By Guest Blogger Doug Turner of Turner Custom Furniture
If you start looking for them, you’ll find QR codes everywhere these days, and for good reason: they are a really easy way for tech savvy smart phone users to get information quickly about brands, products and services. And believe it or not, they are free and very easy to create. I’ll post a link at the end of this article to a free QR code generator.
The image above is a QR code. To use it, you’ll need a phone or device (I-pad etc) capable of downloading and using apps. Search for “QR code reader” on any smart phone or device, and install it. There are many QR code readers, and they all work in slightly different ways. A scan of the image above will bring up my profile on CustomMade.com.
QR codes can be used for many purposes, such as:
- Linking to a website or single page
- Linking to a YouTube video (“Scan this code to see a video of me carving a ball and claw foot.”)
- Linking to a FaceBook profile
- Linking to contact information (and automatically dialing phone numbers)
- Instantly displaying a message (plain text)
- Generating locations using Google maps (“scan this code for a map to my studio.”)
Creative uses for QR codes abound. Here are a few:
- Place one on the back of your business card so that potential customers can take a look at your website without typing the address.
- Place a QR code on an information card next to one of your products in a gallery or at a craft show, linking to a video of you making one.
- Set up a series of micro sites (micro sites are small, often single page websites which promote one item, such as a specific model of car), create 4”x6” cards, and place QR codes on them linking to your various micro sites. Micro sites are often used to very specifically target an audience – you may place an ad for a bookcase micro-site on a bookstore bulletin board, for example.
- Create a QR code linking to driving directions to your open house event.
- If your products are for kids, try making a series of QR codes linking to plain text messages kids use to figure out clues in a simple mystery game, centered around your product. Yes, kids know how to use smart phones, and games are a great way to engage them in an examination of your products.
- Print a QR code on your car or truck. Print one on your t-shirt. Stamp one on your forehead.
- Print them on a sheet of sticker paper and stick them (most) anywhere.
- Print one on the label of your food products linking to detailed nutrition information.
- Print a QR code linking to information on how Green your products are.
- Place one on your website contact page to dial your phone number or bring up your email address (yes, they work on computer screens).
These are just a few ideas. I’m sure you can think of many more, but the point is, get creative. Here’s a free and easy QR code generator:
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