Show HN: Qrl.fyi – Put a QR code on your stuff to help return lost items

1 ikebastuz 1 7/25/2025, 7:43:26 PM qrl.fyi ↗

Comments (1)

ikebastuz · 1d ago
Hi gang, I'm Alex

TL;DR - I’d love any advice on how to promote a small website I built to help people keep their lost items returnable.

The backstory: A couple of years ago, while living abroad, I lost my wallet along with my driver’s license - which I couldn’t easily replace. That experience made me think: what if I had a simple card inside with my contact info? But not everyone carries a business card. So I thought - why not store contact info online and just stick a QR code on your valuables?

That’s how qrl.fyi was born.

It’s a free tool that lets you create a digital contact card and get a QR code you can print and stick on your stuff. If someone finds your item, they can scan it and get in touch. This isn’t a commercial app (though I added an optional paid feature for custom URLs). The main goal is to make it easy for anyone to help lost things find their way home.

Like many devs, I just want people to find it useful. But I’m a programmer - not a marketer - so I’m completely lost when it comes to promotion.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far: - Made a promo video (you can see it on the homepage - yes, that’s me in the video ) - Started an Instagram, posted a few things, and even ran some ads - Posted in Facebook groups (lost & found, lost pets, etc.) - Tried to make the site SEO-friendly - Spoke with two social media “experts” who just asked a bunch of BS things like “who's your target audience” and “what problem does it solve” - isn't that obvious?

End result: 0 new users

I’m happy to invest a little in ads or promotion, but I really don’t know where or how to begin.

Would truly appreciate any feedback or guidance from this community. Thanks in advance!