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Everything You Need to Know About QR Codes

Date: 16 Mar 2011
By: Jim Goldstein
Tag: , ,
Comment: 20

Ever see an odd pixelated square graphic like this one on a web page, print magazine or as someone’s social media site avatar? If you haven’t yet I guarantee you will now. This type of graphic is called a QR Code and something you’ll want to take note of and to creatively use in the future.

What is a QR Code & Why Use It?
QR stands for Quick Response and essentially are bar codes, a different variation to what you find on grocery labels in the store. In essence QR codes are a visual representation of a web URL. They’re used in print and on web pages to help people load a web page from their camera enabled mobile phone.  This is particularly helpful to transition viewers quickly from the world of print to the web.

How Does One Use A QR Code?
The simplest use-case of utilizing a QR code is as follows:

  1. Viewer sees a QR Code on a print ad or a web page
  2. Viewer loads a QR Code scanning application on your mobile phone
  3. Viewer photographs the QR Code with your mobile phone
  4. The QR Code scanning application then provides the viewer with a URL and the option to load it on your phone’s web browser.

The aforementioned use case is the basic way to use a QR code, but there are many creative applications in using a QR Code. Case in point is the C.A.O.S Living book (see below) where QR Codes were used to create a book that never grows old. There are several interesting ways to use QR Codes as they can be included on business cards, online avatars, promotional mailers, guerrilla marketing, tattoos…. OK maybe you shouldn’t use it as a tattoo. Recently I made use of a WordPress plug-in that auto generates QR codes for every blog post on my blog. If you look on the right side of my blog I now have a section titled “QR Code To Go”. The purpose of this is to allow people to transition reading my blog from their computer to their phone if they’re on the go and need to be mobile.

As for what QR Code app to use… there are numerous QR Code readers now available in the iTunes and Android marketplaces. Take a look to find one that will work on your phone. It’s a great app to have on hand.

How Do I Make A QR Code?
The simplest way to create a QR Code is to access one of the many online QR Code generator web sites now available. I personally use the Kaywa QR Code generator. From this site and equivalents you can enter a URL and download an image file of your QR Code in various sizes. You can then use the image as you see fit to direct people to the URL entered into the generator.

Final Thoughts
QR Codes are definitely growing in popularity and they’re worth exploring if you haven’t already begun to do so. They’re big in Japan and they’re growing in popularity across the globe. If you come up with a creative use of a QR Code or know of a great example be sure to let me know in the comments. It’d be great to share some inspirational uses with others. If QR Codes are new to you then definitely take a look at the videos and resource links below.

Demo Videos
How QR Codes Work – Scanning QR Codes Found on NY Streets

Timeless Book Video

Additional Resources & Reading on QR Codes

Who’s Scanning QR Codes (via Jumpscan & Mashable)

[tags]photography, marketing, qr code[/tags]

  1. YouScan.me March 16, 2011 at 9:08 am

    Hello,

    we believe that QR codes will make the connection between offline and online worlds easier. That’s why we created our QR code generator with social features – YouScan.me – http://www.youscan.me. You can add all your info like Facebook profile or fan page, twitter, youtube, etc. and connect with others.

    Cheers

  2. YouScan.me March 16, 2011 at 9:08 am

    Hello,

    we believe that QR codes will make the connection between offline and online worlds easier. That’s why we created our QR code generator with social features – YouScan.me – http://www.youscan.me. You can add all your info like Facebook profile or fan page, twitter, youtube, etc. and connect with others.

    Cheers

  3. Andre Maltais March 16, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    Well, this was well timed! I was thinking about this on my way to work today. Wanted to add a QR code to some advertising. Now I have it all in one handy place!

  4. Anonymous March 16, 2011 at 5:59 pm

    Glad to hear my write up is well timed for you Andre. Let me know how you end up employing it. Happy to talk offline if that makes better sense.

  5. Mark March 16, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Very informative Jim! I had basic ideas of what these things are popping up everywhere, and knew they involved scanning them with your phone. But your post now has me thinking about applications for It. Thanks for the primer.

  6. Anonymous March 16, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    Apparently there is an art gallery at the Google complex (Googleplex) here in the bay area that has cards next to each piece of work with only a QR Code. Interesting idea. I found out about this from a reader of my blog offline. As they say the future is now.

  7. Andre Maltais March 16, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    I think I’m going to use them to “rickroll” people … lol. I was thinking of adding them to the back of business cards, either for the site url or or for a v-card type application.

  8. Sthephanie March 17, 2011 at 2:07 am

    This is maybe one of the best, or creative uses I have seen of the QR code! http://mashable.com/2011/02/18/jimmy-fallon-qr-code/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 I loved it cause it is usual that they show the album, so if they show a code everyone starts asking what is that and how does it work, awesome!

  9. Trevor Current March 17, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    I have a QR code on the back of my business card and it has worked out great. People always ask “What it that?” or say “Oh I’ve seen these things before”. It’s always a conversation starter. I simply say you can scan the code with your Smart Phone to get more information. My code actually take visitors to a signup form on my website to get photography marketing, promotion and sales tips sent to them for free.

    I’ve been able to let people know about my tips and build a mailing list at the same time. I definitely recommend adding a QR code to your business card and other marketing materials.

  10. YouScan.me March 18, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Hello,

    we believe that QR codes will make the connection between offline and online worlds easier. That’s why we created our QR code generator with social features – YouScan.me – http://www.youscan.me. You can add all your info like Facebook profile or fan page, twitter, youtube, etc. and connect with others.

    Cheers

  11. QRNot.es March 19, 2011 at 9:39 am

    here is a new qr codegenerator – http://qrnot.es – easily create a web page with text, images and social features (facebook like and twitter share) and to attach a QR code to it, so whoever scans the code gets a link to your page created by qrnot.es.

  12. QRNot.es March 19, 2011 at 9:39 am

    oops..submitted it twice..sorry

  13. Jwallphoto March 20, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Jim, is there any danger in picking up random QR codes? Is it akin to opening a hacker’s web link?

  14. Anonymous March 20, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    John that is a really good question. By and large since QR codes in print are tied to a trusted or recognized person, company, etc. the risk is minimal to none for this. Of course on the web it might be possible that someone could hack a site and change graphics, but its unlikely and I’ve yet to hear of anything like this happening. Anything is possible, but I wouldn’t let fear of that happening keep you from using QR codes. One important aspect of QR Codes is that QR Code readers don’t take you to a web site immediately they give you preview info about the site, url, etc. This would alert you to any possible problems. Thanks for reading and asking the question.

  15. Tyler Coffin March 21, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    2011 is going to be the year of the QR Code for marketers. Next time you create a QR Code, try http://www.SocialQRCode.com. It is designed for businesses to generate QR Codes and mobile landing pages for their businesses social properties. Create a landing page with a Facebook “Like” button or Twitter “Follow” button. Users can also create a mobile coupon that is sharable on Facebook and Twitter!

  16. Kristina May 5, 2011 at 1:09 am

    Are QR codes re-usable? For instance, I order a QR code for my business card that leads to a personal profile site. I then decide I no longer want to use it this way and instead I want to use it on my website to lead customers to another URL site. Can I reuse an old QR code simply by changing the URL?

  17. Osunadesign May 24, 2011 at 5:56 pm

    I recently created a qrcode and it worked fine. After test driving a couple of QR Code generators, including a couple I downloaded onto my Droid (ie. QR Droid and ScanLife) my URL incorrectly defaults from http://www.osunadesign.com to http://www.m.osunadesign. With a message saying the web site is unavailable??? Is the insertion of the “m” into my URL when trying to read a QR stand for mobile?? How do I fix this.

  18. enterprise coupon June 19, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    this article really helps
    to me,thank u

  19. QRCDESIGNER November 9, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    check out these Extreme QR Codes with big logos: http://qrc-designer.com/?p=gallery

  20. P-Adrien Mongin April 17, 2012 at 7:20 am

    Hello!!

    Sorry for english people, I’ll speak french because I’m very bad in english… ;-(

    J’ai lu un article très intéressant sur MKT blog qui laissait penser que les QR Codes étaient morts ou qu’ils allaient en tout cas être très fortement concurrencés par d’autres alternatives telles que la réalité augmentée, la technologie NFC, ou encore le scan de produits (plus besoin de codes)…

    Je vous laisse donc le lien de l’article : http://blog.mktlines.com/est-ce-vraiment-la-fin-des-qr-codes/.

    A++

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