CTA Button vs QR Code - What Works Best in Email Marketing

When it comes to email marketing, every single detail matters, from guiding readers to driving action. Traditionally, call-to-action (CTA) buttons were used for driving actions. But the thing is that people started using them for phishing scams. As one doesn't know where they'll land upon clicking on the button.

Recently, we have observed that QR codes are emerging as a safer and more versatile alternative used by email marketers. Being an email marketer, which one should you use – a CTA button or a QR code? This is what you'll learn about in this blog post. So, stick with us until the end of the post.

CTA Buttons Vs QR Codes

Before we compare them, let's break them down.

CTA Buttons – They are clickable elements in an email that link users to a specific landing page. They typically say things like "Buy Now,” "Learn More,” or "Sign Up.”

QR Codes – They are specialized scannable square-type shapes. When scanned using a QR code scanner, they reveal the encoded URL, which the user can access by clicking upon it.

Security Risks of CTA Buttons

As mentioned at the start, CTA buttons were staples in email marketing, but they come with significant risks, i.e., phishing attacks. Cybercriminals often replicate genuine buttons in emails, disguising malicious links.

These are the links that redirect users to fraudulent websites. Those that are designed to steal sensitive information. Sometimes, they also trigger harmful downloads that compromise user devices and data security.

As the URLs are not visible, users often fail to distinguish them from legitimate links. This creates a trust gap in email interactions, where users think twice before clicking.

Yet, one can verify the email address with verification tools like Sendbridge. But why does an email marketer put customers at risk when there's a safer solution?

Are QR Codes Safer?

Yes, QR codes are a safer option in terms of protecting recipients against phishing attacks. Here's the reason that made us say that.

When users scan a code with a QR scanner, the exact destination URL is revealed before they're redirected. This allows users to verify the authenticity of the link before they click on it.

This added security layer builds trust with your audience, encouraging them to interact confidently with your email campaigns. Besides this, QR codes also let readers access the information from the device they are comfortable with.

How to Generate QR Codes for Email Campaigns?

So, a QR code seems more reliable than a CTA button. Let's talk about how you can use them in your emails. Here are some essential steps you need to take to get the job done.

Step 1: Choose a QR Code Generator

There are numerous QR code generation tools available online. One free and reliable option among them is the QR code generator by Imagetotext.info.

Address: https://www.imagetotext.info/qr-code-generator

The tool is free (at the time) and also lets users customize the code to align it with their brand needs.

Step 2: Set Your Destination URL

Next, decide where your QR code will take users. Common locations include A product page

A newsletter subscription landing page
A limited-time promotion or discount page
Whatever the destination you choose, copy its URL and paste it into the tool's URL field.

Step 3: Customize Your QR Code

After pasting the URL, boost branding and aesthetic appeal by customizing:

Colors to match your brand palette.
Logo placement to reinforce your brand.

Step 4: Download and Test

Once you are done with customization, simply click on the download button to save your code. Using the said tool, you can download it as a PNG file or in PDF format. After the download is complete, test whether your code is working or not.

To test, go to the QR code scanner on imagetotext.info and upload your code file. Upon uploading, if the URL is revealed (like in the image below), it means your code is fine. But if nothing appears in the output field, then there's some error. In such cases, consider creating a code again.