Lately everybody is talking about QR codes. Right here in Denver we are starting to see them everywhere. I’ve started seeing them in magazines and newspapers, on business cards and billboards, even on t-shirts…the applications are virtually endless. Have you seen a recent issue of Colorado Music Buzz?? You will notice that almost every ad in this local Denver publication now has an associated QR code. So if you and your smart phone are sitting at your neighborhood eatery for lunch, reading your local tabloid, and you see something interesting, do a quick scan with your smart phone and the associated website will immediately pop up. No more typing in long URLs. A local Denver venue is now using QR code technologies for a contest voting application. Get your customers involved – now that’s interactive technology at its finest! But wait, lets back up for a moment and learn a bit about the QR code AKA (Quick Response Code).
The 2-dimensional matrix QR Code was initially developed by Toyota subsidiary, Denso Wave, to track parts in their vehicle manufacturing plants. Now QR codes are being used for marketing and advertising purposes to drive traffic to websites and provide customers with immediate response marketing. This smart phone scanner-friendly hardlink code, consisting of black modules arranged in a square pattern with a black background, can be used to display text, coupons, connect to a wireless network, or open a website. In Japan, you can walk up to a soda machine and scan the QR code with your smart phone – your soda will pop out and $1 will be charged to your phone bill. I’m sure your brain is just spinning right now thinking about the different applications for this technology in your business.
Smart Phone Penetration is currently estimated at about 25% and growing exponentially. Most smart phones now come loaded with a QR code scanner. The scanner uses the phone’s camera technology. If your smart phone does not have a scanner, there are free apps to download for pretty much any smart phone including, but not limited to, Droid, Blackberry, Iphone and Palm. If your phone does not have a camera….its probably time for a new phone!
So now you may be asking yourself…Where can I get a QR code for my business? I would be happy to help you generate a QR code , set it up, and help brainstorm creative ideas for you and your business to start utilizing this technology immediately. If you want explore the swath of QR code options like GPS-enabled location hit tracking, immediate response marketing SMS messages specifically targeted to your situation, or handset identification, there are a few local Denver providers that can hook you up and allow you access to the new generation of smart phone technologies and the people who use them. Give me a holler if you want to find out more about the options for using this technology for your business.