Jean-Marie Bonthous
What are QR codes?
QR codes consist of black modules arranged in square patterns on a white background. “QR” stands for quick response: the contents can be decoded at high speed. QR codes have been around since 1994, but have until now been used mostly for industrial applications. Their usefulness in marketing is starting understood.
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|Illustration courtesy of PetaHopkins, |
|via Flickr Creative Commons |
Why are QR codes valuable for marketing?
The marketing potential of QR codes lies in the fact that they are open source, free to generate and have a hyper linking capability. You can generate and print your own QR codes for free, for others to scan, by visiting one of several sites that generate QR codes. QR codes can connect a person equipped with a camera phone and the right reader software to not just text or contact information, but also to email, IM, SMS, a web site, or a wireless phone number.
How much information do they hold?
QR codes can include up to 7,100 characters of numeric code, 4,300 alphanumeric characters, or 3,000 binary (8 bits) units.
How easy is it to create a QR code?
Very easy. You enter the information into one of the many free QR codes generators, the entire process takes just a few minutes.
How are QR codes used in marketing?
You can now see them on billboards, in-store displays, business cards, event ticketing and tracking, trade-show and conference management, print ads, contests, direct marketing campaigns, coupons, restaurant menus, sides of trucks, point-of-sale receipts, products tags and packaging, and more and more.
5 reasons to use QR codes for content marketing or inbound marketing
1 – QR codes bridge the gap between offline and online media
They can be easily added to offline media: business cards, flyers,