This document provides an overview of QR codes, including why they are important, best practices for creation and implementation, and how to generate revenue from QR codes. It discusses that almost half of smartphones can scan QR codes, how QR codes work and their applications. It offers tips for QR code design like using color, logos and padding. It also provides recommendations for implementation like shortening URLs and making content easy to see and access on mobile. Overall the document is an introductory primer on QR codes.
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Certainly you are all well aware of the USPS mobile barcode promotion. Currently set to expire after August, although I’ve heard rumors there could be an extension? While I do not know if you personally have thought this has been a success, I have absolutely seen a lot of QR Codes in my mailbox over the past few weeks, which has been exciting. But even if this expires and never comes back, there’s still reason for your company to utilize QR Codes.
I promise that this presentation is not filled with charts and stats and survey results. But I think one… this one is powerful. Even if you do not believe or use in QR Codes yet, you must at least recognize the reality of numbers like these. The smartphone has changed the game… If you have one, you will be come addicted to it. You will use it to go on the web… you will use it to Search… To watch videos… to read reviews… to watch TV and movies… to read books….. To update your social networks…. To buy items…. Maybe to make a call too
58% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 now own a smartphone 68% of smartphone owners access the internet or email on their handheld on a typical day
First, what does it stand for? Quick Response… So.. On the most basic level – think of it this way. Your mobile audience can save time by scanning the QR Code to go to your website rather than remembering and typing in the URL. Yes, it’s a call to action that can help increase response rates… strike while he iron is hot.
They are not new, per se… They’ve been around since 1994. Of course, they’ve recently been increasing in popularity in the US. In the automotive industry, shipping slips and receipts are encoded with QR Code containing customer data, shipper data, product number, quantity, and other data. The data is used for ordering and product scanning. They’ve been around for so long, do you want to know what else happended in 1994? The Price of Gas was $1.
The more information your fitting in the more complex the QR Code gets. A simple code can be the short URL code. Maybe you tell them a secret on SHort URL's and using them in QR Codes The complex is hold information about an event – title, date, time, end time so it requires more pixels to hold more data
If you are a pet lover, you may be saying this is not deterioation, but beautification! So this offers benefits, if you’re the designer, the markter.. You can incorporate images into the design a bit. This is possible due to the Reed-Solomon error correction code written into the QR Code encoder. This allows up to 30% deterioration of a QR Code possible with it still being readable. That correction code is used on DVDs, CDs and more. Same principles apply… Printed pieces may get damaged slightly, somewhat dirty, a bit of wear and tear.
Yes, you can also use that deterioration rate to place your logo inside the QR Code. The way this works normally is you create a QR Code, which is really just an image… Bring it into Photoshop, and then place the logo, and TEST! If you want to know how to do it, check out the URL on the screen.. It provides step by step instructions on how we’ve done it in fairly standard image editing programs.
The possibilities for QR Codes to help increase the impact and effectiveness of printed materials continues to increase. You have the ability to create QR Codes with different colors… I From our testing, darker colors have performed the best… Without a doubt, if you create one with color, test with different readers and phones.
Any Boston Celtics fans? When we win the NBA Championship this year, send me an email, and I’ll try to send you tshirt with this logo/QR Code on it.
We typically recommend using almost a ¼ inch of padding… Honestly, we do use a bit less than that, but give it room to breathe!
If you’re a designer… you generate the QR Code.. It’s outputted as a300 dpi image (depending on who you use). Then, simply scale it to a different size with a program such as Adobe Illustrator, or another image-editing program. 10 to 1 ration….. 20 feet away? Should be a 2 foot by 2 foot QR Code
Just from our own testing, when we take the QR Code less than an inch, we see troubles with the readers… For you, test… As the cameras on the phones get better, they can scan smaller QR Codes. But consider your audience.
How do you shorten a URL? There are tools such as Bit.Ly, ilnk.me. Some QR Code generators do it for you!
Because it’s easy to create a QR Code, the temptation exists to simply point one to your corporate website, or your customer’s corporate website! Do not do that! - It might not work on a phone (Flash). - It might take forever to load - It might not provide answers that someone needs on their phone at that moment.
Now a huge reason and benefit of using QR Codes is the measurement and tracking! - You can start clearly measuring how effective your print ads are.. Your postcards… your signs..
Now a huge reason and benefit of using QR Codes is the measurement and tracking! - You can start clearly measuring how effective your print ads are.. Your postcards… your signs..
Another thing you’ll want to know is how do I make money. I listed 5 ways, 3 of them on this slide.
Now as mailers, you certainly may still be doing personalized Urls for clients. Thus, you may want to consider creating personalized QR Codes for those people. How can you do this? Next slide ….
Some of you might already have this.. But if not, go to TheQRToolkit.com It’s a free QR Code Success Tool Kit… has white papers, videos, case studies, how to guides, and more.