Thanks to Google, more then 100,000 businesses now have a sticker with a QR code (2D bar code) at their door. This code links a person with a smart phone to the business’ Place Page on Google Maps.

• Before You Start: You have some experience using Google Maps or a similar online mapping service. You understand QR codes.
• Learning Level: 1 | Social Media Basics
• Article Last Updated:  Tuesday, April 5, 2011 (no longer updated)

Update: On March 30, 2011, Google officially stopped supporting QR codes in Google Places. They have moved to near field communications (NFC) which involves using a chip embedded into an object. This article remains as written for historical purposes.

Google Place Pages

In 2009, Google launched its Place Page program to give every place on the planet it’s own web page. When you add your business to Google Maps, or claim it, you update your business Place Page. A Place Page for a business includes information about your hours, services, products, and other relevant information for your customers. You can also include photographs and videos to give even more information about your business to potential customers. It also includes a place for customer reviews, so people can see how much your customers love your business.

Google Maps And Favorite Places

Recently, the smart folks at Google Maps sent out a door sticker to 100,000 businesses identified as the most popular on Google Maps. The sticker identifies the business as part of the Favorite Places program. The door sticker include the Google logo and a QR code that hardlinks the business to it’s mobile Place Page on Google Maps.

So it’s too late for your business to make the first 100,000 in the Favorite Place program, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from the Google Place Page program and QR codes. You can add your business (or claim it) on Google Maps and build out your Place Page with all of the details your customers might want to know. Next, use one of the online sources to create a QR code with the address of your Google Place Page and add it to your business front door. While you are at it, why not add it to your business card and other marketing materials.

QR codes are just starting to show up in the United States, but are common in Europe and Japan. Check out this Flickr photo group of real life examples of QR codes in the wild to get a glimpse of the future in the US.

Your turn: Have you seen a QR code on a business? Or did your business get one of the Favorite Places stickers? Share your experience.

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