Quick response codes are one of the emerging modes of marketing. Online marketing experts are looking at QR codes as one of the most efficient mode of marketing and data sharing. QR codes work on the concept similar to bar codes which are used by retailers or shopkeepers to manage the product inventory and price of products. You must have seen, shopkeepers scanning a product’s bar code before selling it. Actually bar-codes are one dimension codes which can store 20 numeric digits. On the other hand QR codes are two dimensional matrices which can store thousands of alpha numeric characters.

QR code can be easily scanned with the help of a smartphone, iPhone or any camera enabled smartphone. Scanning a QR code will link you to the respective webpage or any online property to whom the respective QR code belongs to.

Quick Response code originated in Japan and this concept was introduced by Denso Wave. There are some other similar services present and one of the other big names is MS tags which were introduced by Microsoft. QR codes can be read by lots of readers available in the market but of MS tags we can just use Microsoft tag reader.

How to generate Quick Response Codes:

QR codes can be generated for webpages, phone numbers, SMS etc. There are lots of websites present on the internet which can help in generating QR code.

Some of the very Famous QR code generator websites are

http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

http://www.qrstuff.com/

These websites generate QR codes free of cost and it takes few minutes to create QR codes, if all the information is correct. Mind it, always give correct information while generating QR code.

How to read QR codes:

There are different QR code readers available in the market depending upon your choice. One of the most common choices for iPhone users is  i-nigma. Barcode scanner can be used for Android powered phones. So what are you waiting for? Get one of them installed on your mobile phone and start using QR codes.

How to use QR codes?

QR codes will be used extensively for promotional purpose in the coming future, so it will be beneficial to start using QR codes from today. Here are some of the places where you can use QR codes:

QR code can be used on

Promotional brochures and marketing templates.

On visiting cards and invitation cards

Event tickets and sale receipts

Restaurant Menus and product lists

How these QR codes will help?

The presence of QR codes on the above mentioned things will help you in sharing some of the following information with your customers:

You can give various instructions on use of any of your products, coupons and contests offered by your business organization, location of your business, contact us or comment form for your customers etc.

So this is just an introduction about Quick Response Code. In my next post I will share some more information about how QR codes can be used effectively for promoting a business.