What are QR Codes

Easy data collection

What Are QR codes?
They look like this:
(Try scanning this one if you have a smartphone. You'll need to download the QR Code App, maybe Scanlife for Android)

Scan this for a message from me

They come to us from Japan where they are very common. QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a cell phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your cell phone. You may soon see QR Codes in a magazine advert, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is in your cell phone, it may give you details about that business (allowing users to search for nearby locations), or details about the person wearing the t-shirt, show you a URL which you can click to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give you a coupon which you can use in a local outlet.

The reason why they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, including url links, geo coordinates, and text. The other key feature of QR Codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand-held scanner to scan them, many modern cell phones can scan them. 

How does the cell phone read the code?
The cell phone needs a QR code reader app such as Scanlife Barcode and QR code reader. It takes literally 1 minute for someone with an iPhone or Android phone to find and install the reader.

How do you generate a code?
You can easily generate a QR code using a site like Mobile Barcodes 

How can you use QR codes to benefit search marketing?
In real estate they can contain a URL that takes a smartphone directly to photos of the property, or they can get your complete contact details in their phone directly in seconds. Try scanning the QR code above - I have loaded my details in there. Simply type in the url details and generate the file which you can upload directly onto your sign, or business card.

Tim Beere

Download QR Code Generator

I have just discovered this cool little Zint QR Code generator App. It can generate barcodes as well as QR Codes. Choose QR Code on the Symbology dropdown menu and then type in you URL or your contact details. Simple.