Have you heard about QR Codes yet? Do you know someone who has a QR Reader on their smart phone? Have you been wondering what the fuss is all about? I feel ya. When I went to Blogher last year I noticed these strange little squares on some of the companies booths I was meeting with. In fact one of the gentlemen who was their to meet with bloggers told me his company was just rolling out QR Codes, but they knew that they needed to have them for bloggers because if anyone would know what they were – we would!
I nodded my head and acted like I knew what the heck he was saying. But he could as well have been speaking Mandarin.
When I got home from the conference, I made it my business to do some research. And WHOAAA! A whole new world opened up. It’s kind of like when you buy a car- and then you see that care everywhere! Once you know what a QR Code looks like – you will start seeing them everywhere you go.
QR Code stands for- Quick Response. And that makes sense because what QR Codes allow you to do is access more info on a particular product or website or movie poster – whatever has the code. You have to download a QR Reader to your smart phone in order to access the additional information.
Below is very short video I made showing you how to spot a QR Code, and then how to use your QR Reader to get to the additional information on that product! If you are reading this blog via email or your mobile- you may not see the video. Just click through to my actual blog and you will be able to view it!
How to use a QR Reader from Shannon S. on Vimeo.
Hope that video was helpful! Next up- a blog telling you how to create your VERY OWN QR Code for your website or business cards… or wherever people might be interested in finding out more info about you or something you sell! Just click the link above to be taken to it!
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
who knew! I’m soooo behind technologically. My smart phone still has a way higher IQ than I ever will. ahahaha
@MageeMommy, Ummm, for real. I still dont use like half the functions on it! LOL. Luckily QR Reader usage is way way easy!
Believe me- if it wasnt easy…I wouldn’t have figured it out yet;)
ps. Thanks for stopping by MageeMommy:)
Wow…now I had never heard of this! Ingenious! Now I want one. LOL
@Mitzi, My next video will be ALL about how you CAN have one! I hope you like it! 🙂
Great video,, how have I never noticed these before!
@Danielle, I KNOW! I see them everywhere now- but its one of those things you just dont notice…until you NOTICE! LOL.
Thanks! I consider myself moderately technically savvy, but I didn’t really know what those QR thingies were for. Of course I’m going to have to wait for the iPhone 5 to come out before I can take advantage of them. My smartphone broke and I’m using… well, I guess you’d call it a dumb phone until the latest greatest comes out from Apple this summer. Great video!
Great job on the video! I had never even heard of these. My husband has a smart phone so I’ll check it out tonight. Thanks for posting! Janae
I was like that too wondering what the heck those were, until I saw a message next to one of them instructing me to use a smartphone. I’m so behind on phone technology..lol. Looks like I need to do an upgrade pretty soon:) Thanks for sharing this!
I live in Japan, and QR codes have been around for years now! I had no idea they weren’t well-known in other countries. Even McDonalds put QR codes on their burger wrappings and french fries boxes so people can use their cell phones to check the (lack of) nutrition 🙂
I’ve seen these but haven’t downloaded the app for them yet. I’m afraid of all the time I would spend on my phone if I did.
That is a cool feature. I definitely need a smartphone:)
I also didn’t know about it til I went to the Alt Summit and was speaking with one of the sponsoring companies. Apparently, they placed these codes throughout the conference and were giving away prizes with the codes. Ipads and computers and all you had to do was scan the code!
Now I am seeing these all over the place!
I’m starting to see QR codes being used in different ways, the one I like best is a food manufacturer put a QR code containing a recipe for its food, I think using a QR code really helps to engage with some one, it may even help that product to stand among all it competitors.
We just got a QR code but couldn’t double check it since all of the smart phones in the office were “inexperienced” in this matter! Thanks to this fast (and so stinkin’ easy) clip, we are all set. Thanks Milk and Cuddles! Do you think we could link to your video on our web site and FB page? We have lots of folks who may have heard about QR’s (like the those of us in the office) but don’t know how to utilize these fun little guys.
You are now officially, a “friend” of Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City Kansas!
@Mary Palmer, Yay! I’ve never been a friend to a zoo before! But I like it! 🙂
I would LOVE it if you linked to the post from your Facebook and website- what an honor! Be sure to send me the link to your site and I’ll visit!
Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback:)
What a great video! I’ve seen these codes, but had no idea what they were for.
Crystal
Ok….I have been the head nodder and have EVEN downloaded the app and still didn’t understand what these codes were! I am so excited to have found you. I am getting ready to subscribe so I don’t miss out on how to have a code for my blog. I would love for my readers to meet you! I would love for you to share this at the “Meet Me Monday” linky party. It is still going on! Excited!!! Thanks! Love, Me http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/2011/11/meet-me-monday-13.html
There is a cool QR code app scanner which is available on the Appstore totally for free. It was made with web service Snappii which allows to create apps without programming skills actually. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qr-code-scanner-from-snappii/id500641025?ls=1&mt=8
They are the fastest way to get to a website or advertising by your smartphone. I think they are here in a small way in respect of what they mean to Japan and the US, where I lived for many years. THe companies here are just tipping the iceberg. In Japan and the US they have beautifully tailored QR codes called mazes. These are designed by Qrtist’s. Iv’e seen only one company in the UK that does mazes or maze qr’s (tailored designer QR codes). They are as good as if not better than some of the US Qrtist’s & have the name MAZE. I’ll get back if I find more info. I also think apple will soon manipulate this new medium, you watch.