Everything you might want to know about QR Codes.

Wondering what a QR (Quick Response) code is?  In the association world, we’ve seen these barcode-like images that, when scanned on a mobile device, takes you to a particular webpage, used most frequently in the conference context. I just recently checked one out on a brochure I got in the mail for CES, which took me straight to a promo video for the consumer electronics conference.

Here are a few good links I’ve been collecting about what QR Codes are and why you might want to use one.

For marketing

• Tips for using QR codes in marketing (Mobile Commerce Daily)
• Are U.S. brands and businesses ready to embrace QR Codes in a big way? (The Buzz Bin)
• QR Codes LIKE Your Facebook Page (Engage365)

For Events

• QR Codes for your event: Are they worth it? What mediums make sense? (Engage365)
• QR Codes: My Favorite SXSWi Find (NTEN blog)
• Four Ways To Flip Your Tradeshow Buying And Selling Model (MidCourse Corrections)

For causes

• QR Codes -> The Next Big Thing for Cause Marketing? (John Haydon)

For advocacy

• Using QR Codes in a Political Campaign (Hive Talkin’)

Miscellaneous

• Now QR Codes Can Generate Likes On Facebook (All Facebook) – so you can “like” real life objects…!!!
• Social Media Business Cards (Mashable)
• 5 Unique Uses for QR Codes (Mashable)

[UPDATE: Tons more examples here. Thanks for the h/t from Roger Smolski, editor of 2-d code magazine (awesome).]

Want to try it?  Download a QR code reader on your smartphone, and scan this baby:

Now try this one…

Now try this one…

Quick tip – clicking on the bitly stats link for any webpage will give you a ready made QR Code for that page.  See what you can do?  What do you think about QR Codes?  Have you started using them?

Tagged as: mobile, QR Codes, social media marketing