How to Create Custom QR Codes and Shorten Links for Free
Learn how to use a QR code generator and a link shortener with analytics to optimize your digital and physical marketing campaigns.
To create a custom QR code and shorten links for free, use an all-in-one tool like Tentu.link: paste your long URL, get a short link, and download the scannable QR code (PNG or vector) while the platform tracks click analytics for every campaign.
What is a link shortener with a QR code for?
A long URL full of tracking parameters is unattractive and hard to share on social media or print. Optimizing your URLs with shorteners and QR codes is not just aesthetics: it is a tactic to measure the return on investment (ROI) of your campaigns.
In omnichannel marketing, the bridge between the physical and digital worlds is built with links. When you publish a poster, a menu, or a business card, nobody types a sixty-character address: they need a quick scan. And on platforms like X or the Instagram bio, where space is limited, shortening links keeps posts clean and focused on the message.
| Publishing channel | Best solution | Strategic reason |
|---|---|---|
| Print material (flyers, menus) | QR code | Enables instant access from the phone camera. |
| Social media (X, Instagram bio) | Shortened link | Saves characters and keeps the post clean. |
| Email campaigns | Shortened link with UTM | Hides long, confusing tracking parameters. |
| Presentations and slides | QR code + short link | Offers options to both scan and type. |
Tentu.link: your all-in-one tool for links and QR codes
Instead of using one platform to trim the URL and a different one to generate the scannable image, the efficient move is to centralize the process. Tentu.link works as a unified solution that solves both needs at once.
When you create a custom QR for free you do not just get the graphic version of your web address: the system automatically generates an associated short URL you can distribute across digital channels. And the most valuable part for marketers is that the platform acts as a control point, logging data every time someone interacts with either format.
How to create your first custom QR in 3 steps
The process requires no coding or design skills. First, make sure you have the correct final destination URL. If you are running a campaign, it is highly recommended to add Google Analytics UTM parameters to your original link before shortening it1, so you can then measure leads and conversions accurately.
Second, go to the platform and paste your full URL into the conversion bar. The system will process the address and instantly return a short link ready to copy to the clipboard.
Third, in the same interface find the option to download the QR code. You can save it as PNG for quick digital use, or in vector format (SVG or EPS) if you are sending it to print for large format, so it never loses resolution when scaled.
Benefits of measuring clicks on your links
The main advantage of a shortener with analytics is not cutting characters, but collecting behavioral data. With a direct link you depend only on your site analytics; with an intermediate link you gain an extra layer of business intelligence.
These dashboards usually show total clicks over time, geographic distribution, devices (mobile vs. desktop), and referral sources. With that, marketing can evaluate which physical or digital channels drive the most traction and adjust budget in real time.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes expire?
It depends on the type. Static QR codes (which encode the URL directly into the image) never expire but cannot be edited. Dynamic QR codes (which point to a short link that then redirects) require the redirect service to stay active.
Can I change the destination of a shortened link?
If you use a service with dynamic links or QR codes, yes. This is key for long-term campaigns: you can update the destination URL (for example, from a summer promo to a winter one) without reprinting the physical QR codes.
A gentle CTA
If you want to set up a system of measurable links and QR codes for your next campaign, email me at hola@israelpinapol.com or visit israelpina.cool. I can help you connect tracking to your real business goals.
- Google Analytics Help, “Collect campaign data with custom URLs” (UTM parameters): support.google.com/analytics/answer/10917952 ↩
