It's great to see that this thread I started has continued with some great discussion about QR codes.

I wrote several blogs on a blog called Business Darlings that might be helpful. One can run contests using QR codes, as I did, as well as link to videos and Facebook pages to gain more fans.

Always the QR code should try to get people to do something or receive something such as a coupon so they can in turn do something with it.

QR CODES TAKE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TO ANOTHER LEVEL

USING SOCIAL MEDIA QR CODES FOR ON-SITE NETWORKING

ENTER TO WIN: QR CODE ‘MY VIRTUAL OFFICE PHOTO CONTEST’

NOT ANOTHER (BORING) QR CODE POST

I use Social QR codes, which I recommend in my blog posts that offers the options to link to a YouTube video, Facebook page, a coupon or a website.
http://www.socialqrcode.com/

Janine

Fantastice idea. Too bad, I currently have 1000 business cards. I love the idea of using a QR code on a T-shirt and also on postcards. I am getting ready to do postcards so I am glad I read this post.

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Shelley R. Drasal
Your Faithful Assistant

Great idea. I have a code on my cards as well!!! Works great!

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Arista Professional Services - the business solutions experts
www.aristapro.com

Shelley,

Have you thought about printing nice stickers with your QR code and adhering them to the back of your cards?

You wouldn't have to do all 1,000 but a few and see how it goes.

Janine

That is a great idea! A less expensive way to test it to ensure it's even worth it for you.

I loved the idea when I first ran across a QR code and started right away on implementing the concept into our business cards. I just uploaded a pic of our business card in my albums to start documenting my business' journey.

Did you all know that they will put the QR codes on chocolates too? I just had to share that! lol

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Discover the Infinite benefits of partnering with an EVOA! from LDA

This is an awesome post! LeShante you gave a great idea to put a QR code on promotional gifts! To those of you that use these already, have they been effective? I think it would be cool to put them on promotional items for clients to refer other clients. Is it possible to assign a certain client their own code to track so they can receive a discount or incentive for referrals?

I like the idea of a QR code on business cards. I placed one my car magnet and window sticker did not think about putting it on the brochure, or business card.

Janine: That is a brilliant idea! I am getting ready to reprint my cards and I may have to put a QR code on mine too. Thank you so much for sharing all of your great ideas on this forum.

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Lesley
www.Exclusive25thhour.com

Hmmm this has been an interesting thread for me. Leave it to me to be a naysayer. I hate those stupid QR codes. First of all no iphone or Android phone comes with a QR app so you have to download it. So for any customer that doesn't have one they have to go thru that step.

In my experience it often takes a lot of tries for the reader I've downloaded to read it. And even then many times it takes me no where. And when it does, I always ask myself, why do I want to be on General Mills Facebook page.. I don't.

This one I'm not 100% sure about but I think if the user doesn't have a Facebook app on their phone they go to FB in their phone browser the FB page is not optimized well for a phone. I've just found the entire process frustrating. In the time it takes me to download an app, make the reader read it, have my phone find the FB page, I could have just typed in your FB or web address.

I asked a bunch of people via email and asked my daughter to ask her sorority sisters if they use them and I have not had one positive response from anyone. A small sampling to be sure. But most have said: "I hate those things, what are they, i can't be bothered, it's advertising and I don't need more of that."

Also if you Google are "QR codes dead" you will find a lot of info there, even an article from Forbes. Many of the articles just say they are being misused. They were invented in 1994 by Denso Wave to keep track of toyota parts on the assembly line. They are great for their original use, keeping track of parts. But when you use them for marketing I think it's frustrating to be sent to a website or FB page. It's not specific enough for me. And I don't want to really surf the net on my iphone. On my mobile I just do quick things, phone numbers, directions, I'm not going to spend any amount of time surfing on this tiny screen.

The click thru rates on them are very low and even lower among women. Another issue I have with them is that they are really only for mobile phones. If I am sitting in front of my iMac with your business card, I can't use your code. And keep in mind that we know that peoples attention spans on their mobile phone can be measure in seconds whereas on a computer it is measured in minutes.

Clearly by the response here I'm in the minority but whenever I see them I feel it's an old outdated technology, not to mention I don't want to be bothered with the process.

Maybe I don't get it! (won't be the first time)

PS there is a website dedicated to hating QR codes: http://wtfqrcodes.com/

Thanks for talking about the other side of QR codes Susan. Now I'm kind of skeptical if the college kids don't even like to use them. When I was a classroom teacher, the kids thought it was a novel idea to use them however I'm not sure business people will have the time to do all that it requires. You are correct that the person has to have a reader & then a lot of times it takes several tries to get it to read.