An Introduction to QR Codes: What They are and How They can Improve Your Marketing Effort

by Ranger Kidwell-Ross

QR Codes allow smartphone and tablet computer users to access information more easily. Embedding them in your promotional materials is just another way to make it easier for prospects to visit your website or download your contact information. Scanning codes from companies you want to know more about allows you to quickly get their information onto your own smartphone.

QR Codes have been a hit in Japan for several years and also have a large user base in the United Kingdom. Now, these scan symbols are taking the U.S. by storm.

That funny-looking box to the right is actually a quick way to get to WorldSweeper.com on your smartphone, iPad, or other tablet device set up to be able to read them. Because so many people are now using the free QR Code Reader software to enable their smart devices to read QR Codes, it’s time to get them embedded onto your website, business cards, brochures and other marketing materials.

You’re reading a magazine in your doctor’s office waiting room. On one of the pages, you spot an ad with information you’d like to remember. Do you:

• A) tear out the page
• B) write down the company’s phone number and/or web address on scrap paper
• C) hope you can remember the info after you get home
• D) other

For savvy smartphone and tablet users, the new answer is “D, other.” That’s because they’ve learned to simply scan the funny-looking square code they notice is in the ad. That puts the company’s information onto their smartphone so they can find it later.

The information embedded in the code can be something as simple as a web address or, alternatively, contain CSV card data or other information. It can even be the address of a web page designed as the landing spot for a specific ad. Because the QR Codes are so easy to generate and use, they are rapidly becoming in widespread usage for ad materials – including yellow page ads – and are even finding a place on the back of business cards.

The fact that Google has mailed out many thousands of front window stickers to businesses that have confirmed their Google Maps location – each of which contains the unique code for that businesses’ website – has also hastened along the acceptance by U.S. merchants.

Here’s more on how QR Code scanning works and what you can do with it:
Make sure your phone can scan a QR code with its camera; otherwise you can do so either with an application that you download or via software that’s already installed on your phone. If you point your smartphone camera at a QR code and don’t see a website location come up, to find out what application to use for your phone do a Google search for the model of your phone along with “QR reader.”

When you see a QR code, use your phone’s camera application to scan it. Some time ago, Google sent individual QR codes to thousands of U.S. businesses on window decals. When someone scans it, they are quickly be taken to that business’ mobile Place Page on Google, where they can:

• Read reviews to see what other users think about the business
• Find an offer that the business has posted to their Place Page
• Star the business to remember to check it out later, or to remember to visit again
• Leave a review right after you leave the business.

If you want to try scanning a QR Code right now, do so with the ones on the page. You will find that the code at the top transmits the URL for the WorldSweeper.com website. The one to the right is for the World Sweeping Association’s website, but using a feature of the QR code generator what you’ll see is a shortened URL that will re-direct to the WSA website. The two codes you see on this page were generated for free at https://www.qrstuff.com.

Many people are now using smartphones and tablet devices as their primary method of accessing the internet. Embedding QR Codes in your literature is a way to make it easier for prospects to access your website, quickly see your contact information or whatever else you might think to use it for.

For example, let’s say you offer a number of services in addition to sweeping, and that you have a web page that explains all of them. You might put a QR code on the back of your business card for that page as well as a list of the services along with instructions to scan the code to see complete details about your many other services.

A good article to read in order to learn more is “QR Codes 101: A Beginner’s Guide.”

When used correctly, QR Codes are just another way to make it easier for prospects to find out more about your company. Using them now, in the relatively early stages of their use, also positions you as a company that is ahead of the curve.

This information was compiled by Ranger Kidwell-Ross, executive director of WSA and editor of the affiliated WorldSweeper.com website. You may reach him by calling (866) 635-2205 or via email sent to: info@worldsweepingpros.org.

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