QR codes boost the print industry

By Melissa Busch

Code Red: Tips and Advice

When it comes to QR codes, make yourself the Dear Abby of the technology world. Be ready to respond and support.

“Know as much as you can about them—whether you use them or not—a customer will ask you for advice eventually,” recommended Artie M. Toth, a marketing specialist at Dayton, Ohio-based Wilmer.

And, of course, approach the technology with common sense. Simply ask customers whether their companies would benefit a large amount of data in a small space, John Shanley, owner of Woodinville, Washington-based Labels West, advised.

“If so, a QR code might be worth looking at,” he said.

Also, if a business is going to use a QR code to link to its website, make sure the website is mobile-friendly.

“If it’s not, people scanning the code will not be able to see your website properly,” said Doug Pennington, owner of Lakeville, Minnesota-based Goldmine Mobile.

But what about those companies afraid of the big, bad QR codes? Remember there is safety in numbers.

“Businesses that are unsure or scared of this technology should partner with a company who is not,” said Jerry Wertz, president and CEO of Muncy, Pennsylvania-based Data Papers and newly-launched DPInteractive. “Pick someone you trust and respect, and ask them to teach you the ropes. Any business partner who values your relationship should be more than willing to introduce QR Codes and other emerging technologies to your company as a primer to your growth and prosperity.”

Shanley piggypacked on those  comments.

“If you think there is a possibility that your customer might benefit from using QR codes, contact knowledgeable suppliers,” Shanley added. “They can give you all the information you need to be able to talk intelligently with your client about the technology and its possible advantage to the customer.”

Philip Roestamadji, Wilmer technical marketing specialist, said the most important thing to remember is not the technology or processes behind using QR codes, but the way and reason for using them.

“Where you provide codes and what they provide are the two biggest factors in using QR codes. Placing them in areas where typing information manually would be more inconvenient than scanning a code (e.g., in the middle of a park nature trail versus in an office cubicle). Also, providing good reason to users to scan is paramount. For example, having a code lead to a complex e-commerce site with no clear direction on next steps is a poor choice, but sending users to a simple, clean page that allows them to learn a little more about your company and sign up for newsletters/deals would be a lot more effective.”

What do waffles, plants and a man with a bald spot have in common?

If it included a bar and a religious leader of your choice it would be the perfect introduction to a joke, right? However, this is no laughing matter. All of these items (and person) are places where QR codes—short for quick response—can and have been placed. A QR code is a two-dimensional code that is readable by QR barcode readers and camera phones and can supply information like a URL or text.

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