How To Generate A QR Code

Greetings Readers!

Today one of the things that I am grateful for is the fact that there are wonderful people out there who come up with new technology and allow us to use it for free!  If you are one of those people, then I am grateful for you.  If you happen to not be one of those people, I'm still grateful for you and for the fact that you're reading my blog!

Last week I wrote a blog on QR Codes.  These are similar to bar codes that were first created and introduced in Japan where they are now very common.  QR is short for Quick Response and can be read quickly by a cell phone. 

Today I thought it would be helpful if I blogged on How to Generate QR Codes.

There are so many different ways that QR Codes can be used and the only limitations that I can see  really would be the limitations that we might impose on ourselves.  

Some things a QR Code can do are:

• Redirect to a website
• Allow someone to tour a company or destination
• To show a Movie Trailer
• To Review a Movie
• Send an Email
• As a Business Listing in a Directory
• In a Business Card
• Bookmark a website
• In Print Link a Reader straight to your website
• Send a Text Message
• Your Child's Ballet Recital
• Link to GPS Coordinates
• Link a Google Map or Bing Map
• Dial a phone number
• Link to an App

The possibilities are endless!  Your business, no matter how small or large could use QR codes in a number of ways.  You might auto generate one next to every product on your website with all the product details, the URL link to the page and contact information so that the information can be shared via someone's cell.

Add them to any print advertising, flyers, posters, invites, evites, whatever containing whatever information needed.

The great thing about this is that you and I don’t have to figure out how to make QR Codes on our own. Lots of people have already created QRCode generators for us. These generators take a few inputs like what web address we want our code to link to, and then generate a code for us.

One of my favorite QR Code generating sites is http://www.qrstuff.com/   I really like this one because you can generate your code free of charge or sign up for a paid account and they have tons of options for me to choose from.

If you’re a novice you can just take the default settings and make a simple QRCode.

If you are an expert you can do advanced things like change the color of the QRCode so it doesn’t look so boring. You can change the error correction so you can draw inside or cover up part of the QRCode.  You can even try out some of the alternatives to QR Codes.

Once you try it out, let me know what you think.  I believe you will find this an absolutely great site to generate your codes.

Until next time...

Dee Price

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QR Codes

Welcome,

Today I'm grateful that others continually come up with new technology that we get to share in.  We don't have to be rocket scientists...we just have to know where to find them on the Internet.

Have you seen these funny looking pictures popping up in your magazine and newspaper advertisements?  When I first saw one, it reminded me of abstract art but it is called a QR Code.

Are you wondering what is a QR Code?

A QRCode is type of barcode.  We are all used to seeing barcodes on every product that we purchase in a store but a  QRcode is a different type of barcode.  It allows you to link to a web site, phone number, address, send a txt message, show a million dollar home to prospective clients and so much more.  You might not see too many of them now but in about 6 months or so this technology is going to explode.  These are really powerful little codes and the possibilities are endless.

The QR Code above, once scanned will lead you to one of my websites.

Most smart-phones have built in an option that will let you to point your smart phone camera at the QRcode and it will automatically scan  the code.  My Blackberry as well as  iPhones and iPads require a free downloadable app like i-Nigma and there are other sites that you can download a QR Code Reader for free.  When you access this particular one with your cell it automatically determines the type of smartphone you have and downloads the correct reader.

Just open the I-Nigma app with your smartphone and point the camera at the code.  On some smartphones  it will automatically scan it. You don’t even have to press any buttons. On others you would press the shutter like you were taking a picture.  Either way, the phone will then do the action the qr code creator designed. It may open a Youtube video, it may redirect you to a web site. Either way, the possibilities that this technology presents to us will only be limited to your imagination.

Advertisers can use the QR Code to direct the reader to take action or provide the reader with more information than in a normal magazine ad, movie poster, and now you will have the option of doing it using  video from a Youtube account.

To be honest three weeks ago I had no clue what a QR Code was but after doing some investigating online I found quite a wealth of information.  Last year, Central Park in New York used them as a way to let visitors discover things about the park that they never knew.  http://qranywhere.blogspot.com/2010/05/qr-codes-in-new-yorks-central-park.html  There is a realtor that is using these QR Codes to do things like link to a 3d video walkthrough of a million dollar home.

As I learn more about them I’ll continue to share ideas with you.

Have you used QR Codes before or is this new technology for you?  I will be blogging more about this in upcoming posts.

Dee Price