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QR Codes

by Wayne Lea
25 replies
Hi:

A couple of dumb questions regarding QR Codes.

1
Who makes them?

2
Can I advertise my web site/business on the QR code?
So if someone scanned it would my web site come up? - Could I put one on a magnet on the side of my truck. Or are the QR codes just for products?

3
Do I buy one or do poeple rent the codes, not sure how the whole QR code thing works.

Thank You in advance.
Wayne
#codes
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFranks
    You can get them, for free. Here's a few lists.

    Free QR Code Generator & Design QR Codes, Coupons, Tracking, Analytic
    QR Code Generator: QR Stuff Free Online QR Code Creator And Encoder For T-Shirts, Business Cards & Stickers
    QR Code generator - create QR Codes (for free) [logo, business card, vCard, t-shirt, mug] - goQR.me

    Enter your website url, you'll get a code. Save it and then send it off to a graphics designer/print it out yourself and put it on your truck, T-shirts, etc.

    There's not a single QR code creator - but the first one was made in Japan for an automotive company; years ago.

    Hope this helps

    EDIT: to answer question two more clearly, yes you can print onto a magnet for your truck. As long as the surface is smooth and it can be easily scanned (the QR code) it'll be ok. It can be used for anything, a website, a facebook status or even a funny youtube video.
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  • Profile picture of the author tdanz
    QR codes were a hype and are mostly useless..instead concentrate on the 20% that brings 80% of the results..QR codes dont
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    • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
      Originally Posted by tdanz View Post

      QR codes were a hype and are mostly useless..instead concentrate on the 20% that brings 80% of the results..QR codes dont
      You sir are Misinformed *chuckle*

      It's not that they bring hordes of traffic - but people out and about DO scan QR codes.

      For one thing, lots of people DO use their vehicles to advertise these days - and who can remember URLs or Facebook IDs- or for that matter remember to look them up by the time they get home? I've personally done it, and I've seen other drivers at stop lights do it - grabbing the phone and taking a quick scan of a cars QR on their wrap or magnet sign.

      Same thing with restaurants, etc - a cellphone with QR reader and mobile browser are something just about every customer has - the ability to remember to do something like "go like us on facebook" by the time they get home? Not so much.

      People are impulsive. QR codes play perfectly into that impulsiveness. As do candy and magazine racks at the checkout line. "Impulse Buys" - "Impulse Scans".
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  • Profile picture of the author stoltingmediagroup
    Originally Posted by Wayne Lea View Post

    1 Who makes them?
    You can learn to make them yourself, of you could hire someone who knows how to make one. (fiverr.com, etc.)

    Could I put one on a magnet on the side of my truck.
    Yes, but just be aware that someone would have to walk right up to the side of your truck and point their phone at it in order to get to your website. So don't forget about your QR code, so you don't yell at them to get away from your truck.

    3 Do I buy one or do poeple rent the codes, not sure how the whole QR code thing works.
    See answer 1.
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  • Profile picture of the author Wayne Lea
    Wow - great info.
    I sell boat and yachts, so I was thinking about putting a QR code on a magnet under the magnetic sign that has my logo of my business.
    Hopefully anyone interested in a vessel would/could scan it and hopefully it would transpire into a sale.
    Thank you everyone for your input and help.
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    • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
      Originally Posted by Wayne Lea View Post

      Wow - great info.
      I sell boat and yachts, so I was thinking about putting a QR code on a magnet under the magnetic sign that has my logo of my business.
      Hopefully anyone interested in a vessel would/could scan it and hopefully it would transpire into a sale.
      Thank you everyone for your input and help.
      In Cape Coral, hell yeah, I'm sure you'll get some scans. I'd say make sure you have one not just on the sides of your vehicle, but on the back too - that way people behind you at stop lights can scan.
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  • Profile picture of the author chg
    This was just spoken about in another topic. While some people may scan them, the vast majority of your potential customerbase will not even know what to do with them.
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    • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
      Originally Posted by chg View Post

      This was just spoken about in another topic. While some people may scan them, the vast majority of your potential customerbase will not even know what to do with them.
      So don't do something that may bring in leads cheaply because there are people who won't get it?

      Magnetic QR code signs on a truck are fairly cheap. Why leave money on the table (or sitting in traffic as the case may be)?

      That kind of attitude keeps wallets skinny man.
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      • Profile picture of the author Wayne Lea
        JennySweet:
        My money is on you 100% I love your attitude.
        Cheers.
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        • Profile picture of the author Wayne Lea
          From your experience if you were to put a QR Code on the side and rear of a car - how big would the sign need to be?
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          • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
            Originally Posted by Wayne Lea View Post

            From your experience if you were to put a QR Code on the side and rear of a car - how big would the sign need to be?
            The bigger it is, the further away that it can be read. Another very important point is that you want the URL to be as small as possible, because the less characters you have, the fewer bits (small black squares) needed, making each of them larger, which means that the same size QR code can be read from further away.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by chg View Post

      This was just spoken about in another topic. While some people may scan them, the vast majority of your potential customerbase will not even know what to do with them.
      Y'know, I actually remember a time in the mid-90's when few people understood why some companies displayed a "www" line near their phone number at the end of their TV commercials. Somehow, I think a lot of those companies did alright.
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      • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
        Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

        Y'know, I actually remember a time in the mid-90's when few people understood why some companies displayed a "www" line near their phone number at the end of their TV commercials. Somehow, I think a lot of those companies did alright.
        I remember thinking to myself "When will companies get wise and start putting up websites and listing URLs on their product packaging and in their commercials?"

        That was a good 15 years before I ever tread marketing waters lol. Guess I shoulda started sooner, I coulda been a mogul by now
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  • Profile picture of the author bertosio
    The only thing i really use QR codes for is so visitors can download the app version of the website or something similar
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  • Profile picture of the author JennySweets
    Yes, what David said, and he makes an excellent point on the length of the URL you are converting into a QR code.

    If it's on a back window make sure that there's no transparency under it. I'd say you want it to be at Least 1ftx1ft. Give some nice clean space around it so slower, less intelligent smart phones don't have to struggle to isolate the image.

    When you go to a shop to get it printed up, have them show you different size options. Step back a car length, two, three, and see how quickly your phone picks up the code. Imagine a shortish street light timer and if it takes your phone a while to pick it up - go bigger because scan time in traffic is limited (if everyone is being safe lol). Especially considering some people's phones don't automatically scan QRs when in camera mode and they loose an extra few seconds opening an app.

    There have been a lot of times someone has put a QR code on their vehicle and I have tried to scan it and it was either too small, oddly placed so as to be unreadable, or on a window without proper backdrop so my phone got confused with lighting / internal shadows filtering through the QR code.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by JennySweets View Post

      If it's on a back window make sure that there's no transparency under it. I'd say you want it to be at Least 1ftx1ft. Give some nice clean space around it so slower, less intelligent smart phones don't have to struggle to isolate the image....

      There have been a lot of times someone has put a QR code on their vehicle and I have tried to scan it and it was either too small, oddly placed so as to be unreadable, or on a window without proper backdrop so my phone got confused with lighting / internal shadows filtering through the QR code.
      Your comments about distortion reminded me that we had to consider normal t-shirt movement, bending/folding/wrinkling, and of course, female breasts with their additional surface curvature. QR codes were actually designed to allow some data loss, and this level of robustness is configurable when you create the code. (i.e., You can add more bits for a greater chance of accurate parsing if you know the code will be seen in a "noisy" visual environment.)

      Here are some additional considerations that I noted back when we did this campaign:
      • The spec states that there must be a four-unit quiet zone on all sides of the QR code. (Tests indicate otherwise, but, whatever; I'm not taking the risk.)
      • Use vector graphics so as to ensure that there's no loss when the QR code is expanded.
      • Use Goo.gl to reduce the length of the URL, and thus, the total number of bits. (You also get shirt click-through stats for free.) This will allow you to display larger bits in the same amount of space, thus improving accuracy when others scan your shirt.
      • However, do not use the QR code generated by Goo.gl! For some strange reason, the one they present is the original URL, and not the short one. :-( Instead, use qrcode.kaywa.com .
      • For tracking, you might consider using a unique URL just for the shirt, e.g., /QR-shirt/ .
      Here's a video that my t-shirt guy did that delves a bit into some of these details: (Caution; it's a tad loud at the very beginning.)

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  • Profile picture of the author MobiDev
    QR codes are often used where they aren't needed at all.

    They are used in the way that doesn't work out well. Furthermore, these codes often lead interested visitors to wrong destinations.

    As a result of these mistakes, QR codes generally give low click rates.

    So before deciding - to use or not to use - you should consider a number of helpful tips that improve the efficiency of this marketing tool. Before launching QR codes, decide on several hugely important details

    Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by MobiDev View Post

      QR codes are often used where they aren't needed at all.
      Agreed! One thing that often has me scratching my head is when people post the graphic online... What, I'm supposed to scan these with another device, to go to a website on that device, instead of, oh, I dunno, just clicking a regular link right there in the original browser?
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  • Profile picture of the author Cason
    I don't think anyone takes QR codes too seriously in marketing

    Granted there definitely are people making a killing with QR codes + offline media, i just dont think its ideal for the internet marketer to pursue
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