Helpful Hint – QR Code

Did ya notice it?

On my sidebar?

I added a QR CODE (QUICK RESPONSE CODE)  for a quick link to my INSTAGRAM photos. QR Codes are a quick, very easy way to connect or find information on any business that uses them. They are very popular and easy to add to your blog.

And since Instagram is an iPhone app, what an easy way to connect with other Instagrammers. (Is that a word?)

So what is a QR CODE? (source)

They come to us from Japan where they are very common. QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a cell phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your cell phone. You may soon see QR Codes in a magazine advert, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is in your cell phone, it may give you details about that business (allowing users to search for nearby locations), or details about the person wearing the t-shirt, show you a URL which you can click to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give you a coupon which you can use in a local outlet.

The reason why they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, including url links, geo coordinates, and text. The other key feature of QR Codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand-held scanner to scan them, many modern cell phones can scan them. 

How do you generate a QR CODE?

To make your own QR Code is very easy. I like this website to generate codes, KAYWA.

Basically you choose what kind of code you want, a web site, a text, a phone number or an SMS  code.  The acronym SMS stands for short message service. SMS messaging allows for short text messages to be sent from one cell phone to another.

After you enter your info, it produces the code image, simply download the image, save it, and add it as a picture on your site.

I believe most SMART PHONES have an app available that you can download to your phone to read QR CODES. Just search for QR READER. Once you have the app, you simply hold your phone over the code, it scans the image and takes you to the link.

Here’s a really fun video that explains a QR CODE.

I love all the random places she finds QR CODES around town.

I think I will make a QR CODE of my shop, print them out and leave them in random places around town. That would be so fun!!

So, what do ya think? Are you gonna get on the QR CODE bandwagon? I think it’s so fun. I love finding codes in my fav magazines and seeing where the code takes me. You’ll be surprised by what you find!

I’d love to know your thoughts!
Vicki

Here are some other how-to links on my site.

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Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style