Are QR Codes The Next Big Thing?

The Application of QR Codes For Marketing And Fundraising Is Limitless. If You Can Imagine It,You Can Use It.

You’re probably noticing them more and more –these little square barcodes that people are taking pictures of with their smartphones.

They’re not taking pictures to add to their photo albums. They’re actually scanning these codes to get more information.

Information about what? Information on just about anything you can think of.

These barcodes,called QR codes for Quick Response,are used as links to websites,landing pages,Twitter,Facebook,videos,text messages,flyers,posters,coupons,instructions,directions,Paypal ‘Buy Now’,free downloads….

The application of QR codes for marketing is limitless. How about airline boarding passes,business cards,magazines,billboards,postcards,movie trailers,truck trailers,T-shirts,coffee mugs,store windows,even tattoos –if you can imagine it,you can use it.

Did I mention that they can be used for just about any kind of marketing,or even fundraising?

The basic idea is that QR codes have the ability to connect people with each other and to multimedia digital content.

What Is A QR Code?

QR codes have actually been used for over a decade in Japan where they were invented by Toyota as a way to keep track of vehicle parts during manufacturing.

Unlike the older linear barcodes that can only hold 20 numerical digits,QR codes are two-dimensional (2D) and can hold more information,literally thousands of alphanumeric characters of information.

The  code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background,and the information encoded can be text,URL or other data.

How Do I Read A QR Code?

If you have a smartphone,you can download a number of different QR Reader apps. Depending on your phone,one may be recommended over another. Some of the more popular ones include i-nigma,BeeTagg,NeoReader,Kaywa and many others. You can check out a list of them here.

Any of these apps take just a minute to download and are free.

In the future,it is hoped that QR readers will become a built-in feature of smartphones.

How Do I Create A QR Code?

You can use any number QR code generators,many of which are available for free online. You can try one out here.

Keep in mind that not all QR code generating software is created equal and some are more robust than others. Paid versions offer more options.

The neat thing is that QR codes can be generated on the fly using free online sources,and as the technology develops even more,it’ll be that much easier to promote your business or your not-for-profit organization with a “call-to-action”or a “viral”buzz using this new technology.

Are QR Codes Popular?

According to a February survey of U.S. smartphone users by MGH,a Baltimore social media marketing company,32% of respondents said they have scanned a QR code.

They are more popular in North America than Europe,and they are becoming increasingly popular here. Since QR codes are read by special smartphone camera apps,the use of QR codes is highly dependent on the rising number of smartphone users. And that number doesn’t seem to be going down any time soon.

What Is The Future of QR Codes?

When I first noticed QR codes,I really found it amazing that people could actually take a picture with their camera phone,and then access more online information. That was about a year ago.

Since then,I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot more about them.

As a marketing tool,they’re amazing.

Example 1: Imagine you’re looking for a new house and you see a For Sale sign in front of a house that looks really appealing,but you can’t go inside to look around. Until recently,you had to write down,or usually memorize,the realtor’s URL to look it up when you got home.

If you’re lucky,you’ll remember the URL when you get back to your computer.

Now you can just scan the QR code on the sign and watch a virtual tour on your smartphone!

Example 2: A charity wants to raise money by partnering with a sponsor who is providing a special offer that will donate a certain amount of proceeds to the charity. A billboard or a simple postcard with a QR code can be used to raise awareness of the campaign.

As a direct marketer for the past 30 years,I have seen scant use of these codes so far,especially in direct mail. If you’re looking for an edge on the competition,now is the time to boost your campaigns with this technology.

The next generation of barcodes will hold even MORE information,so much that an internet connection will not even be necessary. The content will be embedded in the code itself.

Your imagination is the only thing that will limit their use.