Have you seen strange-looking, square bar codes popping up all around you these days? Based on recent studies and the questions I’ve been getting from folks like you, the answer is probably YES. But, what are they and how can they help your business?

Quick Response codes, better know as QR codes, were created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994. They look like square bar codes without the bars.

The big idea

The idea behind QR codes is quite simple. They were designed to be scanned very quickly (hence the name “Quick Response”). And, you don’t need fancy hardware to scan them. If you have a modern smartphone with a built-in camera and one of the many QR code scanning apps (most are free; search your app store), you have everything you need to scan QR codes.

Once scanned, the code usually takes you to a webpage automatically. So, instead of having to remember http://www.forge3.com/the-inner-circle, you simply scan a QR code to go directly to the Inner Circle page (scan the code on the right to try it!). As you can imagine, this is especially useful for really long website addresses.

Some ideas for your business

So, now that you have the basic idea of how QR codes work, let’s brainstorm a few options for your business. You can use QR codes on your business cards, marketing materials or product to take people to…

• your website or special “welcome” page
• your Facebook or LinkedIn profile
• a page that shows the details of your product or service and offers a special coupon or discount
• a contest page allowing visitors to win a discounted product or service
• a page to capture email addresses of visitors to be used for future marketing
• your app within the iPhone App Store (if you have one!)
• …anywhere else!

How do I create a QR code?

It’s easier than you think! There are a number of free services online to help. For example, click here to check out Kaywa’s free QR code generator. Once you have one, it’s just a matter of placing the code where you want it. You may need to enlist the help of your web or tech guru for assistance with this step.

Too good to be true?

The one downside of QR codes is that many people still don’t know what they are or how to use them. At Forge3, this is why we haven’t implemented them yet. It’s a matter of time before they hit critical mass and become a viable solution. For now, they remain very popular overseas (they are HUGE in Japan), but are still a novelty here in the U.S.

So, the next time you see a funny-looking QR code, give it a quick scan and see what happens. And, as you do, think about how your company might be able to use them down the road.

What do you think? Have you used QR codes? Are they a taste of the future or a passing fad? Let me know in the comments below.

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