What is a QR Code?

A QR Code is a 2D barcode (designed to be read by Smartphones at high speed) that contains encoded information such as a phone number, a web address or other data. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. Post a QR Code on an item (or a poster, business card, brochure) that you want a viewer to be able to find more information about. The viewer will scan it with their phone and the intended information will be displayed on their Smartphone: a webpage, a video, or information to be stored in the contact list. You could, for example, put a QR Code in your restaurant window, so that when you are closed, a scan of the QR code would take the viewer straight to the reservations tool on your website. Provide details about upcoming sales or events at your book store or a draw for a free weekend at your resort.  Don’t forget to ensure that the page you take your viewer to is mobile-ready!

How Do You Scan a QR Code?

To work with QR Codes you will need:

• A mobile phone with a camera and Internet connectivity
• A QR code reader

Most Smartphones have a pre-installed QR Code reader. If a QR Code reader is installed on your Smartphone you’ll see it in your preloaded apps. If you don’t have one you’ll need to download and install the app. Click here for a variety of apps »

Note: Because some readers work only on Android or iPhone, you’ll have to check on the compatibility of the reader you choose.

After you have your reader installed, fire it up and take a photo of a QR code with your mobile phone, ensuring that the entire QR code is in the image.  Depending on your QR Reader software, it may take up thirty seconds to decode the information and to display the information or website the QR code contains.

Note: Because you are feeding information directly into your phone, remember to be cautious!  ALWAYS consider the source and whether or not it can be trusted.

QR Codes Are Everywhere

Once a QR code is scanned, it can take you directly to a website, launch a related YouTube video, add a name to your contacts list or download an MP3 or other content to your phone. QR Codes are an incredibly versatile and cost effective technology. Anyone can generate a QR Code! Use it in a newspaper ad, on an event poster, a webpage or a flyer.

Use QR Codes to entice customers to view your website, blog, business or social media profile, website or mobile site pages, among others. Many businesses are printing QR Codes onto their business cards – what a great way to get your information into a potential customer’s Smartphone!

Why QR codes are going to be big!

• QR Codes are being used world-wide and are made specifically for mobile devices. In most countries, as in Canada, people are accessing the Internet via Smartphones faster than any other form of mobile device – it’s a market just waiting to be tapped!
• QR Codes are FREE to generate and to use. You can easily get your own QR code and embed these to your promotional materials, business cards, company letterheads and merchandise. What's more, it is easier to deploy QR code strategies and measure their effectiveness than traditional  marketing and Internet marketing combined.
• You are not limited in terms of length, size and space. In traditional advertising you pay for limited amounts of airtime, advertising space or columns inches. By using a QR code in your ad, the amount of information you can include is literally without limit.
• Mobile device use in on the rise. Since the advent of wireless connectivity, global mobile data traffic has steadily increased – an upward trend since the iPhone was introduced in 2007.