Celebrate Inclusivity with Rainbow Colored QR Codes this Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated in June, filling the world with a wave of rainbow colors as we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, diversity, and inclusion. According to Statista, over 7% of the adult population in 43 countries identified as LGBTQIA+ between April 2023 and March 2024. That’s a huge number.
As a marketer, I’m always looking for ways to connect with audiences, and Pride Month is a fantastic opportunity to show support and expand my reach. Marketing campaign strategies, like QR Code initiatives, can reflect the spirit of Pride by replacing traditional black-and-white color palettes with vibrant rainbow QR Code themes.
And the best part? QR Codes are perfect for improving engagement. So, how can you use QR Codes to capture the essence of Pride Month and turn more people into allies?
Here’s a simple and doable idea: You can include the colors of the Pride flag in the QR Code itself.
In this article, we will explore the rainbow in depth. We will study the history of Pride, show you how to create a rainbow QR Code, and brainstorm ways to use it in your campaigns.
Let’s get started and create a rainbow QR Code campaign that amplifies the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Understanding the Heart of Pride: A Look Back
Pride Month is about rainbows, parades, and amplifying voices to promote the LGBTQIA+ community. It is also about commemorating the Stonewall Riots, a game-changing moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.
On June 28, 1969, patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, fought back against a police raid, sparking days of protests. This event became a turning point for the Gay Liberation Movement, leading to the first Pride March a year later.
How to Create Rainbow QR Codes to Engage Users this Pride Month
To create a rainbow QR Code for your Pride Month marketing, follow these five simple steps:
- Choose a QR Code generator
Head to a QR Code generator solution such as Uniqode (recommended and highly rated). Uniqode offers high-level security, customization, and scalability.
2. Sign up and log in to your dashboard
Uniqode provides a 14-day trial to play around with their platform if you don’t want to commit to a paid solution yet. Once you’ve signed up, log in to your dashboard,
3. Choose your QR Code type
Click “Create new” inside your dashboard, and you’ll land on the above screen. Here, you choose the type of QR Code you’ll create.
Here, we’ll choose the “Website” option.
4. Paste your destination URL
The next step is pasting the URL you want the QR Code to link to. Note that you can change the URL even after printing if you choose a dynamic QR Code in step one.
5. Customize your QR Code
Use a rainbow background, add your logo (or a Pride flag), put a “Scan me” frame, and download.
I added a pride logo and a rainbow background to customize my QR code.
This is what the customized QR Code looked like. Let your audience scan the pride!!
Voila! You’ve created a stunning rainbow QR Code to encourage users to scan and learn more about your Pride Month initiative.
Now’s the interesting part. How can you use these QR Codes in your marketing campaigns?
Amplifying Voices with QR Codes — Strategies and Examples
QR Codes can be a powerful solution for creating impactful Pride Month campaigns whether it’s email marketing or on billboards. Here’s how to use them strategically, along with examples:
Product Curation
You can create a unique Pride collection and use QR Codes directly on the products or nearby signage. When scanned, these codes can link directly to a web page displaying these products. This makes browsing and purchasing easy for customers.
For example, the Body Shop, a beauty brand known for its social activism, launched a limited-edition Pride Month collection in 2023. Each product featured a rainbow design and a QR Code. Scanning the code directed customers to a landing page with the entire Pride collection, product information, and stories from LGBTQIA+ activists and influencers partnered with the brand.
Social Media Buzz
Embed QR Codes in your social media posts to connect followers with exclusive Pride merchandise, special offers, or event details. This drives engagement and helps spread the word.
For example, Skittles, the iconic candy brand, partnered with the LGBTQIA+ advocacy group GLAAD for a Pride Month campaign in 2022. They launched a social media campaign featuring limited-edition rainbow packs with QR Codes. Scanning the code unlocked a virtual reality experience celebrating diversity and inclusion.
In-Store Engagement
This one is for retailers and store managers. You can place QR Codes strategically in your retail space — at the entrance, at the billing counter, or most used section. You can link the QR Code to detailed product information, provide a smooth checkout process using a mobile wallet, or even unlock special deals during Pride Month events. You can also enhance the experience by decorating your store with rainbow flags and Pride imagery.
For example, Levi’s, the denim apparel company, incorporated QR Codes into their in-store displays for their Pride collection. Scanning the code revealed the story behind the collection’s design, inspired by the history of the Pride flag, and linked to a page where customers could donate to an LGBTQIA+ charity partner.
Influencer Collaborations
Another way to use QR Codes this month is to partner with LGBTQIA+ influencers who align with your brand values to promote your QR-coded Pride products. Their endorsements can extend your reach and build trust with your audience.
For example, a fitness apparel brand can partner with a non-binary fitness influencer for its Pride Month campaign. The influencer can design a unique Pride-themed workout collection and promote it on their social media channels using QR Codes on the clothing itself. Scanning the code can direct followers to a purchase page and a blog post written by the influencer about the importance of LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the fitness world.
Email Marketing
You can also include QR Codes in your Pride Month email campaigns to provide your customers direct access to online promotions or donation pages. This will help you maximize your efforts and optimize future campaigns.
Accessibility for All
Inclusivity is at the heart of Pride Month. You should make sure your marketing materials, especially those linked to QR Codes, are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes providing alternative text (alt text) descriptions for images and ensuring compatibility with screen readers. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
Some More Creative QR Code Ideas for Pride Month
We’ve covered the essential strategies, but let’s get creative. Here are some inspiring ways to use QR Codes throughout your Pride Month campaign:
- Embed URL or PDF QR Codes directly on product tags or packaging. Scanning these codes can take your customers to the stories about the products, their connection to Pride, and the values your brand champions.
- Use QR Codes to personalize your Pride Month merchandise. Imagine customers selecting colors, adding names, or choosing designs — all through a QR Code scan. It’s a unique and interactive way to enable self-expression.
- Use QR Codes in public art displays to let viewers access information about LGBTQIA+ artists and the messages embedded within their creations.
Pro tip: QR Codes can add a personal touch to your Pride Month campaign, but authenticity is key. Ensure your QR Codes link to respectful and inclusive content that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, avoiding anything stereotypical or exploitative. Use inclusive language across all marketing materials, removing stereotypes and being mindful of the terminology used.
Stand With Pride Using Rainbow QR Codes
Pride is about celebrating the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ voices. QR Codes let you amplify those voices, educate your audience, and create a genuinely impactful campaign. They’ll help you reach a wider audience, engage with them to build long term customer relationships, and create something that beams with Pride. So, let’s get scanning and celebrating.
