QR Codes for Small Business

[Martin Brossman]

Just putting a QR code on printed material may look cool but sometimes is not very useful.

Several key things I recommend with QR codes are:

-First, make sure the place you are sending them is well worth them taking their smartphone out, finding their barcode scanner or QR codes app, then lining up their phone to scan the code and trusting you will take them to a useful place.

- Next, make sure you are telling them where they will be taken on their phone or tablet when they scan the code.

- Last, make sure the place you are sending them is mobile friendly. That means you don’t have to expand the page to see it. What’s nice with YouTube, if it’s set up right, is that it’s mobile-ready for all platforms.

Below is an example of a nice flyer but the QR code does not tell me where I am going or why I should scan the code. Next you will see how the QR code took me to a not mobile-friendly site. It is a very nice website but not easy to use on my smart phone.

Learn more about Martin Brossman the author at: http://ProNetworkingOnLine.com and sign up for the once-a-month business tips at http://bit.ly/martinsemaillist.
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[Gaynor Fries, 919 Director]

I love the image of the QR Code on the billboard... Epic Fail. This is great information, Martin.

[Martin Brossman]

About the Billboard was looking for one of those and it was hard enough to get a photo of it driving. How would you ever scan it while driving, am I supposed to drive with my knees so I can scan this QR Code at 65 mph? ;)

[Stacey Shanahan ~ Community Mgr.]

Martin, talk about perfect timing. I've just been looking into getting a QR code. It's amazing the QR Code on the flyer is to a site that is not mobile optimized. Martin, do you have any suggestions on who to use for creating a QR Code. Thanks for sharing! ~S

[Martin Brossman]

Stacey, I let them know and they are going to contact their web/marketing people. The key to making them is that they are not too complicated and make sure they work. Here is a free site to use, there are many: http://www.qrstuff.com/

[Stacey Shanahan ~ Community Mgr.]

Thanks Martin for the link :)

[Teresa Robinson]

Good tips, Martin. Do you think it's worth paying for a "fancy" QRCode? You know - the ones with color or some sort of identifiable design within? Or does a plain, free one do the job? I've been reading some articles that give a few more tips for qrcodes as well, such as: Don't have a qrcode that rounds off all of it's corners and also make sure that if you use colors, they are still high contrast so the phone can pick up the pattern.

[Martin Brossman]

Thanks Teresa. I don't for most cases. The key is the quality of the content that is worth they time to scan.

[Darlene Diamond Stibb]

Good info on the QR Codes, Martin. I guess we need a ‘binoculized’ smart phone for that sign ;-)