A QR code that pre-fills a text message to send
The person scans, the messages app opens with a number and a message already written. All that is left is to confirm with a tap.
What the phone does on scan
The code stores a number and a text following a format messaging apps recognise, written as SMSTO followed by the number then the message. On scan, the phone opens the messages app with both fields already filled in, so the person does not type a single character on the keyboard.
Sending stays a deliberate action: nothing goes out until the person taps send. That is an important difference from a plain link, the text is never fired off behind the scanner's back, which matters for anyone wary of what a scan might trigger without asking first.
Uses that fit in one keyword
Signing up to a mailing list or newsletter, with a keyword already typed into the message. A contest or giveaway run in a shop, where a confirmed keyword enters the entry. A callback request left on a flyer or a noticeboard, quicker than a phone call for someone in a hurry.
Limits and printing advice
The number and text baked into a static code stay fixed, so a new keyword for a fresh campaign means reprinting the whole sign, flyer included. For a campaign that changes often, a dynamic code pointing to an up-to-date page beats a plain SMS code every time, since the destination changes without touching the printed artwork at all.
Not every messages app behaves exactly the same on scan, so test with an iPhone and an Android before a large print run. On paper, leave a white margin around the code, strong contrast, and at least 2cm a side, more if the sign sits further from the reader.
Questions about the free generator
Does the text send itself on scan?
No. The phone prepares the message with the number and text already filled in, but the person has to tap send to confirm it.
Can I change the keyword after printing the code?
Not with a static code, the text is fixed inside it. A dynamic code pointing to an up-to-date page lets you swap the keyword without reprinting.
Do all messages apps read this format?
Most native apps on Android and iPhone recognise it, but test with a few phones before a large print run, just to be safe.
With a dynamic code, swap the SMS keyword for every campaign without reprinting the sign. Make it editable