QR or Quick Response codes have been around for about a decade and are now becoming more mainstream. This type of code was developed by a subsidiary of Toyota for them to use as a new way to ID their cars. QR codes have since become quite popular in Japan and adoption of this technology is picking up pace in North America.
QR codes can be found in many different places, on wine labels, advertisements, magazines, food products, and even on business cards, all used to direct consumers to more information through the embedded link. The code itself is similar to a traditional barcode you see in supermarkets. Those barcodes are used to track inventory and store prices. The difference is that retail barcodes are one-dimensional and can store minimal information while QR codes are two-dimensional and can contain up to several hundred times the amount of data. It contains multiple kinds of data including URL links, text, and addresses.
To access a QR code you need a smartphone (camera-enabled) with a QR code reader installed. Some phones have it equipped already but if not, it is very easy to download and install a QR reader app. Once you scan the code with your phone, you will be directed to digital information, usually online.
They can be used for many different things and are quite handy for businesses of all sizes. As mentioned earlier, they are commonly found on advertisements. A QR code placed on an ad can provide details on that specific product or promotion that may be going on. Same for wine labels in that it can provide further details on the wine and the food pairings as well as direct a consumer to the winery’s website. A winery could take it a step further and entice the consumer with a special offer on a case of wine or to go on a winery tour.
Other uses include coupons, a link to a YouTube video or perhaps a demo reel, or contact information on a business card making it easy for someone to add you to their contacts. Have you bought an event ticket lately? You may have noticed some scrambled looking images which are of course, QR codes.
At the 2010 Lotus Awards back in November there were QR codes on the tickets, and the organizers would scan the code with an iPhone to check a guest in. Another place you may see them pop up is on restaurant windows providing passer-by’s an opportunity to check out the menu and prices. Whether it is a restaurant or small business, it is a great way to connect with potential customers when the business is closed.
As you can see, QR codes are very versatile. They are also very cost effective and a great way to build your business. QR codes can be printed on just about anything and it doesn’t cost extra to print them with whatever image/content you may have (unless of course it is the only element with colour).
Probably the best thing about a QR code for a business especially a small business is the tracking ability it provides. As measurement is such a key aspect in evaluating success, you can use QR codes to track which ad is getting viewed more by your target audience. Promotional efforts could also be measured and enable you to find out where you’re getting the highest response from or which promotion is working better if you have more than one at the same time. This will aid in better allocation of marketing dollars in the future.
QR codes can be set up with a QR code generator. QRstuff.com is a great site for this. You can select your data type, for example a Website URL, then enter the URL, and even choose a foreground colour, and finally download the image.
Now that you’ve cracked the code and learned many uses for QR codes, try implementing them into your next campaign and see how impactful it is for you.
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