I don’t have an iphone (other phones are available 😉 ) and mine isn’t particularly smart, so the whole QR phenomenon has sort of pasted me by. Until a few weeks ago when I noticed one on a tub of butter. What a great way to do an online supermarket shop by scanning the products in your home. If your anything like me what you end up with when purchasing food online … isn’t always what you would have bought instore.
Got a QR reader? Try this code!
What is a QR code?
A QR code or Quick Response Code are 2 dimensional bar codes which can be read by smart phones or QR readers. QR codes link directly to text, emails, websites, phone numbers and much more.
Where can you get one?
There are lots of free sites out there where you can design a QR code, all you need is simple information and a landing page for your QR code (just Google QR code generator). I have however discovered a local Poole based company Free QR Code Tracker which enables you to not only create but also track the QR code you are using. A really useful tool in making sure your QR code is being utilised. With any form of marketing you need to plan it, track it (otherwise how do you know if it is working or not?) and evaluate it – this includes social media! Planning is key.
How can you maximise the usage?
I’ve noticed the majority of QR codes on flyers and business cards direct the potential customer to homepages. I think this is where businesses miss out on the QR potential. They understand a QR will drive traffic to their website but there are no calls to action. Other than increased traffic what has the QR code achieved? Why not direct customers to QR only page – with a free download, or signup for a special offer or discount code – specific to the QR code, this enables you to track the codes usage and worth.
Or be like the supermarkets – add QR codes to products enabling your customers to reorder specific products as quick as a flash.
Whatever you do make it different.
Make it useful.
Make it trackable.
As per usual please do share your QR suggestions, blog posts or images.
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all this new technological advances are very confusing so it’s helpful to read good stuff like this – thank you! Also useful to consider that it’s useful to use these codes but as you suggest to make sure it’s for something specific perhaps. Thanks for your info
Thank you love – your right there is such a huge amount of techie ways now to reach your audience its hard to know which is the best.
I think that QR codes work great on printed material and not so much online. We have ours on the car and on our business cards. I’ve seen them on websites too but for some reason it seems funny to me to point the smartphone to the computer to get to the link. I am online already, am I not? 🙂
I wrote once a blog post that might be useful for people looking for ideas what to do with QR codes: http://www.eosgrafx.com/blog/3-creative-ways-of-using-qr-codes/
I agree about the website usage although the one on this post directs to a free download but it was for example purposes.
I love the car idea as I have on occasion taken pics on my phone of posters etc in car windows so a QR code would work well.
Thanks for sharing your post 🙂
You’re so welcome, Joanne! Yes, understood about its purpose as an example. I’ve also seen them on product labels so for businesses that offer tangible products, that’s an idea too.
Very, very useful business cards – I came once from an event and had to type in many web addresses form the cards to check out ppl’s websites… QR codes on them would have been very handy!
Thanks Joanne now it makes it all clear to me and I had never thought about linking the QR code with a discount page on my website. What a great idea.
we went to London yesterday and I used a QR code! It was on a poster by the South Bank and you could scan it to go to a free App that told you what was on, where to go etc. I am a new fan 🙂 x
Mmmm QR codes – need to look into them! Thanks for submitting this post to the carnival which is now live http://www.littlesheep-learning.co.uk/blog/2012/mays-business-mums-blog-carnival/ hope you find some other interesting posts on there.
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thanks for using my post 🙂
QR codes help small businesses increase sales and connect them to their communities. Just be careful to choose a QR code company that has secure content and gives you the ability to change the content as many times you desire, even after the code has been printed. As always tracking your code scan success is very important to keep you on target.
I have just had a play making a QR code quilt and I have blogged about it here!
http://www.sarahlpayne.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/technology.html
I own a fabric shop with quilting workshops (amongst many other things) and I plan to hang the QR code quilt at the back of my stand when I go to shops publicising my business! The code takes you straight to my shop website! It is great marketing as it always causes a stir – and it was fun to make too!
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I love this! Have commented on your blog! Amazing!