QR codes are everywhere these days — in retail shops, fine art exhibits, Libraries, and widely used in a broad range of marketing campaigns targeting both consumers and businesses. Usage for QR codes varies from selling products to supporting the service being offered–they add value to your all your communication messages. Your imagination is the only thing limiting the depth of the communications. As you read further thru this e-guide you’ll discover how QR codes can help your business.

Today, your customers and prospects are becoming more mobile and depending on their smart phone devices more and more as a source of information to buy your products or hire your services.. Utilizing a QR Code in your marketing materials will give you an opportunity to reach out to your mobile customers and prospects in a new and efficient way while providing a great way to drive traffic to your website!

1.UseasmartphonewithInternetaccess.

2.Downloadafreebarcodereaderapp(seebottomofe-guideforappsuggestions).

3.ScanortakeapictureoftheQRCodewiththereaderapp.

4.Phonewillautomaticallylaunchthecode’smessageorfeature.

The code triggers an action, usually online.  Each QR Code gives customize data from the originator that can include: a link to content on the web, makes a call,  sends an email, IM or SMS,  etc.

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>POINT YOUR CAMERA PHONE AT THE QR CODE SNAP A PICTURE

THE QR CODE WILLDECODE INSTANTLY> > THE COMPANY

INFORMATION WILLAPPEAR

WHAT IS A QR CODE AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?

How do they work?

QR code: A QR code orQuickResponseCode, isatwodimensionalspecificmatrixbarcodereadablebydedicatedQRBarcodescannersandspecialappsavailableformostmobilesmartphones,includingiPhonesandDroids.Thecodeconsistsofblackmodulesarrangedinasquarepatternonawhitebackgroundthatcontainstext,URLlinks,images,andotherdatawhichisrevealedtotheuseruponscanning.

QR Codes are basically an image, just like any other graphic, and can be placed on any printed item such as: business cards, flyers, brochures, promotional items, t-shirts, car wraps, signs, posters, direct mail, print ads, and more! They can be used alone to drive traffic to a website or along with a personalized URL or coupon offer to increase response rates.

They allow you to: • Increase response rates to your ads, offers, and promotions. (Users familiar with thistechnologyfinditdifficulttoresistscanningtheQRbarcodes).

•Measuretheeffectivenessofyourcampaign;differentQRCodescanbegeneratedforeach individualprojectandtracked.

•Quicklyshareyourcontactinformation–putyourpersonalQRcodeonyourbusinesscardandyourcontactscan“scan”andaddyoutotheirnetwork

•Integrateprint,mobile,andInternetmarketingwiththree“touchpoints”inoneprinteditem.

•Highlightproducts,services,andofferswithmultimediaandsocialfriendlycontentneverbeforeavailableinstandardprintmaterials

•Plus,youwillbeonthecuttingedgeofamarketingstrategythatisstillrelativelynewinthe UnitedStates.

QR codes are tailor-made for quickly and easily linking to content on smart-phones. Simple uses include magazine advertisements that link to websites, a promotion code, or any customized response mechanism (hook) to help measure the success of your AD . They can also be utilized for more complex

applications for example; start-up Pingtag uses them as a digital business card for sharing their LinkedIn accounts and contact info. Android uses QR codes to link directly to apps in the Android Marketplace, and the municipality of Bordeaux, France has posted them all over the city in order to track parking meters, providing links to information from the World Heritage Foundation which guides visitors to nearby shops or parking locations via Google Maps.

By creating your own QR Codes (called “qurifying”) you can make any content you would like to share more interactive. Put one on your business card, on flyers for a

party or poster with a map or promote your product or service. You can also use a QR Code  to help sort your books or CD’s, your keys or tools so you know what they are for. Just qurify any text or website url, on a product and add value to your communication & marketing 2-dimensionial printed or digital messages making everything you have more interactive!

So what exactly can you do with a QR code?

“QR Codes add value to your communication & marketing 2-dimensionial printed or digital messages”.

•Text

•Hyperlink

•Telephonenumber(Phonecall)

•SMS/MMSmessage

•Email(Sendmessage)

•Contactentry(vCardormeCard)

•Calendarentry(vCalendar)

Storing a hyperlink presents a myriad of possibilities beyond just loading a web page — play a video, download a mobile app, check-in on Foursquare, update a Twitter status, “Like” a Facebook page, display map directions, and more. The possibilities and opportunities are almost endless.

QR readers now come preinstalled on Android phones and iPhones and additional QR reader apps are readily available in the app marketplace, both free and paid, for downloading. With over 100 Million smartphone users worldwide and record adoption rates for the U.S. market, with 91% of total population are already active cellphone subscribers there has been no better time to begin incorporating QR codes for your business. Europe was an early adopter of QR codes but the US leads in terms of usage and, according to a recent survey, 32 percent of Smartphone users say that have used a QR code and 70 percent say they will use one again.

QR codes can be used for nearly any function (logistics, advertising, customer service, etc.) for Business –To-Business

(B2B) and Business-To-Consumer (B2C), across a variety of industries, some examples include:

• Best Buy uses QR codes on in-store price tags for quick access to online reviews.

• Home Depot  uses QR codes to let their customers receive information, such as product reviews and how-to guides.

•  Real estate agents use 2D barcodes on “for sale” signs providing prospective buyers access to virtual tours.

•  Libraries are using QR codes to facilitate learning via interactive scavenger hunts.

Who uses QR codes?

What type of stuff can i put in a QR code?

QR codes are quickly becoming mainstream, even a recent episode of the CBS drama, CSI featured a QR code as part of the storyline. How would you use QR codes for your business?

It’s easy, visit our blog at BargainPrinting.com and you can instantly create your own personal QR code for your contact information, your favorite URL, or any message you’d like to share. Here’s the link to our QR Code Generator: http://blog.bargainprinting.com/qr-codes

Want to learn more? Look for our upcoming E-Guide series on:

• How to create Interactive QR Codes

• What are the best apps for reading QR Codes

Want to make your own QR code?

Tel: 877.624.8110 • Fax: 212.244.1809 • www.bargainprinting.com • info@bargainprinting.com

National brands such as the United States Postal Service and Starbucks have found creative uses for QR codes in recent marketing campaigns. These type of programs raise awareness for the use of QR codes by consumers and also offer special discounts and fun prizes!

Starbucks recently launched a two-week digital scavenger hunt featuring Lady Gaga, which began with a QR code scan that includes a piece of a puzzle. Fans will scan the codes on Starbucks banners and other materials to receive clues and follow the hunt. Starbucks is no stranger to QR codes, as last year they explored the possibility of their use with mobile payments.

United States Postal Service is running a special promotion to entice mailers to test mobile barcodes on their direct mail. The ultimate goal is to build awareness of mobile technology and demonstrate to mailers how mobile barcodes can increase the value of mail.