Everyone has seen QR codes all over at this point. Did you know that they are not new?
The QR (quick response) code was developed in 1994 by a Japanese manufacturing company to track auto parts and became popular in Japan in 2002 for public uses. While the company that developed the code retained the patent rights to it they made it freely available to the public to use.
I’m thrilled to see lots of new ways people are using them today.
Did you know that a QR code can do one of 5 different things?
- Direct you to a specific web address
- Provide you with contact information
- Send a text
- Send an email
- Contain text
Most folks know that a QR code is to get more information. Frequently you get a video when you scan a code. That’s still a case of being sent to a website. You can do anything with this that you can do with a web page. Kinda cool, really.
I tell clients to put a secret page on their site, one that isn’t linked into from the actual site, that gets accessed by a QR code on their business card. They can set the page up to do just about anything and can change it any time they want. They can put in a video, or a coupon, or their latest special, or just a simple introduction. Using analytics they can find out how well the business card is performing.
Including your contact information is a very cool way for folks not to have to manually enter you into their contacts list. The biggest problem with this is believing you no longer need a printed business card, which is far from the truth. By all means, add this code to the back of your card to make it easier for folks. But don’t give up that wonderful opportunity for a visual first impression for your company.
Sending a text or email is kinda cool. You get to compose the message for the viewer to send to you. Or anyone, really. I have a current client that prefers to be contacted via text so we’re putting graphics on his van with a QR code that will text him a simple message asking for information. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
The plain text option is the one that intrigues me. I had heard you can include like 1700 characters. That’s a short story! I admit to trying this only once. I sent my friend a QR code that was the letter I’d written. She was confused and called to find out what it was about. So I told her to use her QR reader. She was amazed!
Some day I’m going to find the opportunity to use QR codes for a treasure hunt. Just gotta find the right set of vendors.
Let me know if you’ve found a truly unusual use of QR codes.