Cracking the QR Code For Your Business

Anne Garcia - February 14, 2011

What are QR codes? QR codes are Quick Response codes that look like black and white bar codes that are decipherable by camera phones and QR readers. QR codes can be placed anywhere from billboards to product displays to magazine ads — anywhere they are visible to an audience. You can take a picture of a QR code with a camera phone and have it scanned by a QR reader. A QR reader is typically a free application on a smartphone that will then direct you to a URL that has details about a product or business. QR codes can be easily made from free QR code generators like Qurify or Kaywa.

You can immediately connect with users on their smartphones and direct them to coupons, product demos, videos, samples or any of your marketing goals. Quick Response codes link offline marketing initiatives to the online world. Instead of the user having to type in a web address (URL), the QR code offers a snap-and-go method of getting the user to your site. QR reader applications generally have a way to share the URL with a friend via e-mail, text or social media, providing even more online exposure.

QR code response rates can be easily measured by the number of visits to the specified destination URL. You can set up different codes for various products or promotions to track performance from different promotions or media.

Google Places has implemented the use of QR codes by sending thousands of window decals to U.S. businesses that direct users to the business’ mobile Place Page on Google. There users can read business reviews, view promotions and even leave reviews.

So what are you waiting for? Crack into the QR code market for your business today.