Help.......I'm a qr code novice

Hats off to freeqrcodetracker.com, a Bournemouth and Poole based company for a fantastic service and informative site. We started using them for qr code generating recently and are very impressed with the service, especially the hand delivered promo gift and goodies for me, the personal touch is always great.

If you are confused about qr codes and how they work, or would  like inspiration on how to make yours more 'unique' then please check out their blog for ideas or general information on how qr codes can enhance your business and direct your followers and potential clients exactly where you want them to go.

ARE Creative QR Code Design

A QR code (quick response) is one of the latest tools to connect offline people with an online service or information not ordinarily available to them at that time. A QR code is generated through any one of many sites available online, and can be directed to any of the following: 

Website - for a competition, free tools, further information on a service or product

Text information - a pdf which provides product support 

Video - direct link straight to a promotional or informative video

Directions - google maps

ME card - enables the receiver to scan and have a contact's details sent directly to an android phone

Print media and direct mail - to direct to another site such as a company or individual's social media sites

That's the background, but worthy of a mention is the possibility of customising a QR code to make it fit with a corporate colour, further promote a business and make it more of a visual tool rather than a functional one.

This is our ME card which we think looks much better than the stark black and white traditional QR Codes. Using photoshop to edit the original QR code means it is possible to add an image to the code without compromising the structure of the code itself. 


As well as adding an image to the centre of the qr code and a different background .........

.........it is possible to add a png logo or even change the qr code colour completely

 

Facebook Timeline for Business

New Video from Mashable explaining how to use Facebook timelines for your business marketing
(after the advert of course)
 

Is Social Media Making You Feel Disconnected.....

I love social media, I use it for work and personal friendships and it was instrumental in a successful rebrand of my business a few years ago. For most of us with small businesses, social media has been invalueable for putting our message out there, raising our business or personal profile and giving us a platform to speak on whichever issue we want to discuss. Social media gurus tell us that it is the way forward for business owners, we grapple with tweets and struggle to keep up with facebook and all the social media sites.

It is much easier and less time consuming, that is agreed, we can project whichever personna and emotion we wish, but what price do we pay for our fascination with 'techno-talking'? I agree that it is easier to fire off a few tweets and facebook 'likes' in order to keep in touch with others but I'm still a firm believer in real brewed coffee in a fantastic Dorset cafe with good company, a few business magazines and a 'realtime' conversation.