What Are QR Codes? And Why Should I Care? | Social Media DIY Workshop

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QR codes are a shorthand way to represent information, commonly used to store special website addresses. Mobile internet users use their smart phones to capture the code, and special software interprets the web address. There are many business uses for this flexible mobile marketing tool.

Before You Start: You are curious about the mobile aspect of social media. You may have seen a QR code on a business door.
Learning Level: 1 | Getting Started
Article Last Updated: Wednesday, August 17, 2011

QR Code Basics

Have you noticed these weird spotty square images showing up on business doors? They are called QR codes (for Quick Response) and you are going to start seeing a lot more of them.

These codes, also known as two dimensional (2D) bar codes, came from Japan where they have been used to quickly scan parts in automobile factories. They are called 2D because they can be scanned either side to side or top to bottom. Normal bar codes can only be scanned side to side.

They quickly became popular when people realized they could be used to create a hardlink, a link from the physical word to the internet. They spread to Europe and are just now starting to appear in the United States.

How QR Codes Work

Smart phones can read these bar codes with specialized software (apps) installed on the phone. You take a picture of the code with your cell phone camera, and the QR code software interprets the website and uses the phone’s network to take you to the internet address hidden in the code. This process is also known as mobile tagging.

How a cell phone processes a QR code.

Business Use of QR Codes

QR codes can be used to hold other types of information, such as your contact information, but the most popular use today is a hardlink to a special website page. For example, you could put a QR code at your business front door, on your business card, in a print ad,a mailer, or on even on a billboard that takes people to a special coupon or promotion page on your website.

You can create your own QR codes from several websites, and you can download the QR reader software for your smart phone from your phone’s software application store.

With the number of mobile internet users on the rise, you can use QR codes to tap into the mobile advertising market. It’s really easy once you understand these few basic concepts.

Your turn: Have you started seeing QR codes on businesses in your town? Can you think of ways that you could incorporate QR codes into your advertising for the mobile internet market?

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Article categories: Articles • Business Technology • Level 1 • Mobile • Proximity Marketing
Article tags: Bar Code • Business Card • Cell Phone • Hardlink • Mobile • Mobile Tagging • Proximity Marketing • QR Code • Smart Phone • Web Address (URL)

About author:

Charlene Kingston is the small business person behind the Social Media DIY Workshop.

13 Responses to “What Are QR Codes & Why Should I Care?”

Rhonda says:

February 9, 2010 at 3:00 pm

We’ve had these in Australia for a while now. I’ve seen them in newspaper ads for particular promotions for telephone companies, and they’ve been the ‘barcode’ on Qantas boarding passes for a while now. I knew they were a type of barcode, but not all the other ways they could be used — so thanks for sharing that information.
.-= Rhonda´s last blog ..More on writing… =-.
Charlene says:

February 9, 2010 at 3:43 pm

Thanks for sharing, Rhonda. Australia is ahead of the US in using QR codes. Good to know!
Mark Sprague says:

May 8, 2010 at 8:22 am

I recently wrote a comprehensive technical post about QR Codes – If interested you can find it at: http://marksprague.wordpress.com/understanding-qr-codes/
Chris Edwards says:

November 11, 2010 at 5:24 pm

QR codes are best for print media like on flyers and business cards. I use them for my business on my business cards. It is great because everyone asks…”Hey, what is this?” and once I tell them, they hold on to my card to show it off to their friends. Works great to drive business in my direction =)
Chris Edwards recently posted “How To Create A QR Code Business Card With Ease.”
Tom Burns says:

November 11, 2010 at 5:46 pm

We have just started using QR codes in our advertising at A-1 Appliance and look forward to the response. I am sure it will become more popular as people learn what it is.
Charlene says:

November 11, 2010 at 8:50 pm

That’s a smart strategy, Chris. I can see QR codes being used on real estate signs to direct people to the detailed web page for the listing. Talk about delivering content when the consumer is hungry!
Charlene says:

November 11, 2010 at 8:51 pm

Congrats for being on the leading edge! Please share you experience here as you start getting responses. I’m sure there are many businesses who would love to hear about your journey.
Chris Edwards says:

December 7, 2010 at 7:00 am

Charlene, it is funny you mention QR codes and real estate. I just recently wrote an article about the many different ways to use qr codes in real estate. It is a great tool for almost everything. This month I am focusing on writing multiple articles on different creative ideas for using them.

Its funny, I get so excited when I see a business using a QR code and I have to almost always scan it. I think it is one of the greatest links between the print and digital world.
Chris Edwards recently posted “QR Code Readers for iPhone- Android- Blackberry and Windows Phone 7.”
Charlene says:

December 7, 2010 at 10:45 am

I think the US business world is going to go QR code crazy when they start to realize the power of putting information or a web link in a mobile device. The early adopters will have the advantage for a while.
eMobileScan says:

December 14, 2010 at 12:20 pm

I think next year we will see even more qr codes on the things we buy, because so much more information can be stored on them in comparison to the tradition barcodes it makes sense to use them, they cost nothing extra to produce, but you will need a 2D scanner to read them. A lot of advertisers see the potential of these codes as well
Charlene says:

December 14, 2010 at 1:10 pm

I agree. It’s going to be an exciting year as businesses in the US really begin to embrace QR codes.
Social QR Code says:

February 18, 2011 at 9:18 am

Nice post! I like the DIY blog! Next time you create a QR Code, try http://www.SocialQRCode.com which is a QR Code generator which allows for social functionality. Users can also create coupons that are sharable on Facebook and Twitter.

And it’s all, Do It Yourself!
Charlene says:

February 18, 2011 at 9:44 am

Thanks sharing the Social QR Code site. It’s an easy and free way for people to add important social media and business contact information into a QR code.
The QR Code Conundrum « Will Gladhart Consulting's Blog says:

August 17, 2011 at 12:33 pm

[...] recently located several articles providing a comprehensive overview of “What is a QR Code?” and “How QR Codes Can Grow Your Online Business.” I highly recommend reviewing both [...]
The QR Code Conundrum | Social Media Marketing says:

August 17, 2011 at 12:57 pm

[...] recently located several articles providing a comprehensive overview of “What is a QR Code?” and “How QR Codes Can Grow Your Online Business.” I highly recommend reviewing both [...]
8 Ways to Market Your Business to Smart Phone Users | Summit Software Solutions Inc. says:

December 12, 2011 at 9:05 am

[...] Use QR codes with your traditional and print advertising and marketing. QR stands for quick response. QR codes use the camera function on your customer’s smart phones and puts it to good use. The consumer can take a picture of your QR code and they are instantly taken to your company website or anywhere else you want to send them! (Click here for more details) [...]

3 Trackbacks

The QR Code Conundrum « Will Gladhart Consulting's Blog
[...] recently located several articles providing a comprehensive overview of “What is a QR Code?” and “How QR Codes Can Grow Your Online Business.” I highly recommend reviewing both [...]
The QR Code Conundrum | Social Media Marketing
[...] recently located several articles providing a comprehensive overview of “What is a QR Code?” and “How QR Codes Can Grow Your Online Business.” I highly recommend reviewing both [...]
8 Ways to Market Your Business to Smart Phone Users | Summit Software Solutions Inc.
[...] Use QR codes with your traditional and print advertising and marketing. QR stands for quick response. QR codes use the camera function on your customer’s smart phones and puts it to good use. The consumer can take a picture of your QR code and they are instantly taken to your company website or anywhere else you want to send them! (Click here for more details) [...]