Question 1

What is Carto.es?

Accepted Answer

Carto.es is Barcelona's first offline distribution platform with tracking. We put trained distributors (Brand Missionaries) to hand your materials directly to people, in the right neighborhood, at the right moment. Every session is logged with GPS, and QR scans show you how many people responded to your campaign. You know exactly what happened with your investment.

Question 2

What are Brand Missionaries?

Accepted Answer

They are our team of trained and verified distributors. Unlike traditional mailbox distribution, Brand Missionaries hand out flyers in person, on the street, at the event door, in the exact neighborhood you choose. Every session is logged with geolocation and a report of the units distributed.

Question 3

Which areas do you operate in?

Accepted Answer

We operate in Barcelona and its metropolitan area, with all 73 of the city's neighborhoods mapped with their own demographics. You can select exact areas when you create your campaign from the dashboard. In 2026 we arrive in Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, Málaga, and Bilbao: if your city isn't active yet, contact us and we'll let you know as soon as spots open.

Question 4

How long does it take to launch a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Usually between 48 and 72 hours from order confirmation. We need time to print, assign Brand Missionaries, and plan the routes. For events or launches with a fixed date, we recommend booking at least 5 days in advance.

Question 5

What is the minimum order?

Accepted Answer

The minimum for printing and distribution is 5,000 flyers. This guarantees enough distribution density to generate meaningful data and measurable results from the very first campaign. Request a custom quote through our website or WhatsApp.

Question 6

What does the service include?

Accepted Answer

Every campaign includes: (1) Flyer design. (2) High-quality A6 printing. (3) Distribution with Brand Missionaries verified by GPS and camera. (4) Real-time QR tracking built in. (5) A campaign report with conversion and ROI metrics. Request a custom quote for the full breakdown.

Question 7

Can I run a small test campaign?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with the minimum of 5,000 flyers you can test the channel in a specific neighborhood or area of Barcelona. Many clients start with a focused test campaign, look at the QR data by area, and then scale. It's the smartest way to validate before investing more.

Question 8

Do I need to already have the flyer design?

Accepted Answer

It's not required. You can create the campaign without a design and upload it later from your dashboard. We also offer a design service, just ask. We accept JPG, PNG, and PDF in A6 format (148 × 105 mm). We recommend 300 DPI with a 3 mm bleed.

Question 9

How is the QR code added to the flyer?

Accepted Answer

When you create the campaign, you tell us where you want the QR placed (9 positions available: corners, center, edges) and the size (small, medium, or large). We embed it into the design before printing. The QR is unique to your campaign and logs every scan in real time.

Question 10

Can I change the QR's destination URL after printing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The QR points to our tracking server, which then redirects to your URL. You can change the destination URL from the dashboard at any time, with no reprint. If your flyer is already distributed and you change the URL, all future scans will go to the new address.

Question 11

What data does QR tracking give me?

Accepted Answer

Each scan logs: exact date and time, device type (mobile/tablet/desktop), approximate city and region (via IP), and referrer when applicable. You can see the scan timeline by day in your dashboard, the breakdown by device, and soon the heatmap by area.

Question 12

How do I know my flyers were actually distributed?

Accepted Answer

Brand Missionaries report in real time from the app: GPS geolocation, area photos, number of units distributed. You can see each session's route in the dashboard. This is what radically sets us apart from a traditional company where you pay and pray.

Question 13

What conversion rate can I expect?

Accepted Answer

Carto.es campaigns get between 5% and 15% conversion (QR scans over flyers distributed). Sectors like events or apps tend toward the high end of the range; more considered businesses such as real estate or healthcare usually sit in the lower band. A good design, a clear offer, and the right area make the difference. The Carto.es advantage is that you can measure your exact rate in real time and optimize campaign by campaign.

Question 14

Is the data GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We do not collect personally identifiable data. QR tracking logs data at an aggregate level (city, device) derived from the IP address, never names, emails, or biometric data. Check our privacy policy for all the details.

Question 15

Is it illegal to hand out flyers on the street?

Accepted Answer

No, it's not illegal, but it is regulated. In Barcelona and most Spanish municipalities, commercial distribution of advertising in public spaces requires a municipal authorization or license (usually processed as a 'permit for advertising distribution on public roads'). Carto.es handles this paperwork on your behalf before each campaign. The process takes roughly 5 to 7 business days and is completely free for our clients. You don't have to handle any paperwork.

Question 16

Is door-to-door distribution (door drop) legal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, door drop (placing advertising directly in household mailboxes) is completely legal in Spain and requires no special municipal permit. The only legal obligation is to respect the 'No advertising' or 'No flyers' notice when it appears on the mailbox. Our Brand Missionaries have strict instructions not to leave material in mailboxes that display this notice. We comply 100%.

Question 17

What about posters and signs? Do I need a permit?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the location. Posting signs on public surfaces without authorization (lampposts, municipal walls, street furniture) is prohibited and can lead to penalties for the advertiser. For placement in commercial premises (shop windows, indoor boards, fences on private property) you only need the authorization of the premises owner, not the city council. Carto.es works exclusively with authorized locations and handles all the necessary permits. Your brand never appears in an illegal location.

Question 18

How do you handle permits? What do I have to do?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. Carto.es takes care of the entire process. When you confirm your campaign, we check whether your area and distribution type require a prior permit, and we process it on your behalf with the relevant city council. The cost of the paperwork is included in the service, at no extra charge. For this reason we recommend booking the campaign at least 7 days in advance for hand-to-hand distribution campaigns. Door drop and signs in commercial premises do not have this wait.

Question 19

How is Carto.es different from a traditional distribution company?

Accepted Answer

Traditional distribution is completely opaque: you pay, you get a receipt, and you never know whether anyone picked up your flyer or whether it went straight to the trash. With Carto.es every action is verifiable: who distributed, where, when, how many flyers, and what response they generated. It's the difference between advertising blind and marketing with data.

Question 20

Why not just advertise on social media?

Accepted Answer

Digital and offline are not mutually exclusive, they complement each other. Some customers will never see your Meta ad because they have an ad blocker installed, live in a neighborhood that doesn't fit your segments, or simply aren't on that social network. A physical flyer in the right hand at the right moment has a recall rate up to 7× higher than a digital banner. And with Carto.es, now it also has the data.

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