The U.S. seems to be adopting QR codes as more and more Americans are using smart phones. In a June 2011 report from Comscore, approximately 14 million Americans scanned a QR or Bar code on their mobile devices. What is a QR code? A QR (“Quick Response”) code is a specific matrix bar code (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by a smartphone by scanning it with a mobile scanning application on your phone. It works very similar to the scanners they use at the grocery store.
According to the Comscore , “ The study found that a mobile user that scanned a QR or bar code during the month was more likely to be male (60.5 percent of code scanning audience), skew toward ages 18-34 (53.4 percent) and have a household income of $100k or above (36.1 percent). The study also analyzed the source and location of QR or bar code scanning, finding that users are most likely to scan codes found in newspapers/magazines and on product packaging and do so while at home or in a store.”
How can small businesses use QR codes? If you are a traditional brick and mortar business owner, it may be beneficial to start using QR cards on your printed marketing materials. This helps to bridge the gap between offline and online marketing and allows potential customers to scan the QR code on the spot, directing them to a landing page on your website where you can offer coupons, news on your latest sales or timely announcements. There are many possibilities on the use of QR codes for your business. To learn more about QR codes check out this article from Mashable and check out the video below for a quick introduction to QR codes.
You can read the full press release about the Comscore study here
Gary Shouldis
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