QR codes – Are They Here to Stay?

Have you seen them? Have you used them, yet? Do you know what they are? If you’re not yet familiar with the white boxes filled

with seemingly random patterns of little black squares, you might wonder why they’re popping up on everything. These Quick Response or QR codes have been all the rage in Japan and you’ve probably seen them being used by your favorite airline since around 1994. Now, with more smartphones in the hands of users than ever, QR codes are being used to pump-up marketing campaigns and drive people to your webpage.

What do QR Codes Do?
With the ability to hold lots of information, these little babies make it easy for anyone with an app on their smartphone to scan your code out in the real world and find your business or marketing campaign online (without running home to Google you later.) This is called hyperlink migration, where links are moving from the virtual world to the tangible world without typing in URLs. And because the use of QR Codes is free of any license, it means that this little code is egalitarian, making its use available to even the smallest business budget.

Generating a QR code for your business is free, using one of the many QR code generating websites. After generating the code, all you need to do is print that code on anything you like from business cards to posters to print advertising or product packaging and it’s ready for use.

According to Forrester.com, QR code adoption in the US has increased from 1% to 5% of the market with about 15% of consumers carrying smart phones. Why aren’t QR codes more popular? QR codes are a tool not a strategy.

What Can I Use it for?

Get New Site Visitors: A great way to generate sales leads and interest in your product or service. You can set your code to link to a webpage with a specific deal or discount for users who scan your code, driving those who want the deal directly to your business and all with a simple scan. If you’re looking to drive foot traffic to your physical location, have a coupon that they must print out and bring in available on that page.

Build your Email and Mobile List – Offering white papers, e-books and deals with the scan of the code can deliver prospects right to your landing page, where they fill out your opt-in form to claim their *Free offering. Your form can require email or mobile numbers in order to get the deal emailed or texted to them.

Sales or Informational Videos – Offering more information about your product, tips or advice via video (hosted on a mobile–friendly web page, of course!) can drive traffic to a landing page and all they have to do is quickly scan your code.

QR Codes a Fad or Here to Stay
QR codes are here to stay, at least until something with even more promise comes along. We are knee-deep in the information age, knowledge is power and content is King. With mobile devices, people are no longer chained to a terminal. They’re free to move about the planet and get their learning on the go. For a society that values information, freedom and ease as well as instant gratification– the QR code is a bit of a no-brainer.

Still, we’re just dipping our toes in at the moment but adoption is happening quickly – with sales of smartphones increasing every day, it won’t be long before QR codes are on everything.

Where to Get Your QR Code
Want to learn more about QR codes or generate a free code for your business or marketing campaign? Check out the library of content on QR codes and the comprehensive list of free generators QR Media.