A qr code is a 2D barcode that can store information such as a URL, text, phone number, email address, or other data. Using an app on a smartphone, the QR code is scanned to automatically open and display that information on the phone’s screen. The user can then save or share the link as desired. This technology has been around for more than a decade, but only recently has it gained popularity amongst consumers.
In 1994, a Japanese inventor named Hirohito Hara created the first QR code. Hara’s idea was to develop a fast and easy way for businesses to add contact information to printed materials such as business cards. The technology soon caught on in other industries as well. Today, many smartphone apps exist to help people create QR codes and scan them with ease.
Some smartphones come equipped with built-in QR scanners, while others have an app available for free download. It’s important to test your code in different scanners to make sure it works as intended. Additionally, it’s critical to place your QR code where it will be most likely scanned. Billboards, for example, aren’t the most consumer-friendly locations—it can be a safety hazard to pull out a phone while driving or to try and read a small text in the middle of a 30-second TV commercial.
QR codes are a great way to connect the offline experience with the online world. They can direct a mobile device to a website, store a video playlist or sound demo, download an app, connect to WiFi without a password, add calendar events, and more. Using this technology in your marketing campaign is a great way to reach a new audience and engage with existing customers.
Many QR code scanner apps allow you to customize the content that you want to encode into a Quick Response Code. You can specify the type of data you want to encode, select a frame and color for the code, and even add an image or logo to it. Depending on the app, it may also let you decide whether to have a preview of the final product.
While most people are aware that a QR code can link to a web page, they may not realize that it can also initiate other actions on the device such as adding contacts or composing emails. This is why it’s important to carefully review the content of any QR code you use in your marketing campaigns.
QR code generation tools are able to generate customized, mobile-friendly landing pages for any link that is stored in the code. They can also change the URL destination based on several factors such as the number of scans, the time of day (e.g., midnight sales), and the location of the user’s device. This functionality gives marketers and businesses the ability to optimize their QR code destinations for specific marketing goals and track results.