Simple Ways to Enhance Your Small Business with QR Codes

What is a QR Code?

A Quick Response code, also known as a QR Code, is a type of matrix barcode or two-dimensional code. Since a QR Code carries information both horizontally and vertically, a QR Code is capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one-tenth the space of a traditional bar code. The code can be scanned with a smartphone, using a QR Code reader. Once scanned, the user can access more information, such as information about a company or product. A QR Code can include phone numbers, email addresses, text messages, vCard data, links to websites, or even plain text. Once scanned, your smartphone or QR enabled device will translate the information and open the appropriate program to use the encoded data.

QR Codes are much more common in other countries and now the US is seeing the use of QR Codes grow in popularity. While QR Codes are free to use by any person or organization, the word “QR Code” is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE Incorporated. With more people using smartphones, QR Codes have become one of the hottest trends in integrated marketing. As the popularity of QR Codes increases, business owners are asking how they can leverage the QR Code momentum to tie together mobile, online and print media in their integrated marketing campaigns.

How do you scan a QR Code?

Scanning a QR Code is as simple as taking a picture. When you see a QR Code that you want to scan, just pull out your smartphone and use any free app for scanning QR Codes. The pre-installed scanning app on my smartphone, Barcode Scanner, scans barcodes, Data Matrix and QR Codes. Once you scan or take a picture of the QR Code you will be redirected to a web page; shown a video; generate a text message: or call to someone. It all depends on what the QR creator set up. If your phone doesn’t come with a reader, there are plenty of apps on the market available for free.

How can you create QR Codes?

Creating a QR Code is not as difficult as one may think. They can be created for free and there are plenty of websites that allow you to create QR Codes. There are also a number of free apps that can be downloaded on your smartphone that will enable you to generate QR Codes. I use an application on my smartphone called, My QR Code Creator. All I have to do is enter my desired text, email address, phone number, or URL into the application and hit the Generate button. My QR Code appears right on my phone. After my QR Code is created, I can share it in any number of ways, including email or publishing it to Picasa (photo sharing site).

On the web, I have found a particularly comprehensive website for generating QR Codes. QRStuff.com allows users to generate QR Codes in ways that most of the other places on the internet overlook. In addition to the standard data types that most QR Code generators support, QRStuff.com allows users to generate QR Codes for contact details (vCards), events (vCalendars), as well as PayPal Buy Now links. The process involves choosing a data type, adding content, adding some optional formatting and choosing an output type. In less than five minutes, you can create your own QR Code.

How can businesses use QR Codes?

QR Codes bridge the physical world with the virtual one by providing access to online resources. QR Codes enhance printed marketing materials with an instant, interactive mobile response. QR Codes provide flexibility because they can link to dynamic web content, rather than fixed content. Even though QR Codes can be utilized almost anywhere an image can be published or printed, QR Codes are most useful in the physical world. QR Codes placed on direct mail or on product packaging allows the viewer instant access to a wealth of information by just scanning the QR Code. Businesses are becoming more creative in their use of QR Codes. Here are a few simple ways to incorporate QR Codes into your business.

Business Cards

Business cards are the perfect place for QR Codes. By including a QR Code on a business card that links to additional information about you professionally, you can create a lasting impression on people that you meet. The QR Code can direct the person to your LinkedIn profile or to a link where your vCard can be downloaded. If you are in direct sales or marketing, a link to a demo of a product or company information would also be useful.

Print Ads

QR Codes can turn a dull, lifeless print ad into an interactive media tool. By including QR Codes on a magazine print ad, the value of the ad is enhanced. While QR Codes are in a fixed location, the content that the QR Codes links can be dynamic. For example, a QR Code in a magazine print ad can link to a page on a retail store’s website that contains current sale items. The marketing reach is endless, because the content on the website is continually updated and is accessible to anyone who scans the QR Code in the print ad, weeks, months and years later.

Postcards/Mailings

Putting a QR Code on a postcard can be an effective way to convey more information than would normally fit on a postcard. When traditional direct mail postcards are combined with the power of social media and videos through the use of QR Codes, a powerful merger is created. QR Codes on postcards can direct potential buyers to online catalogs, product demonstration videos and detailed product information. Special offers and discounts can also be offered through this use of QR Codes.

Promotional Products

Promotional products, such as pens, key chains and calendars imprinted with QR Codes can provide an opportunity for you to reach more potential customers and interact with established ones. The QR Code can include links to your company website or an online commercial on YouTube. Because QR Codes contain features that allow them to be scanned upside down or wrapped around a curved surface, you are limited only by your creativity when deciding what promotional product you want to enhance with QR Codes.

Signage

Limited space of traditional signage can be virtually expanded through the use of QR Codes. Similar to the benefits of including QR Codes in print ads, adding QR Codes to signs, window decals and car magnets can have the same benefit of increasing awareness of your business or brand. It is the perfect way to convey more information when space is limited. For example, a store owner can add a QR Code to a window decal or store sign providing more information to customers, which is especially useful when the store is closed.

In Conclusion

As more people use smartphones to manage daily activities in their on-the-go lifestyles, businesses, particularly money-conscious small businesses, should explore creative ways to connect with potential customers. Using QR Codes is an easy way for businesses to share links, offer discounts and connect with customers in a way that was basically non-existent before the smartphones hit the mobile technology scene. Since QR Codes can be generated absolutely free and have the ability to be scanned by anyone with QR Code scanner installed their smartphone, why not use this technology to enhance and grow your business?