Print it. Tape it up. Wait.
Rickroll QR code flyers
Pick a flyer, edit the words, print it. The code opens a Tri-County News 9 story, and a few seconds later it's Rick. A QR code is the best disguise there is, because nobody can read where it goes, and people will scan anything that promises free Wi-Fi.
Prints on US Letter or A4. Phones can read the code from a few feet away at this size.
How to make a rick roll QR code
- 01
Pick a flyer
Free Wi-Fi, a lost cat, free pizza or a restroom survey. Change the words if you like. The defaults already work.
- 02
Set the headline
That's the Tri-County News 9 story they land on. Match it to the flyer, so the Wi-Fi flyer opens a story about Wi-Fi. It only has to hold up for about five seconds.
- 03
Print and wait
Tape it up where people stand around with their phones out: a break room, a lobby, the line for the microwave. They scan, they read a sentence, they meet Rick.
Rickroll QR code questions
Where does the QR code go?
To a short link on tricountynews9.com, something like tricountynews9.com/k7m2xq. Phones show that address before opening it, and it looks like a local news site, because as far as anyone can tell it is one. From there it's the same as any rick roll link: a tap or five seconds, then Rick.
Will people know it's a rickroll before they scan it?
No. Nobody can read a QR code by looking at it, which is the whole appeal. Even after they scan, the phone only shows a news address.
Can I put the QR code on my own design?
Yes. Download it as a PNG or SVG and drop it into anything: a slide, a birthday card, a sticker. The SVG stays sharp at any size.
How big should I print it?
The full-page flyers are fine for scanning from a few feet away. The sticker sheet codes are smaller, so those are for scanning up close. If it's going on a wall across the room, go bigger.
Is it free?
Yes. No account, no watermark, no limit on flyers (links are capped at 20 a minute, which is more than any break room needs).
Where is it okay to put one up?
Anywhere you'd be allowed to put up a flyer anyway. Don't cover real notices or real Wi-Fi signs, and don't pretend to be a real business. Keep it to people who will laugh.