What happens when someone scans

Scanning opens the phone's messages app with your pre-written text addressed to 33777 or 55444. They tap Send, and your flow starts.

Scanning your QR code opens the phone's messages app with your pre-written text already filled in and addressed to your short code. They tap Send, and your flow replies with its first message, exactly as if they had texted a keyword.

Step by step

  1. They scan the code with their phone's camera.
  2. A short page opens that says "Your messaging app should open. Just tap send." It has an Open messages button in case the app doesn't open on its own.
  3. Their messages app opens with your pre-written text, such as "Send this text to get the slides!", addressed to 33777 or 55444. Below it is a code like ##k3x9q2m7wd.
  4. They tap Send. They can edit the text first.
  5. Your flow starts. Textiful replies with the first step, such as asking for their email address, and the conversation continues by text.

Things to know

  • The scan is counted when the page opens. Link previews and bots aren't counted. See Track scans.
  • Nothing happens until they send. Someone who scans and doesn't tap Send counts as a scan, not a text-in.
  • The code line matters. If they delete the ##code line, Textiful can't tell which QR code it came from, and the flow won't start.
  • It always starts your flow. Even if they're partway through another Textiful conversation on that short code, sending your QR code's text starts your flow.
  • US carriers only. The text goes to a US short code, so it doesn't work on phones outside the US.

What it costs you

The QR code is free. Each person who sends the text and starts your flow counts as one conversation, the same as a keyword text-in. See What counts as a conversation.

Frequently asked questions

Does my audience need a QR code app?
No. Most phone cameras scan QR codes. Scanning opens a short web page that hands off to the phone's own messages app.
What if they edit the message before sending?
That's fine, as long as the code on its own line (such as ##k3x9q2m7wd) stays in. That's how Textiful knows which QR code they scanned.

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