This article covers the concept of unique scans, their importance, and how to track them in Scanova’s analytics section.
A. About Unique Scans
Unique scans refer to the number of distinct users who scan a QR Code, regardless of how many times it is scanned. Unlike total scans, which count every scan event, unique scans identify individual users based on device and session data.
Tracking unique scans helps in:
- Measuring the number of different users engaging with a QR Code
- Identifying repeat users and understanding audience behavior
- Evaluating the effectiveness of a QR Code campaign in reaching new users
B. Unique Scans Tracking method
Scanova determines unique scans by identifying IP addresses, individual devices, or browsers. If a QR Code is scanned multiple times from the same IP address/device within a session, it is counted as one unique scan. Here’s how it works:
- A single scan is recorded as one unique scan and one total scan
- Multiple scans from the same device within a session increase total scans but do not affect unique scans
This method ensures an accurate measurement of distinct users interacting with QR Codes.
C. Importance of Unique Scans
Unique scans provide a more precise measure of user reach compared to total scans. Key benefits include:
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Audience Size: Helps determine the number of different individuals engaging with a QR Code
User Engagement: Identifies repeat users vs. new users, assisting in analyzing campaign effectiveness - Campaign Optimization: Allows adjustments to strategies based on real user reach rather than just scan volume. With unique scans, better insights can be gained into how QR Codes are performing
D. Viewing Unique Scans in Scanova
To access unique scan data in Scanova:
- Log in to Scanova and navigate to the Analytics section
- Select the QR Code and time period and click on the 'Get analytics' button
- Find the Unique Scans metric under the Analytics section
- Additionally, it is possible to download reports in CSV format for a detailed breakdown of unique scan data. This data helps in analyzing QR Code performance across different locations, devices, and time periods
E. FAQ
I. Why Are Unique Scans Lower Than Total Scans?
Since unique scans count distinct users, this number is usually lower than total scans. Some common reasons include:
- Multiple scans by the same user increase total scans but not unique scans
- Scans from the same device at different times may be counted as the same unique user
- Unique scans rely on IP/browser/device identification, which resets periodically
II. How to Track Analytics for both Total and Unique Scans?
For an in-depth understanding of analytics tracking in Scanova, refer to the article: Tracking & Analytics.
If you still have any questions related to this topic, feel free to reach out to our customer relations team at support@scanova.io