown significantly. 

Fortunately, we offer one that can empower you to create functional and branded QR codes for your personal and business needs quickly and efficiently. Here’s why you should consider using this tool:

Free, safe, and easy to use

If you’re new to using QR codes and are considering free software that has an intuitive interface and follows data privacy standards, look no further; this QR code software has it all.

This QR code software offers robust functionality at no cost, making it accessible to businesses and individuals with limited budgets.

With just a simple input on the fields and customization, users can create custom QR codes in a matter of minutes.

You also don’t need to give out crucial information like credit card details when you sign up for an account.

Wide selection of QR code solutions

Whether you need a QR code for a website URL, text, contact information, or Wi-Fi network, this QR code software supports a variety of QR code types to suit your specific needs. 

With this, you can easily generate a static or dynamic QR code for different purposes within the same platform.

Personalization features

You can tailor your QR codes to match your branding and marketing objectives using the software’s wide range of customization options. 

From choosing colors and adding logos, this tool provides ample flexibility for creating personalized QR codes.

Unlock your fortune using Free QR Code Generator

Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays globally. With it just around the corner, it is a great time for businesses to initiate creative campaigns.

To make your business stand out, you can launch impactful campaigns that resonate with customers and enhance their holiday experience.

Whether it’s offering exclusive discounts, hosting virtual celebrations, or sharing holiday greetings, a Chinese New Year QR code provides a versatile and effective tool for businesses to engage with customers.

Ready to enhance your marketing efforts for the Chinese New Year? Visit our website today and create functional and branded QR codes for your campaigns for free.

Frequently asked questions

When exactly is Chinese New Year?

The Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the lunar new year. The holiday falls on different dates each year, but it typically occurs between January 21st and February 20th.

It’s important to consult a Chinese New Year calendar to determine the exact date of Chinese New Year for any given year.

For the year 2024, the holiday falls on February 10, celebrating the Year of the Dragon.

How do you celebrate Chinese New Year?

Customs and traditions may vary among different regions and families, but here are the most common ways of celebrating this holiday:

• Gathering family members
• Wearing red clothes
• Decorating houses and streets with red lanterns
• Giving out red envelopes with money to family members
• Preparing Chinese New Year food
• Setting off fireworks
• Watching lion and dragon dances
• Visiting temples