So you have all heard about the idea about saving trees. Go Green Blah Blah. Well in 2010 these QR (Quick Recognition) Codes are becoming more common at local businesses. Seems like we can Save Time, Paper and typing on a tiny screen with QR Codes what’s not to like.
So let’s take a look into QR codes. Let’s first talk about what a QR code does. A QR code is a square image with different dots throughout. These dots or pixels represent the data contained in a QR code. So in theory you could put almost any information into a QR code. From something as simple as a link to a Web site like CentralPennSEO.com or to something like your entire business card.
So now that you have a better idea of what a QR code can do, how do you think it might affect your Small Business or in your personal life? Well for starters it would give your real time data about the vendors store. It will give people the ability to read someones web content instantly, read Reviews on their establishment in almost real time. At the this years Business Conferences and Trade shows they had many participants use QR codes in place of business cards and it seemed to be well received.
So now you may be asking yourself how we are going to read these new QR Codes because as we all know to read a barcode you need a special piece of equipment.
Well QR codes can be read with a combination of your Smartphone and the right app. If you have a camera on your phone and you download the right app you can use your camera like a scanner and import the data found in the Quick Recognition Code. So if you scan a QR code that contains some ones business contact information you can then use the app to export that information to your contacts list or email list.
So how could you use this New technology in your Pennsylvania Business? You could use this as a way to promote your business. Not only can you scan printed QR codes you can also download them off of internet sites. So if you want to advertise a specific web link you could put into a QR code and not have to make your user try and read a lengthy web URL on his Smart phone .
Sounds good so far right? Well not so fast there are some downsides. When you put more information into a QR code it puts more pixels in the square and intern the camera on the phone has to be used either slower or has to be at a higher resolution in order to extrapolate the information correctly. So there are some limits to what it will allow you to do at this point.
As of lately the Japanese have mainstreamed the use of Quick Recognition Codes the U.S. is seeing them used by the Alpha geek more than the common person, and even some of them are still skeptical.
So where might these codes be implemented in your smartphone use? Well it has been said that Facebook and Google are experimenting with them at this point. Imagine being able to follow someone or something on facebook without having to ever visit page. Also they have been putting up QR codes in the windows of business that are on Google so you can reach their online page without having to navigate the web on the small screen so much.
So how hard is it to make a QR code? Well it’s like everything else you need to find a website or an app that will let you make the code. Here’s a link I was playing around with earlier today http://createqrcode.appspot.com/ it looks simple enough to create these codes. Check out the example below.
Quick Recognition Code
In my opinion I really think these QR Codes are a very cool tool to use in Search Marketing. We will begin working with QR codes more this summer and look forward to sharing our results with you. Thanks for Reading the Central Penn SEO blog!!
