QR codes, or Quick Response codes are essentially two-dimensional barcodes specifically designed to be read by smart phones.
Just as a barcode contains a number; QR codes can contain different data including text, but mostly contain URLs (web addresses).
There are different versions of QR codes that can contain different amounts of data, and these are represented by higher resolutions or, in human terms, more small squares. They also contain error-checking in case the pixels (small squares) are obscured, and this can be exploited so that custom QR codes can be generated. For example see the duck logo designed in our sample QR code below.
Before you can start using QR codes, you’ll need a QR code reader app on your smart phone. If you search for “QR code reader” in Apple’s AppStore, Android’s Market or Blackberry’s AppWorld you should find lots of examples, so just choose a free one with good ratings. I have an iPhone and use the Qrafter app.
So how can you use a QR code for your business?
The obvious use, although not necessarily the most useful, is to embed your website address into a QR code that is displayed on printed media such as an advert. This means that someone viewing your advert doesn’t need to type your web address, they just scan your QR code. You can be clever and alter the hidden web address so that you can track which advert the visit came from, that way you can see that your advertising is working. Many people ask why you can’t just put the web address on the advert, and in short, you can. This is the purpose of this article, to explain more innovative uses.
A few people put their web address in a QR code on their business card. This is not as useful as the user will have your business card with them anyway. However what you can do is link to a vCard with all of your contact details. This means that someone can scan the QR code on your business card and instantly have all of your contact details stored in their address book; this will include your name, company, phone number(s), address, email, website, all with a single scan. The more technically savvy users may also sync their mobile with their computer meaning that your contact details are on their computer automatically.
Do you have a venue that customers find difficult to find? Well what if you could embed a map on your business card as well as an address? Well using a QR code you can. Just set up your venue on Google Places, then link to the associated web address using a QR code. Not only will the user’s smart phone link directly to the Google website, but in most cases the phone will be ‘clever’ and link automatically to its inbuilt maps application, meaning the map is completely dynamic and often gives directions!
If you have your own smart phone app you can link directly to the associated online page, and then a user can scan your QR code for immediate download. For example, we have a free iPhone app which provides tips on using social media.
If you want a QR code, just Google “QR code generator” and you’ll see lots of examples. If you want a custom QR code design, like our duck one, then get in touch with a custom QR code designer such as ourselves.
When using QR codes, don’t get caught in the trap of just using them because they are new. Try and think how your QR code will benefit mobile phone users and then you may be on to a winner.