Have you ever seen one of these? That my friend is a QR Code. OK, so you may ask, just what is a QR code and how can it help me? It is a kind of barcode that a computer can scan to automatically receive information. In this case, it's coding a website address that can be scanned by smart phones.
If you have a Droid, for instance, you can simply take a picture of this code with your camera, or use the bar code scanner ap available in you Market, and it will automatically take you to my HelmsBriscoe homepage on your phone. Pretty cool isn’t it? This will work with most smart phones, though for some of them you'll need to download an application to be able to read the code. So, go ahead-scan it now-take a test drive to see my smiling face.
We're seeing more of these codes in public these days. You can see them everywhere from magazines to product labels. QR codes allow you to take the "click for more info" idea and turn it into "scan (with your phone) for more info." I would personally love to just scan a hotel’s QR code at a tradeshow than to carry around a paper sales kit that I may not be able to fit in my luggage home.
We're seeing more of these codes in public these days. You can see them everywhere from magazines to product labels. QR codes allow you to take the "click for more info" idea and turn it into "scan (with your phone) for more info." I would personally love to just scan a hotel’s QR code at a tradeshow than to carry around a paper sales kit that I may not be able to fit in my luggage home.
Of course, your people will need to have a smart phone to use it, and will need to have some idea what the QR code is and what to do with it. It's still not particularly mainstream for that reason -- it's only going to reach a particular segment of the population. But as the population becomes more likely to have a smart phone and be savvy with it, it's likely to grow in usage.
Nonprofit organizations are starting to use QR codes too. There are some interesting possibilities -- not just in ads, but also for direct mail and to create virtual tours. I even know of groups that have used them to create scavenger hunts. Some other examples of how QR codes can be used for you: add the image of code to your newsletter that would allow people to easily get to a webpage to sign up for your eNewsletter instead. Or a direct mail piece code could provide easily access to your online donation functionality. A museum could put a QR code next to each displayed piece to allow people to view much more detailed online than could practically be displayed. Think of a way to create a contest wrapped around people scanning YOUR QR code.
QR Codes are free to create. I personally used Kaywa to create this one (http://qrcode.kaywa.com). I see QR codes as an amazing, free way to bring your info into 2011.
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