By Janette Speyer and Alison Brown, Web Success Team

Have you ever noticed one of those one by one inch squares next to an advertisement that looks like a bar code? If you have, then you would know that these bar codes are actually called Quick Response codes and you can scan them with your smart phone. They are now the latest craze in the mobile marketing world. The basic premise of a QR code is to be able to instantly download information onto your smart phone about any given topic such as a link to a company website or a coupon. They are displayed anywhere from print advertisements, television commercials, social media links, and websites. QR codes have become an integral tool for any marketing strategy and they have made mobile marketing and advertising more accessible than ever.

QR Technology

People are constantly using their phones, and as a result, QR codes have become a very convenient mobile marketing tool for just about anything, and they have become increasingly popular in just the last year. Even though the technology originated in Japan, it has grown exponentially in the United States ever since it was introduced to the market. According to Mobio.net, “QR scanning traffic [in Q1 2011] has increased a dramatic 4549% since Q1 2010.” Additionally, socialnomics.net claims “the number of people accessing the mobile Internet is growing fast and is expected to overtake the PC as the most popular way to get on the Web within five years.” Startling statistics such as these make it hard not to want to learn more about QR codes and what they mean for the future of consumerism and the mobile marketing industry.

Using QR Codes for Shopping

Have you ever gone shopping but wanted to compare prices on a given product you were thinking about purchasing? Instead of standing around typing product information into your smart phone’s search engine, QR codes allow you to scan all the information you need directly to your phone with a click of just a couple buttons. You can then read reviews online, compare prices, and see where you can get the best deal. Currently, some people are relying so heavily on QR codes to help them shop that they may start shopping only at places that offer the assistance of QR technology. People want to make sure they are getting the best product for the best price, especially in this economy.

Proper Placement & Mistakes to Avoid

QR codes are great ways to instantaneously advertise yourself or your company, however with every advertisement, the importance of placement cannot be overlooked. There are so many places that QR codes can be strategically placed to ensure that they get the most attention. If you are using QR codes to promote your business, then generating a QR code for your business cards could be very helpful for people who instantly want your contact information in their phone. Also, displaying QR codes on your website that lead to coupons save people not only time, but money and resources as well if customers don’t need to use a printer to print them out. But most importantly, make sure your QR code scans! Even if you’ve placed it in the right areas and circulated it to all the right people, if your bar code doesn’t scan properly, then you’re out of luck. You can check to make sure it works by testing it on various smart phones. Since different operating systems may scan in different ways, make sure all your bases are covered so you can increase the likelihood that your QR code goes viral.

Have you used QR code technology for marketing your business or purchasing products? We’re interested in what you have to say!

If you liked this article you may also like:

• QR Codes DeCoded
• Discover the Advantages of Mobile Websites for Online Marketing
• What’s in Your Google Basket? Must Have Tools for Businesses