What Are QR Codes? How Do You Use Them?

During the life span of print media getting consumers to a business website has always been tricky. In the past, the best way to get consumers to a business website from print media has been to provide on page incetives such as promotional discounts, offers and guides. There has always been the problem however of how readers get to that website, especially considering they might not remember the domain name for any particular promotion. Enter QR codes then, which are alien looking black and white boxes which promise to take you to a website directly through your smartphone or tablet.

What are QR Codes?

In it’s technical terms, QR stands for ‘Quick Response’, and the black and white box just below here is one such as example of a QR Code. The code itself is a two dimensional square pattern which makes use of two modules on a white background to create data, which once ‘scanned’ converts to a URL.

How to use a QR Code?

QR Codes are absolutely everywhere you look, and to try one out, all you need is a smartphone or tablet computer with a camera which takes images. Then, all you need is an app which allows you to scan them (a little bit like a laser supermarket scanner). There are numerous free QR Code scanners available on Apple’s app store, the Android Market and more dependent upon your device.

Are they worth having?

If you are a business or even blog owner who passes out business cards or brochures, then QR codes are a fantastic way to generate leads especially considering the latest generation of business folk who use their smartphone’s and tablets to perform daily tasks.

How to get a QR Code?

You can get a QR Code in a few ways however this one is my favorites; go over to http://is.gd and enter the URL you would like as a QR Code. After you have clicked ‘shorten’ you will get an option to get the link as a QR Code. It really is as simple as that and once generated just right click the image and copy it / save it.

Can you show me some QR Code action?

Sure thing! Check out the video below to see a real world scenario with a QR Code and a smartphone. As you can see, QR Codes enable users to quickly access websites without having to type in to their mobile browser long domain names, which quite frankly smartphone users almost never do.