Apple launches new app marketing tools, including QR codes and badges

Apple on Tuesday announced new App Store marketing tools and resources that developers can use to promote their apps online and elsewhere.

Those tools, which Apple announced in a developer update, include new short links, embeddable codes or QR codes that open an App Store page, and downloadable App Store badges that lead a user to an app listing, among others. Developers can also generate a high-quality version of their app's icon for app marketing.

The resources are available on a new "App Store Marketing Tools" page on the company's website. Developers can search for and select their apps to generate the unique resources.

"Take advantage of new marketing resources to promote your apps around the world. You can now generate short links or embeddable code that lead to your App Store product page and display your app icon, a QR code, or an App Store badge. Download localized App Store badges, your app icon, and more," Apple wrote.

QR codes, for example, allow users to easily find an app by scanning the code with their iPhone camera. Developers can generate specific QR codes with various colors and app icon features.

Notably, QR codes are also an essential part of the new App Clips feature in iOS 14.