Flyers have long been a staple of marketing.
But in a fast-moving, tech-savvy world, today's most effective flyers are doing more than announcing events or listing promotions—they're connecting print with digital. If your flyer isn’t built to engage beyond the page, it might be missing its full potential.
Below are some common problems with traditional flyer design—and modern, technology-driven solutions that can take your marketing to the next level.
Problem: Your flyer ends the conversation instead of continuing it
Solution: Use QR codes to bridge print and digital
QR codes are no longer clunky or obscure. Now, they’re one of the most reliable ways to take a customer from physical print to digital action.
Tips for making QR codes work:
- Send people to a mobile-friendly, purpose-built landing page
- Use QR codes to share more detailed content like product videos or menus
- Add UTM codes so you can track how many scans you’re getting
QR usage is on the rise. In 2022, nearly 89 million Americans scanned a QR code—proof that audiences are ready to interact with print, if given the opportunity.
Problem: Your flyer gets attention, but not action
Solution: Add interactive elements with Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality might sound complex, but it’s becoming easier to use—and more affordable—for small and mid-sized businesses.
Here’s how it works:
You design your flyer to include a visual trigger (like a logo or image). Using an AR platform like Zappar, Blippar, or 8th Wall, you link that image to digital content—like a video, animation, or interactive element. When someone scans your flyer using a phone camera or AR app, the content appears directly on their screen, layered over the flyer in real-time.
Examples include:
- A real estate flyer that plays a virtual home tour
- A product promo that shows a 360-degree view of the item
- An event flyer that triggers a video invitation or performance preview
While we don’t create AR content ourselves, we can work with you and your designer to make sure the flyer layout supports it. You (or a digital partner) handle the AR setup, and we'll ensure it’s printed to spec.
It’s a simple way to turn a flat flyer into a dynamic experience.
Problem: Your flyer is appealing—but generic
Solution: Use variable data printing for personalization
Generic print campaigns don’t cut through anymore. But flyers that are personalized? Those still get attention.
Variable data printing (VDP) allows you to customize each flyer with unique elements like the recipient’s name, local store address, or tailored product suggestions—all pulled from a database during the printing process.
This is especially effective for:
- Loyalty program campaigns
- Direct mail promotions
- Event invites personalized by region or role
According to McKinsey, 71% of consumers expect some level of personalization, and most are more likely to take action when content is tailored to them.
Problem: Your flyer is a one-time handout with no follow-up
Solution: Build tracking into your print
Flyers can give you data—if you set them up the right way.
Add measurable tools like:
- Campaign-specific landing pages with UTM tracking
- Unique promo codes for each version or distribution channel
- QR code scans tied to analytics platforms
These let you see how many people responded, what pages they visited, and what drove the most interest. That feedback improves your next round of print—and gives you data you can share with your team.
Problem: You’re thinking of your flyer as a standalone piece
Solution: Use it as a launch point
The smartest flyers today don’t just inform—they invite action. Whether it’s scanning a code, watching a video, filling out a form, or visiting a store, the flyer becomes the first step in a broader interaction.
With the right tech tools in place, you turn a simple handout into a multi-touch marketing asset.
Make Your Print Marketing Work Smarter
When you combine design with technology, flyers become more than paper. They become part of your customer’s experience—a tool that connects, educates, and drives measurable results.
Contact us today to start your next flyer project, and we’ll help you integrate the tools that bring your message to life.
