Wed 22 Jun 2011 |
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 Last winter I was in New York and noticed a funny little inkblot type graphic plastered over all the bus station stops. Now when I open the paper I see them on ads and news articles. I have even witnessed Facebook friends post them on their wall challenging everyone to decode their secret message. What is this strange new technology creeping across America you might ask? It is a QR code.A QR code is a computer-generated graphic that, when scanned by a smart phone, links the user to a website, retrieves contact information or adds an event to their calendar or performs a variety of other things. Airline companies are using this technology to issue a boarding pass to your smartphone that can be scanned by the airport in lieu of the traditional printed ticket. With smartphones becoming more robust and accessible to the masses, this technology will become a major player in the future. So the questions naturally becomes, why should I use them? There are numerous ways to effectively use a QR code in the business world. Limited only by imagination, below are a few ideas...  Business cards:Put them on your business card so people can import your contact information directly into their smartphones. Branded marketing materials: Add 'hyperlinks' to your printed materials connecting your customers with online content such as videos, blogs or special website landing pages. Coupons & promos: Offer online and offline discounts by creating virtual coupons from QR Codes. Drive traffic to your website: Place a QR Code for your website URL on all materials, proposals and invoices, making it easy for your customers, prospects and vendors to find you online.  Place them on product:What better way to promote your business than to place them on any product you sell directly the client back to your website, online store or user manuals. T-shirts, coffee mugs & other promotional items Create some buzz around the community by displaying a custom QR code on all promotional items encouraging others to scan you and find out what you are about! As you can see, the possibilities for using QR codes are endless, limited only by imagination. Feel free to share your QR code ideas in the comments field below! Here's a link to QR Code generator, try it out today! http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ |
