While promotions with QR codes are still relatively new here in the United States, they have been being used overseas in Japan (thank the Japanese for their technological advances!) for over a decade. While QR (quick response) codes are trademarked by a subsidiary in Japan, they have not exercised their patent rights over the QR codes because they believe they should be encouraged for promoting businesses in this day and age where “everyone has a cell phone.” And boy, were they right! QR codes are much like barcodes, in the fact that they are small, 2 dimensional, and store tons of information. QR codes are even better than traditional barcodes because they store even more valuable information. QR codes can be used on iPhones, Android powered phones, pretty much any smartphone with a camera on it.
The camera takes a picture of the code, and it then follows a link to content on the web, or it can activate different functions on the phone that took the picture, such as email, IM, SMS, or the web browser. Businesses have figured out how promotions with qr codes are turning out to be very lucrative for their companies. By putting the codes on the backs of business cards, brochures, packaging, even receipts, the customer is able to take a photo of the code and it automatically links them to more promotions from the company. Living in this technological age, qr codes are probably one of the best ways for businesses to promote themselves. Some businesses and companies have gone as far as placing enormous qr codes on the sides of their buildings, huge codes on sides of semi trucks and trailers, and smaller codes on name tags and ticket stubs at company gatherings and events. Many businesses use their promotions with QR codes to link their users to installation instructions, free mp3 and music downloads, customer feedback forums, and directions to their storefront.
While barcodes could only use about 20 numerical characters as a link and were only one dimension, QR codes are two dimensional and can hold thousands of alphabetical and numerical characters of information, linking the user to exactly where they needed to be headed to. In order to make the best promotions available to the users, businesses should experiment with the size, location, and color of their newly obtained qr codes. Some airlines are using qr codes as digital boarding passes, and getting rid of paper passes altogether, and some online maps are using qr codes as a direct link to the area from the specific gps location of the user. There are a few things to think about before using promotions with qr codes, of course, as in any business decision. What age group will be using this product most? How can this be made available to everyone in the clientele? And also, if the owners are unable to use the qr codes, how can the public be expected to? By learning the ropes of the promotions with qr codes, their benefits, and how they will help expand business, this day and age will make every business reachable by any and every smartphone, by taking a quick picture.