Does anyone use a QR Code for their business??

[Merchant UK]

QR Codes are phone scannable "Quick Response" codes which have started to appear load in newspaper ads, Invoices and the such you can make your own "QR" codes to direct customers to your website, email address, specific Urls, even a google map

On my website i have it pointing to a googlemap so my customers can get to me more easily, On my invoices use one to point to my website

Does anyone else have any interesting ideas what you can do with a QR Code heres some i know of.......

Text
Website URL
Telephone Number
SMS Message
Email Address
Email Message
Contact Details (VCARD)
Event (VCALENDAR)
Google Maps Location
Wifi Login (Android Only)
Paypal Buy Now Link
Social Media

iTunes Link
YouTube Video

To make your own, you can use a number of QR Generators out there my Favorite is http://www.qrstuff.com/

 

[chrisbarnes86]

Just had a read on that link. Seems pretty good actually and there could be quite a lot of uses. I wonder how many people would be aware of them, what they are, and how to read them though.

 

[Merchant UK]

Just had a read on that link. Seems pretty good actually and there could be quite a lot of uses. I wonder how many people would be aware of them, what they are, and how to read them though.

Well with more and more of them being added in adverts and newspapers it won't be long before everyone uses their phone to scan them.

Unlike Barcodes, end users can make their own for their own business without expensive software or scanning equipment. Normally anyone with a smart phone can downlaod a free GR Scanner app

Early days but i can see this taking off in a big way

 

[Jeff FV]

I've had an idea knocking around in my head - half of me thinks I should keep it to myself as it might have 'commercial legs', but the other half of me thinks that I'll probably never get round to developing the idea commercially, so why keep the idea to myself.

So anyway, here it is!

In my 'day job' as a teacher I reckon that QR codes could be used as revision aids etc.: Make up short piece about, say, pythagoras theorem or the 6 wives of Henry VIII or how an Oxbow lake is formed, turn it into a QR code, print it out* and put them up around the school. Pupils would be intrigued to know what the QR code said, decode them, and read a little snippet of revision: trick them into learning!

Move them around the school, include some jokes etc. so they're always changing and pupils want to read them and watch the school climb those league tables!

Jeff

*This is were you could make some money from these - print a set as professional posters and sell them to schools.

 

[chrisbarnes86]

Well with more and more of them being added in adverts and newspapers it won't be long before everyone uses their phone to scan them.

Unlike Barcodes, end users can make their own for their own business without expensive software or scanning equipment. Normally anyone with a smart phone can downlaod a free GR Scanner app

Early days but i can see this taking off in a big way

I have seen them around a lot more recently and always wondered what they are. I agree though, I think it could take off in the near future as people become more aware. Downloaded an app on my iPhone that can create and read them. I have been thinking about new double sided business cards so maybe something could be included in the corner of one page if I could think of something different.

 

[BusinessM8]

I've had an idea knocking around in my head - half of me thinks I should keep it to myself as it might have 'commercial legs', but the other half of me thinks that I'll probably never get round to developing the idea commercially, so why keep the idea to myself.

So anyway, here it is!

In my 'day job' as a teacher I reckon that QR codes could be used as revision aids etc.: Make up short piece about, say, pythagoras theorem or the 6 wives of Henry VIII or how an Oxbow lake is formed, turn it into a QR code, print it out* and put them up around the school. Pupils would be intrigued to know what the QR code said, decode them, and read a little snippet of revision: trick them into learning!

Move them around the school, include some jokes etc. so they're always changing and pupils want to read them and watch the school climb those league tables!

Jeff

*This is were you could make some money from these - print a set as professional posters and sell them to schools.

HI Jeff,

What a great idea! I'm married to a Head of Modern Languages and used to be a Teacher (of Chemistry) too (a couple of lives ago).

If you'd like to look at taking the idea forward I'd be happy to discuss working with you to refine the concept and take it to market? (Be interesting to see how much competition we find!)

All the best

Tim

 

[Merchant UK]

I guess another idea would be to print out your Qr codes with your name and address and contact details and place them inside your electronics, TV, DVD, PC's etc..

If they get stolen then you'll be able to prove whats yours :|

Remember the Million Dollar Pixel website??? How about the 100,000 QR codes website??

How about putting a QR code on yor "For Sale" Sign when selling your Car??

 

[wecandobiz]

I guess another idea would be to print out your Qr codes with your name and address and contact details and place them inside your electronics, TV, DVD, PC's etc..

If they get stolen then you'll be able to prove whats yours :|

Remember the Million Dollar Pixel website??? How about the 100,000 QR codes website??

How about putting a QR code on yor "For Sale" Sign when selling your Car??

QR Codes aren't widely used, which is a shame as they have great potential. If smartphones came with QR readers preinstalled with the camera software it would help -- it takes away that need to go and download and install something suitable which is something that's normally easier to do when you aren't floating around and seeing QRs...

I'm having mine on my next business card.

We actually provide one for all our site members. No idea how many are using them (by the way, if you are a WeCanDo.Biz member you can find yours here).

 

[Adpod]

I've had an idea knocking around in my head - half of me thinks I should keep it to myself as it might have 'commercial legs', but the other half of me thinks that I'll probably never get round to developing the idea commercially, so why keep the idea to myself.

So anyway, here it is!

In my 'day job' as a teacher I reckon that QR codes could be used as revision aids etc.: Make up short piece about, say, pythagoras theorem or the 6 wives of Henry VIII or how an Oxbow lake is formed, turn it into a QR code, print it out* and put them up around the school. Pupils would be intrigued to know what the QR code said, decode them, and read a little snippet of revision: trick them into learning!

Move them around the school, include some jokes etc. so they're always changing and pupils want to read them and watch the school climb those league tables!

Jeff

*This is were you could make some money from these - print a set as professional posters and sell them to schools.

Its a good idea but most schools don't allow mobile phones or ipods (which are need to read them) even during break-time so I highly doubt schools would encourage kids to use their devices....

 

[Jeff FV]

Its a good idea but most schools don't allow mobile phones or ipods (which are need to read them) even during break-time so I highly doubt schools would encourage kids to use their devices....

I did think of that, and it you're right - it is, perhaps the biggest drawback to my plan.

But I don't think it needs to be a stopper - we just need to think a little lateraly about were we post the QR codes. Maybe we stick them in teh pupils books and they have to decode them for their homework? Just one idea. Give pupils a page of text to read and many will just ignore it - make them take an active part in the process (de-coding a QR code) and they get a bit of ownership and might be more likely to read the contents.

Jeff

 

[Jeff FV]

HI Jeff,

What a great idea! I'm married to a Head of Modern Languages and used to be a Teacher (of Chemistry) too (a couple of lives ago).

If you'd like to look at taking the idea forward I'd be happy to discuss working with you to refine the concept and take it to market? (Be interesting to see how much competition we find!)

All the best

Tim

Be delighted to - just need to find the time ...!

Jeff

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

I have to disagree about the usefulness of QR codes and I have to say they have a very limited shelf life in marketing.

There are apps out there now that can recognise and read the printed word. Take for example the app that lets you point your phone at a foreign menu and translates it real time for you.

So rather than print a web address for us humans to read and remember and a QR code for a computer read, potentially the advertiser only needs to print the web address in written text. Best of both worlds.

Dont get me wrong, it still has its uses but in marketing etc its shelf life is coming to end already

 

[Adpod]

I think the problem is if I see a QR code I don't think oh lets get my phone out and see what it is, there is a QR code in the thread, how many have bothered to see what it is?

 

[Merchant UK]

I have to disagree about the usefulness of QR codes and I have to say they have a very limited shelf life in marketing.

Well they seem to be popping up in Newspapers ads almost daily?? Unlike barcodes which have a maximum of 20 characters, QR Codes can have an average 5,000 characters and so much potential.

I know people have to scan them with their phones, But with more and more people in the uk using mobiles, especially smartphones then QR codes can only get more popular.

I can't see why you say they have a limited shelf life??? :|

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

I say they have a limited life span because apps can now just as easily read and understand text as they can read QR codes. (BTW I'm only saying as far as marketing is concerned)

For instance if an advert needs to feature a web address, telephone number, facebook page and email address for us humans to read and use, what is the point of using a QR code to hold this same information just for a computer to read if a computer can read the plain text just as well. You are just wasting space with a QR code.

With current users of the QI code watch how long they use them for. Pepsi at one point put them on every product but they soon dropped it when they realised they were getting next to no visitors as a result of them.

A lot of the US marketing blogs are reporting the same thing, companies are using them because they think they should be but are dropping them when they see no benefit.

Also dont forget this is not new tech. One of the launch titles for Sony's PS2 used the tech in one of its games and that died a death years ago

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

Please note I'm only referring to marketing purposes - I know they have excellent uses else where.

1. Apps on phones can now just as easily read text as they can QR codes, so there is no need to use both. You can simply point your phone at the text you have read and it will automatically pick out things like web addresses, email addresses and phones (which is what most QR codes are used to hold). So why bother to print both?

2. It is a myth that they drive traffic to your website and a lot of the bigger marketing blogs are reporting this as well. When people see a poster they are far more inclined to try and remember a good memorable URL than they are to get their phone out and try to use a QR app. When people pick up a business care they are more inclined to type in an email address rather than get a QR app out etc.

3. As you said newspapers and other printed media are very keen to use them because it promises to keep printed media relevant. However you will find advertisers dont use them for long. Take Pepsi for instance, they own about 50 household brands and they plastered everything with QR codes. A few months later they dropped them because they were not getting any traffic from them. After all it is easier to type pepsi.com in to a browser than it is to get to a site via an app.

Try a quick survey with people you know, show them an advert that contains a web address and a QR code and see which they use.

 

[jhardy2008]

After you have your reader installed, fire up the application and snap a picture of the QR code. Make sure that your hand is steady and that you are able to include the whole code into the picture. There will be some instances when the scan would fail, do not worry, just keep on snapping.

Source: http://www.beqrious.com/show/how-it-works

 

[Edward Moss]

Are there are any real stats to see if they work.
I suspect it's a case of it everyone else is using them so we should as well.
Saw one on a billboard last week, in about 20ft up, not sure it was much use.

 

[wecandobiz]

Please note I'm only referring to marketing purposes - I know they have excellent uses else where.

When people see a poster they are far more inclined to try and remember a good memorable URL than they are to get their phone out and try to use a QR app. When people pick up a business care they are more inclined to type in an email address rather than get a QR app out etc.

As has been pointed out in previous threads on this subject though, if there is a specific page you want to drive people to then a QR Code presents this more easily than www.ourwebsite.com/bestproductconfigurator or whatever.

What are the iPhone apps that can read text, find a URL and send you to it please? I'd like to try them.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...Unlike Barcodes, end users can make their own for their own business without expensive software or scanning equipment...

A QR code IS a barcode. It's just that it's a 2D one whereas a 'regular' bar code is 1D.

You can just as easily use 1D barcodes with mobile phones etc.

I think the confusion comes from the fact that if you want to use a EAN-13 code to use with EPOS systems, then you need to register it, which involves additional expense etc.

Regards

Dotty

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

WeCanDoBiz - Here is a story on the app that you point at signs, menus etc and it instantly reads it, translates its and overlays the English text using AR. It wont be long when the tech will be adapted so when it sees and recognises a URL, you will be able to click on the URL in the picture and be taken to that page.

Yes it is ideal for directing people for a specific page, but you are still battling human nature. If people see www.ourwebsite.com/bestproductconfigurator and a QR code I bet over 90% of people will just memorise the "ourwebsite.com" part and enter your site that way, totally bypassing the QR code. If you remove the web address altogether and just leave a QR code, I suspect that less than 10% of potential visitors who see it, will actually bother to get out there phone and scan the QR code.

 

[wecandobiz]

WeCanDoBiz - Here is a story on the app that you point at signs, menus etc and it instantly reads it, translates its and overlays the English text using AR. It wont be long when the tech will be adapted so when it sees and recognises a URL, you will be able to click on the URL in the picture and be taken to that page.

Yes it is ideal for directing people for a specific page, but you are still battling human nature. If people see www.ourwebsite.com/bestproductconfigurator and a QR code I bet over 90% of people will just memorise the "ourwebsite.com" part and enter your site that way, totally bypassing the QR code. If you remove the web address altogether and just leave a QR code, I suspect that less than 10% of potential visitors who see it, will actually bother to get out there phone and scan the QR code.

OK, yes, I know of Word Lens. I had it for a brief time but deleted it as the free version didn't seem to offer much...

Google Goggles also interprets text it sees through the camera but it's far from perfect and as it's not a native iPhone app, rather an iPhone optimised website, it doesn't occur to me to ever use it.

I think we're agreeing that getting people to use whatever is the battle. I've got more excited by QR Codes, probably because I recognise them. If I just see a URL the last thing that occurs to me is to photograph it and let the tech take me there. I'd just try and remember it but then if something else distracts me it's potentially lost forever.

As an aside, Augmented Reality is potentially interesting but suffers many of the arguments you could use against QR Codes. I've had AR tools on my iPhone for a year or so, but can never be bothered to use them. I feel a fool holding my phone up and waving it around while it overlays details I wouldn't otherwise see. Very neat in concept but with practical concerns.

I'm not suggesting QR Codes are the answer, but I don't see any widely used alternatives.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

Totally agree that the tech works and its just the usability is the big stumbling block

The solution will come for both AR and QR when you can simply point your phone at something and with one click of a button you are there. The barrier of finding apps, loading apps etc is just too much for most users. When you can simply point and click it will be a whole different prospect.

That is not going to happen any time soon because it would need building in to the various operating systems, which means standards need to be set up etc.

In an ideal world you would get your phone out, switch to camera mode and any URLs, phone numbers, QR codes etc would be displayed there and then and all you would need to do is click the one you wanted.

 

[Prestige-SEO]

QR codes are great, I recently went to a networking event, and a guy had a name tag on with his QR Code on their aswell, I scanned it and I had all his data in my phone instantly, there are a must have for these events.

 

[XanderMarketing]

I think as more people begin to understand what QR codes are they will catch on and be big for a while, while they're 'the cool, new thing'.

Networking idea for them sounds great. How about estate agents using them on boards so people can download more information of a house for sell, or shops using them to make it easy for people to subscribe to their newsletter for the latest coupons...

 

[luap6363]

If any wants to have a play and get a free QR code business card , PM me

I cant paste url still,

Its quite exciting show this around at networking sessions

 

[wecandobiz]

If any wants to have a play and get a free QR code business card , PM me

I cant paste url still,

Its quite exciting show this around at networking sessions

I ordered QR Codes on our new business cards yesterday. You can see how it looks and try it here.

 

[Merchant UK]

I've yet to see them on Vans, Taxis, I guess if you saw a taxi with a QR code on, out of interest you'd probably scan it

Same on a van, Scan and go, get the website direct to your phone, Crazy idea

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

wecandobiz - Are they pointing to specific pages on your site so you can tell how many visitors come through. It would be interesting to hear how much traffic they generate.

Merchant - I've seen them on buildings etc but as you said not on vans. They may be considered a hazard tempting people to get their phones out whilst driving to snap the QR code. (Not so bad on the side of the van though)

 

[wecandobiz]

wecandobiz - Are they pointing to specific pages on your site so you can tell how many visitors come through. It would be interesting to hear how much traffic they generate.

Merchant - I've seen them on buildings etc but as you said not on vans. They may be considered a hazard tempting people to get their phones out whilst driving to snap the QR code. (Not so bad on the side of the van though)

Not at this point, no, it is just the standard profile page. I'd like to add a mobile friendly equivalent of that page which whoucl get its own URL so we could see how it was being used, but so many plans, so little time...

I was at Oxford Connections last night and got handed a business card with a QR Code on it (annoyingly, mine weren't ready in time!) and it became quite a conversation piece. In fact, as I had the QR Reader app on my iPhone quite a crowd gathered while the other guy and I demonstrated how it works! Gasps from the crowd... I think they were impressed.

Little doubt very few know about it but those who see it seem to like it. As discussed, getting them to join in is something else. I agree uptake would be much bigger if the readers were native in camera software on phones so it didn't require knowledge and a download.

 

[BusinessM8]

We've just adopted a QR code and have chosen to use one with our full contact details that are downloadable as a vCard. So far we've deployed this on our website - check it our! (link below in my signature!) - and on new pop-up banner we're using at the Taunton Sustainability Show this Sunday.

I chose QRstuff.com to generate the code on their 'free to use' account. Before I commit to their paid service I wondered if anyone has a UK based provider with a similar service that you could recommend?

All the best

Tim

 

[reggiemental]

We're finding interest in QR codes is gaining and quite a few are now having them printed on their business cards. The reverse of the card is a perfect slot for this.

A couple more possible uses here: http://www.castleprint.co.uk/business-cards-QR-codes.html

 

[Merchant UK]

Just found out that QR codes can send a sent message to your company which is a great idea, If people want additional info before placing an order, they can just scan the code Text is sent automatically with your wording so you know its from your QR campaign along with the potential customers number

http://www.beqrious.com/generator

 

[BusinessM8]

So far this is the best I've found: RedLaser app. I've also used QR Reader for iPhone both of the free apps. Any other recommendations?

All the best

Tim