QR Codes

Increasingly everywhere you go you see little black and while QR Codes or quick response codes. On signs and posters, in magazines, T-shirts, badges, business cards, adverts, flyers and leaflets. But what are those things?

QR technology provides mobile phone users the ability to scan paper-based content using the phone's camera, and barcode app, to decode information on a menu, a magazine, a business card, a gift card, a coupon or a website. Once the QR code has been scanned and decoded, the user has access to the information or destinations via their smart phone that can be any or all of the following:

• A message displayed to the viewer.
• A link to a specific destination, such as the companies website, custom landing page, rss feed, Facebook or other social media site. This can also be encoded as a bookmark.
• Personal or company contact information in vCard, MeCard or BizCard.
• A calendar event.
• A phone number for the phone to dial.
• An email address.
• SMS message
• A physical address with location coordinates and map

What can you use it for?

On business cards: A fast and simple way to use QR codes for your own professional purposes is to place them on business cards. Generate a barcode that directs scanners to your online profile, small business Facebook Page or your website to help new contacts find you or your business faster. Creative Hub will be rolling out our own QR code business cards when our new website goes live in a few weeks.

On marketing materials: You’ve got flyers, brochures, programs, handouts and a myriad of other materials. Add QR codes to direct viewers to a particular how-to video, send them to a Flickr photo set, get them to follow you on Twitter, or point them to a mobile-friendly landing page that promotes a new campaign. For inspiration, check out what Tesco did with QR codes in South Korea.

In storefront windows: Generate your own QR code to place in your window. You can use this code to encourage Facebook checkins or point visitors to your website.

For freebies: If you really want people to pay attention to your QR codes, make them good for something fun. Say you’ve placed a QR code decal in your storefront window, why not reward those who scan it with 10% off their purchase or a free pastry? Give them something small to thank them for their custom. Simply create a custom QR code for the freebie you want to offer. You could even get creative and hide the QR code offers online, like on your Facebook page or website, or somewhere inside your store.

Things to remember

If you’re going to use QR codes for small business marketing, you’ll want to keep in mind that QR codes — and the apps that scan them — are still foreign to most people.

Yes, more and more people are starting to associate the codes with action, but never assume your customers will know what to do. Make it a point to spell out how to scan the QR code, and help instruct customers on where they can grab scanner apps.

Also, remember that QR codes should provide some kind of value to the scanner. It may be easiest to direct QR code scanners to your website, but that’s likely not the most engaging place to send people.

Does your small business use QR codes? If so, how are you using them? And if not, which types of uses might fit your marketing efforts?