First, these things are called a QR code. It's kinda like a barcode, only that square box holds a lot more information then a barcode ever could. And QR stands for Quick Response.
Pay attention to the world around you. You are starting to see them everywhere.
The beauty of a QR code is, once scanned by a smart phone QR code reader, you can be taken instantly to their website or webpage or really any other information on the internet that their QR code is designed to take you to.
For example, you can have a QR code for a Virtual Business Card, where scanning the QR code will load your contact information immediately and automatically, downloaded to that smart phone contact database with all the fields filled in. For anyone exchanging contact information this can be a life saver from having to type it in on a tiny smart phone keyboard. Boy, times are a'changing fast!
Talk about a time savings tool.. Now you never have to give out your information the old fashioned clumsy way by email or worse yet by phone, so someone can type it in to their tiny keyboard and get it on their phone. Now it's breeze.. Scan a QR code, press enter, boom! Your info is in their database. This is cool stuff!
Think this is a passing fad? Think again.
The internet is becoming fragmented. No, it isn't broken - it simply means that there are more ways that people can access the internet now then every before.
Fifteen years ago from a desktop PC you clicked on or typed in a URL and you went to the internet.
These days you can get there of course via the PC, but also laptops and iPads and tablets and of course now the smart phone.
In fact, it is estimated that by the end of just this year - and we are almost at this figure already - more than 50% of ALL internet traffic will originate from a smart mobile device.. This is stunning and amazing. You need to pay very close attention to what is going on in the world around you if you are to survive and prosper in this new Web 3.0. The learning curve is not substantial, it's just about mobile.
You simply need to be mobile enabled. And all that means is this...
First, your website needs to be viewable on that little tiny 3-4 inch screen. So when those smart phones scan your QR code to get there or otherwise do a search online and find your link or otherwise click on a link in an email they are reading on their smart phone, they can actually "see easily" your webpage. And one or two webpages is all you need. But a warning: be careful, don't load it up with thick rich graphics. Remember, smart phones are connecting to your webpage wireless and those heavy graphics will take a long time to load - if they load at all. You'll lose the prospect before they even get there when this happens.
Second, be careful not to use more than eight or nine words per line. More than that, the font shows up so tiny on that smart phone screen it's almost impossible to see without a magnifying glass.
Let's talk about those QR codes.
You will see the day, and not in the too distant future, where just about every product on a retail shelf will have a QR code on it, that takes a customer to a simple page that explains more about the product.. How it's made, where it's made, product information, operating instructions - you get the idea.
And of course...
You are already beginning to see them if you're paying attention. In direct mail, post cards, newspaper ads, magazine ads, you name it, they are perfect for print media. If you don't have a QR code leading prospects to your website, you are about to if not already losing ground to your competitors.
Think about it. As I already said we are already almost at the point where 50% of all internet traffic is originating from a mobile device.
So be sure to get yourself a QR code.
Set up a mini page, talking about you, your business, and how you can help people. Get that QR code out there in the marketplace. All of your print media including your old-fashioned paper business cards, and including your website, because a QR code can be scanned by a smart phone from a monitor.
Have fun with it, get creative! You can have your QR code printed on your T-shirt, on your magnetic signs on your car, anywhere and everywhere. They can be blown up into just about any size, or shrunk down small enough to accommodate even a small ad in the yellow book directory or be placed on a business card.
It's time to get with it. The internet is changing faster than it did when social media hit the scene. This thing is a thousand ton freight train coming down the tracks at all of us at 70 miles an hour and there's nothing you and I can do to slow it down let alone stop it. Might as well jump on board and enjoy the ride. Prosper, and not lose ground to our competitors.
And the QR code in the headline of this article is a live sample. Scan it on your smart phone, press enter, boom, you will be taken to my personal app.
There is so much that can be done, this technology is really cool. Engaging in this technology can grow your business. Give your customers, your prospects the easiest way possible to interact with you, to find you, and you will outsmart and out market your competition every time.
You can get your free QR codes at www.FreeQRcodes.mobi. And you can also get a Virtual Business Card there, again, free. I highly recommend the site. And if you need your current website made mobile friendly see www.ICANGoMobile.com.
Michael T. Glaspie
CEO & Founder, TheICANetwork.com
Pay attention to the world around you. You are starting to see them everywhere.
The beauty of a QR code is, once scanned by a smart phone QR code reader, you can be taken instantly to their website or webpage or really any other information on the internet that their QR code is designed to take you to.
For example, you can have a QR code for a Virtual Business Card, where scanning the QR code will load your contact information immediately and automatically, downloaded to that smart phone contact database with all the fields filled in. For anyone exchanging contact information this can be a life saver from having to type it in on a tiny smart phone keyboard. Boy, times are a'changing fast!
Talk about a time savings tool.. Now you never have to give out your information the old fashioned clumsy way by email or worse yet by phone, so someone can type it in to their tiny keyboard and get it on their phone. Now it's breeze.. Scan a QR code, press enter, boom! Your info is in their database. This is cool stuff!
Think this is a passing fad? Think again.
The internet is becoming fragmented. No, it isn't broken - it simply means that there are more ways that people can access the internet now then every before.
Fifteen years ago from a desktop PC you clicked on or typed in a URL and you went to the internet.
These days you can get there of course via the PC, but also laptops and iPads and tablets and of course now the smart phone.
In fact, it is estimated that by the end of just this year - and we are almost at this figure already - more than 50% of ALL internet traffic will originate from a smart mobile device.. This is stunning and amazing. You need to pay very close attention to what is going on in the world around you if you are to survive and prosper in this new Web 3.0. The learning curve is not substantial, it's just about mobile.
You simply need to be mobile enabled. And all that means is this...
First, your website needs to be viewable on that little tiny 3-4 inch screen. So when those smart phones scan your QR code to get there or otherwise do a search online and find your link or otherwise click on a link in an email they are reading on their smart phone, they can actually "see easily" your webpage. And one or two webpages is all you need. But a warning: be careful, don't load it up with thick rich graphics. Remember, smart phones are connecting to your webpage wireless and those heavy graphics will take a long time to load - if they load at all. You'll lose the prospect before they even get there when this happens.
Second, be careful not to use more than eight or nine words per line. More than that, the font shows up so tiny on that smart phone screen it's almost impossible to see without a magnifying glass.
Let's talk about those QR codes.
You will see the day, and not in the too distant future, where just about every product on a retail shelf will have a QR code on it, that takes a customer to a simple page that explains more about the product.. How it's made, where it's made, product information, operating instructions - you get the idea.
And of course...
You are already beginning to see them if you're paying attention. In direct mail, post cards, newspaper ads, magazine ads, you name it, they are perfect for print media. If you don't have a QR code leading prospects to your website, you are about to if not already losing ground to your competitors.
Think about it. As I already said we are already almost at the point where 50% of all internet traffic is originating from a mobile device.
So be sure to get yourself a QR code.
Set up a mini page, talking about you, your business, and how you can help people. Get that QR code out there in the marketplace. All of your print media including your old-fashioned paper business cards, and including your website, because a QR code can be scanned by a smart phone from a monitor.
Have fun with it, get creative! You can have your QR code printed on your T-shirt, on your magnetic signs on your car, anywhere and everywhere. They can be blown up into just about any size, or shrunk down small enough to accommodate even a small ad in the yellow book directory or be placed on a business card.
It's time to get with it. The internet is changing faster than it did when social media hit the scene. This thing is a thousand ton freight train coming down the tracks at all of us at 70 miles an hour and there's nothing you and I can do to slow it down let alone stop it. Might as well jump on board and enjoy the ride. Prosper, and not lose ground to our competitors.
And the QR code in the headline of this article is a live sample. Scan it on your smart phone, press enter, boom, you will be taken to my personal app.
There is so much that can be done, this technology is really cool. Engaging in this technology can grow your business. Give your customers, your prospects the easiest way possible to interact with you, to find you, and you will outsmart and out market your competition every time.
You can get your free QR codes at www.FreeQRcodes.mobi. And you can also get a Virtual Business Card there, again, free. I highly recommend the site. And if you need your current website made mobile friendly see www.ICANGoMobile.com.
Michael T. Glaspie
CEO & Founder, TheICANetwork.com
