QR code for your blog or business

You may or may not know what QR codes are. You have probably seen them all over the place without realising it. They are also known as matrix barcodes or quick response codes. If you have an ipad or a smartphone then they are relevant to you. If you don't have a smartphone or ipad, but do have a blog or a business then they are relevant to you.

How often have you scribbled down a website address or email address onto a scrap of paper? Or maybe you type them into your phone? QR codes make things easier and quicker for you. Simply scan the square code with your phone or tablet and you will be taken straight to the website or email address, without having to write it down. Nifty huh?

I use an app called QR Droid, but you will find a whole selection of them in your app store.

Just load up the app, point and click at a QR Code with your phone or other device and you have a website stored, to look at later.

If you have a blog or business, you could add one to your business card, to stickers, to leaflets or to posters. If you had a bakery, for instance,  you might want to add one to your cake boxes. There are endlessly creative ways to use qr codes.

Have a look at this video to see some creative ways to use QR Codes before we get to the tutorial.

Making your own QR Code  

1.  Visit bitly. 

 

2. Type the url  in the white box at the bottom of the page and hit shorten.

3. Your new url will look a bit like the one above. Copy the url.

4. Paste the newly shortened url into the address bar and add .qr to the end of the url and press enter on your keyboard  (my urls are different, but just ignore that, I was just playing about).

5. Your QR code should appear and look a little like this. Now just cut and paste it into whichever photoshop type software you use or even just paint and save it, ready to be used.

6. If you sign into Bitly before you shorten and save your link. You can then track your code. You can find out how often people are using it to go to your blog and where they are when they use it.

We all love stats don't we?

Tweet

Things to Remember:

• Always label your codes, so you instantly know which one you are looking at.
• It is also a good idea to type the full website url under the QR Code for those who don't use or don't want to use smartphone apps.
• Never laminate a QR Code. It just won't work as the surface is too reflective.
• Think about whether a QR Code is really the best choice.
• Have fun!

UPDATE

Depending on your browser this doesn't always work now. If it doesn't pop over to QR Monkey who will do all the hard work for you. Bitly is still good to use first if you want to track the interaction with your QR code.