One of my favorite apps on my new Android HTC Incredible is the bar code scanner. I recently read a post on Mashable about creative social media friendly business cards that featured a unique business card I think is very cool – check out number eight in the article. The QR code business card is an ingenious way of holding a lot of information on a card in a creative and intriguing way.
A QR Code is a matrix barcode, or two-dimensional code, that can be read by QR scanners, a mobile phones with a camera or a smartphone. The code is made up of black modules arranged in a square pattern on white background. The information encoded can be a text, a URL or other data.
There is huge marketing potential for these little black and white squares. I am now using the QR code business card in my e-mail signature, so when someone scans this code they’ll get all my contact info including my LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.
This is just the beginning for QR codes, but everyday companies are finding new ways to use them. Sites like Stickybits are using QR codes to allow you to have several documents including a resume, cover letter and portfolio all in one code.
Download Stickybits for Android or for iPhone and scan the bar code below:
The potential for QR codes is huge. Users scanning these codes are actively engaged and will pay attention to what they are viewing. More so then they would with a regular television commercial or online or print advertisement. Imagine walking down the street and seeing a huge QR code with a tempting tagline underneath. In a few seconds you could scan the code and get a store freebie or coupon.
Another example, if you were shopping for groceries you could scan a product’s bar code and the store’s app would provide you with customer reviews, nutritional information and a list of simular products.
Have you seen any other interesting uses for QR codes? Where do you think they could be the most beneficial?
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Joshua S. Milenthal is the Social Media/Interactive intern at Engauge in Columbus, OH. He graduated from Union College in June 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Behavior. He has interned at Razor & Tie, Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners, MoQvo (now StreamRight) and has also previously interned at Engauge as a creative assistant.
Follow Josh on Twitter and his Blog, or connect with him on LinkedIn.
