Should I use a QR code or a keyword at my event?
Short answer
Use both when people can see a screen or sign: a QR code is the fastest path for anyone close enough to scan, and a keyword like DEMO to 33777 works from the back row and when you say it out loud. If you can only pick one, use a keyword for anything spoken (podcasts, announcements, a speaker without slides) and a QR code for printed signs people walk up to. On Textiful, QR codes are free and one keyword is included on every plan.
Updated November 5, 2026
Use both whenever your audience can see a screen or a sign. A QR code is the quickest path for people close enough to scan it, and a keyword like "Text DEMO to 33777" reaches the back row, works when you say it out loud, and stays in people's heads after the slide changes. If you only get one, choose by how people will meet it: a keyword for anything spoken, a QR code for a printed sign people walk up to. On Textiful, QR codes are free and your first keyword is included, so running both costs nothing extra.
When does each one work better?
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Last slide of a talk | Both | Front rows scan, back rows type the word |
| Podcast or radio mention | Keyword | Nobody can scan audio |
| Speaking without slides | Keyword | You can say it; you can't show a code |
| Trade-show booth sign | QR code, with the keyword under it | People stop within arm's reach |
| Merch table or welcome desk | QR code | Short walk-up, phone already out |
| Webinar | Both | Viewers scan from their screen with a phone, or type the word |
| Printed program or handout | Both | Close enough to scan, and the word is easy to reread |
A QR code needs to be seen up close and in focus. On a projector in a big room, people far from the screen may struggle to scan it, and a keyword they can read is the backup. A keyword needs to be typed correctly, so short, plain words (SLIDES, GUIDE, MERCH) do better than clever ones.
How do I use both for the same flow?
Each Textiful flow has one trigger. To run a keyword and a QR code together, set up the flow with the keyword, then start a copy of the same flow from a QR code. Both copies ask the same questions and send the same handout. Because they're separate, you can see how many people came in through each one.
Put them side by side on the slide or sign:
Get today's slides. Text DEMO to 33777, or scan the code.
Then say it out loud: "Text the word DEMO to 33777 and I'll send you the deck." Leave the slide up through Q&A.
What does each one cost?
QR codes are free and unlimited on every plan, and they don't use a keyword. You can download them as a PNG for slides or an SVG for print. Your first keyword is included on Textiful, and each extra one is $10/month. Either way, you pay per conversation, which is each time someone texts in or scans and starts your flow. The trigger doesn't change what a conversation costs. See How much does text-to-join cost?
Are there reasons to pick only a QR code?
Yes, a few. If every place you'll show it is close range (a table tent, a booth banner, a name-badge sticker) a QR code alone may be enough. It also saves you from finding a free keyword. A Textiful keyword is unique on its short code, and reserved words like YES, WIN, FREE, VOTE, and TEXT are refused, so your first choice may be taken on 33777. It may still be free on 55444.
The trade-off is reach. Anyone who can't scan, or who hears about it from someone else later, has no word to type. If people will ever hear the offer instead of seeing it, add a keyword.
How does Textiful help?
Textiful gives you free, downloadable QR codes and keywords on 33777 and 55444, and each one reports separately so you can see which brought more people in. How does text-to-join work? shows what happens after they text.
Try it at your next event → Start a free trial
Questions people ask
Yes. In Textiful, each flow has one trigger, so a QR code and a keyword each start their own copy of the same flow. The questions and actions match, and each one reports separately.
No. QR codes are free and unlimited on every Textiful plan and don't use a keyword. One keyword is included on every plan, and more are $10/month each.
Their texting app opens with a pre-filled message addressed to a Textiful short code. They tap send, and the capture flow starts in that text thread.
A keyword, because listeners can't scan audio. Say it twice, spell it if it's unusual, and put it in the show notes with a QR code for people reading on a screen.
Keep exploring
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A QR code to SMS is a QR code that, when scanned, opens the phone's texting app with the recipient number and message already filled in, so the person only has to tap send. It turns a camera scan into a text without typing a number or keyword.
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ReadReady for your next event?
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