By: Robert Bellenir 

Wait, I know what you might be thinking.  The last thing you need is another new high-tech gadget to figure out.  Fortunately, Quick Response Codes (or QR codes) are not all that complicated to implement and the payoff for putting them to work for your business could really assist in your marketing efforts.

A QR code is really just a more useful barcode.  Essentially, a QR code is a two-dimensional code that when scanned by a smart phone camera (or hand scanner), will display text, photos, videos, music, and URL’s. Thus, QR codes are a mobile-friendly way to point potential customers who aren’t in front of their computers to online resources.  Best of all, you can easily create QR codes yourself for free online (simply search Google for “free QR generator”).  The rise in popularity of the QR code as a marketing tool corresponds with the rise of smart phone use in the U.S.  Most phones purchased within the last few years come with a QR code reader already installed.  Older phones merely require a free application download.

How to Use QR Codes in Your Business

So how does a small business owner utilize QR codes in their marketing campaigns?  The most obvious use of QR codes is to drive customers to your company’s website or blog.  However, simply sending people to your website’s homepage isn’t always going to be particularly useful.  Instead, send them to a specific destination on your website. For example, build a simple, mobile-friendly customer survey or mobile coupon (by mobile I mean viewable and accessible through a mobile phone).  Make sure to include an opt-in form along with some kind of giveaway where you are able to collect the visitor’s email address for future marketing purposes.

Ways to Utilize a QR Code for Marketing Your Business

QR codes have many possible applications for marketing your small business.  One of the most effective ways to utilize QR codes is in printed marketing and advertising copy.  QR codes can be included on everything from business cards, post cards, invoices, and newsletters, to coffee mugs, t-shirts, billboards, and window signage.  For example, a business can create a QR code image that will dial your business’ phone number, point to a customized landing page on the web, deliver a SMS Text message, and much more.  If you look around these days, most of the large retailers are now placing QR codes on their promotional materials and even in stores for product information purposes.  Customers can scan the product QR code and be instantly directed to online product reviews for the product they have right in front of them.  Now that’s instant gratification!

Here’s another idea for implementing QR codes in your business.  Rather than sending users to your own website, direct users to  your social media site(s).  Send them to your Facebook page or Twitter stream and give them the opportunity to “like” or “follow” your business and continue to receive updates about your business.  It’s now even possible to encode a QR code to automatically “like” a Facebook page without the user having to do anything else.

QR codes can be much more than a boring marketing measurement metric.  Savvy business owners can implement QR codes in scavenger hunts and other games.  In a nutshell, the scavenger hunt organizer places a series of printed QR codes throughout a physical space (perhaps a store setting) and offers participants prizes – either digital or physical – for finding each QR code.  Even if it doesn’t directly generate any revenue, it can get potential customers engaged with your business.

Where to Create Your FREE QR Code 

So if you’re sold on the idea of implementing QR codes in your business then your next question is probably “How do I create a free QR code?”  Here are some of the more popular QR code generators.  Try a couple out and see which platform is more intuitive and easy for you to use.

•Esponce.co

•Keremerkan.net

•BeQRious.com

•QRickit.com

•myqr.co

Some of these sites offer custom QR code designs that add colors and graphics to the codes themselves to make them more brand able   Not all QR code generators support the same types of information, so keep looking if you don’t immediately see what you need.  You can track real-time performance of the QR codes on a number of these sites, but it may require a small monthly fee.

Setting up your QR code is pretty straight forward. Just enter your website URL, phone number, email address, text message, or even a Facebook or Twitter profile that you would like rendered in the QR code generator.  Add some color to match your site or promotional item and  download your QR code. The code can then be printed on numerous materials and added to online materials, such as websites, emails, and newsletters.

As the process of creating QR codes involves little to no investment and the codes have multiple benefits, they have become a top method for staying in touch with customers and potential customers.  So try a QR code in your next promotion!