Getting Started with QR Codes

What are those black-and-white boxes that look like a bar codes that seem to be on posters and advertisements? If you’re still wondering what those funny black-and-white squares are, and what they’re for, here’s a quick introduction.

Common in Japan, where it was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. QR is the abbreviation for Quick Response, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (known as mobile tagging). QR codes can be used to display text to the user, to add a vCard contact to the user's device, to open a URL or to compose an email or text message.

How does this help me market your products and services?

The options are too many to cover in this brief article, but placing a QR Code on your outdoor business signage,  window displays, car's signs (using vinyl lettering, magnetic signs, or a vehicle wrap), and then when you're closed (or parked!), prospects can snap a picture of your Quick Response Code and go straight to your Internet address.

Let's say you have a terrific new Mediterranean Bistro, and you have placed your brand, marketing message, and phone number and address on your business vehicle. But you have also included a QR Code embedded with the URL to your "Lunch Deals". A prospect passes by, notices your QR Code and wants more information. She snaps a photo of your QR Code and she is taken directly to your scrumptious lunch menu du jour, a huge, moist French Toast Cupcake! She will want to know how good it is!

You now have a new customer, someone who has your URL in her phone's directory. When she needs great Mediterranean food, who's she going to think of?

You can see the unlimited options You can place Quick Response (QR) Codes on:

• Sales Brochures
• Outdoor Signs
• Indoor Placards
• Yard Signs
• Vehicles Vans
• Easel Displays
• Vinyl Banners
• Magazine and Newspaper Display Ads
• And much, much more . . .
   

How do I get my own QR Code?

Here is an easy way, and it's FREE!!  If you create a tiny URL through bit.ly they now automatically create a QR code so if you post something on a social media site the code is right there.

Plus there is a great free tool with Google that does the same thing.

Go to http://goo.gl/ and enter your website in the search box.

Then copy that url into the url box and ad.qr at the end and voila your very own QR code.

Or just Google "create QR code".

How will QR Code use go up or down in the years ahead?

Experts calculate that by 2013 one billion people will surf the web regularly using web capable intelligent phones! What percentage of them will buy your products or services through your QR Code?