QR Codes and How to Get Them

QR (Quick Response) codes have been around since 1994, but it’s only been in the last few years that consumers have become accustomed to seeing and using them. The basic way that they work is this:

• QR code is generated using a specified URL, text, phone number or SMS.
• Smartphone user opens downloaded QR code reader app.
• Using the reader, the user scans the QR code, smartphone automatically opens to linked URL.

QR codes are used primarily to link your customer to special content. That might be a coupon, a free pattern, a sales flyer or an events page. You can also create QR codes with your phone number, an SMS message or simply text, depending on your needs.

For marketing purposes, it’s always a good idea to link to a page you’ve made specifically for that QR code, rather than your main website. People tend to use QR codes looking for an ‘in’ of some sort, whether it’s a tutorial video link or a sneak peek at upcoming classes.

For example, using your phone’s QR code reader scan this one:

using the original URL

I used Kaywa QR to generate this code with its original, and lengthy, QR code. You can see there are plenty of pixels and not only does it look cluttered, but some QR code readers may have trouble deciphering it.

One way to avoid the possible mis-reading (or refusal to read) a complex QR code is to use a shortened URL. If you are not familiar with link shortening, it’s a quick way to make a long and complicated URL into a short (and less overwhelming) URL. I use bit.ly but there are several available: goo.gl, tinyurl.com, and is.gd, among others.

using a shortened URL

I used bit.ly to shorten the URL I used in the above example to create this simpler code.

There is no difference in the end result (both link to the same page), but the visual difference is worth noting. In addition, the simpler code is easier for code readers to decipher.

To get a QR code, you can visit a number of sites. Here at WebCents, we tend to use Kaywa QR , Quikqr, and (when I feel like getting fancy) QR Stuff. That last one allows you to manipulate the color, which is always fun.

Share your experience–how have you used QR codes personally and for your business?