Understanding QR codes and how it works can be quite confusing. However, such marketing tools are very essential in our times now when everything is technologically advanced.

To make the concept simpler, we’ll go through each step on how it works.

 

What are QR codes?

 

According to PC Mag Definition, QR code is defined as,

“A two-dimensional barcode widely used for many purposes. When scanned with a mobile tagging app in a smartphone, it can cause a Web page to download with information about a product, local event or just about anything. QR codes can capture business card data or send a text message (SMS) that generates a text response. They can also be used for mobile payments. Codes are found in newspapers, magazines, brochures and store shelves, and billboard-size codes can be scanned at a distance, because the QR app uses the phone’s camera.”

These QR codes can be seen on different products such as magazines, boxes of gadgets, and even grocery items such as shampoo, toothpaste, etc. Practically anything can get a QR code. Below is a sample of a QR code, photo credit from  PC Mag.

QR Code for ComputerLanguage.com URL

The scanner looks for four squares (arrows) and two alignment lines (yellow) that alternate black and white.

Ahh, now they look familiar, right? When you find these “small square pixel boxes”, they are QR codes. AND… they can carry a lot of information.

 

QR Codes can be comparable to a Barcode but in a more sophisticated manner since it can contain more information for a particular item, product or advertisement.

How do QR codes work?

 

As mentioned earlier, QR code is a more sophisticated version of a barcode. Obviously, we know how barcodes work. Barcodes are scanned with barcode readers or optical scanners to show an item’s name, price, or inventory on the POS (point of sale). A barcode can hold only a LIMITED number of information.

 

Now, QR codes can handle MORE INFORMATION than that. Once a QR code is scanned it can direct you to web links such as websites, schedules, résumés, or more products online. There is a need to be online when scanning the QR code. Why? Because a smartphone or a tablet is used to scan it, by taking a photo of the code.

 

For the code to be recognizable, you may need to download a QR code application for Apple or Android phones or tablets, so that the code may be translated when after taking a photo of it. These QR code scanners will translate the photo taken of the QR code based on the “squares and alignment lines” it has.

 

QR codes are essentially used as a marketing tool. It makes it accessible for companies to reach out to people, particularly those who are technologically up-to-date with the use of their devices (smartphones and tablets).

 

Splitter offers this marketing tool. It can definitely help in increasing the marketing ROI of a company. Splitter can generate clean short URLs and universal QR Codes. It can also detect and analyze the device you are using and direct you to the correct platform. Everything else can be customize to the needs of the client. Splitter makes targeting easy with its cloud base service.

 

Splitter can make a big difference in improving your marketing strategy.and increasing the conversion rates.

Originally posted 2015-02-13 15:00:04.