QR Code Basics
In our digital world, QR codes are everywhere. You can find them on Twitter, Instagram and even the side of a package. Thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones, scanning a QR code often leads to a simple click of a button that takes you to a website, opens a webpage or reveals an app.
But did you know that QR codes are much more than just a quick way to get a link or find information on the blockchain? As it turns out, these tiny codes can hold a lot of data and can actually be used to customize an entire user experience on a mobile device or web browser.
In this article, we'll explore how you can leverage QR codes in your marketing and retail strategies by learning how to make them work for you. We'll cover everything from simple QR code generators to using interactive forms and dynamic content within a code.
The Basics Of QR Codes
If you're not familiar with QR codes, they're pretty easy to understand. A QR code is a black and white barcode that can be scanned by a smartphone camera. As its name suggests, a QR code can simply be used to “quickly” access a resource such as a website or email address. Because they're so easy to use and can hold a lot of information, many businesses, brands and startups are using QR codes to empower consumers with the information they need in one click.
While QR codes were originally created for use with mobile phones, you can actually use them on a web browser. You just need to make sure you have the proper encoding to ensure that the information is recognizable when scanned. And if you're looking for even more simplicity, you can use a QR code generator to create a QR code for free with just the information you want to convey.
QR codes have a few advantages over other barcodes such as barcodes used for scanning items at the supermarket checkout counter. First, QR codes are much smaller than other barcodes, meaning they take up less room on your wallet's smartphone or scanning device's memory. Second, QR codes are easily recognizable by automatic scanning machines, reducing the chances of mistakes. Finally, QR codes use black and white bars, which means they don't require sophisticated decoding software, making them much easier to scan and use.
When creating a QR code, you first need to choose the type of encoding you'll need to ensure that it can be easily scanned and read by a smartphone or other digital device. There are two different types of encoding commonly used for QR codes:
Hexadecimal And Binary
When using QR codes for the first time, it's helpful to know that there are two different types of encoding commonly used for these codes: hexadecimal and binary. Hexadecimal is a type of encoding where each bar and space represents a single digit and thus a single unit of data. Binary is a type of encoding where each bar represents one bit of data and one pixel of an image.
Hexadecimal encoding is commonly used when creating QR codes for use on websites or other online resources as it's easy for humans to read and understand. However, be aware that not all websites and online resources will be compatible with hexadecimal encoding. If you do plan on using hexadecimal encoding, it's recommended that you choose a website or online resource that was designed for compatibility or otherwise compatible with it.
The other type of encoding, binary or one-bit encoding, is commonly used when creating QR codes for use within an app. Because it requires less data and thus less room on your wallet's smartphone's memory, binary encoding is better for mobile use. When using an app to scan a QR code, only the bits that are relevant to the functionality of the app should be used to form the code. For example, if you wanted to use a QR code to access a hotel's website, only the digits that are relevant to connecting you to that website should be used to create the code.
The Future Of QR Codes
While QR codes have been around for years and years, they've only recently started gaining popularity as a way of customizing user experiences and encouraging people to learn more about a product or service. Due to their increasing popularity, Google has even created a dedicated webpage with helpful information on how to use QR codes for your own marketing and branding strategies.
Additionally, several online resources such as Wikipedia and Mobicip have created comprehensive how-to guides on using and creating QR codes, which you can reference to learn more.
QR codes will only continue growing in popularity as more and more people discover their many potential uses. If you're a business or brand interested in using QR codes for your marketing and branding strategies, consider how easy it is to create them and how much potential they have to grow in popularity.