Preview: Using QR Codes With Signup Widgets
In the last year QR Codes have really taken off in the United States - growing over 1,200 percent in the second half of 2010 alone. If you're not familiar, a QR code is a special barcode that contains information that can be read by a QR Code Reader. QR Code Readers are typically apps for smartphones.
Mashable recently explored the buzz around QR Codes:
QR codes are everywhere these days — in fine art exhibits, some cities’ building permits, wrapping paper and every imaginable kind of marketing campaign.
They also posted a cool infographic about QR codes. Head over to Mashable to check it out - you can scan all the QR codes in the infographic with your reader.
Using QR Codes With Our Signup Widget
While we think that Keywords are the most convenient way for customers to join your text messaging list, QR codes can be setup so that customers can join your list without sending a text message. So how does it work? If you've created a Signup Widget you'll have no problem with this. You may have noticed that we recently updated our Signup Widgets to appear 'zoomed in' on smartphones. This change was applied to every active Widget, so there's nothing you have to do to take advantage of this update (and don't worry, the update doesn't affect how Widgets appear when viewed using a regular web browser).
What you'll want to do is create a new widget. Scroll down to the bottom of the Widget page once you've finished customizing it. Select the really long link labeled 'Signup Link' and copy it. The link can span a number of lines so be sure that you've copied the entire URL. Paste the URL into the box below. When you click Generate QR Code we'll pop open a small window with a QR code that directs anyone who scans it to your widget.
Don't use the bit.ly shortener on the widget page as the QR generator below will generate a bit.ly link for you!
Tracking Your QR Code
While you can use any QR Code generator we set this demo up with the bit.ly link shortening service. Any bit.ly link can be viewed as a QR Code - all you have to do is add .qrcode to the end of any bit.ly link. We used bit.ly's QR Code generator because their click-tracking actually keeps track of QR code scans as well. To view the stats for any bit.ly link just add a + to the end of that link. When you click the Generate button we'll give you the URL to track your widget's QR code.
Want to see it in action? Scan the QR Code below:
What To Do With Your QR Code
QR Codes are popular in print campaigns and on billboards as they allow anyone with a smartphone and a data connection to scan them. You can add the QR Code to the print templates available in our Getting Started kit.
Obviously if you're putting together a billboard or a high quality print piece you'll want to generate a higher resolution QR code. We can't reccomend any particular generator, but if you search for generate high resolution qr code you can easily find a tool to use with your widget URL.
QR Code Readers
If you have a smarphone and you don't have a QR code reader there a number of free, popular apps available. i-nigma is available for iPhone Blackerry & Andorid phones. You can grab it in the app stores or you can text Barcode to 313131 (393939 in Canada) and i-nigma will text you back a download link. You can also check out SPARQCodes's list of QR Code Scanners.
Feedback Please!
If you've gotten this far hopefully you've given the QR Code generator a try. We're thinking about adding QR Code Powered Widgets to Ez Texting. Like what you see? Let us know. Having trouble? This is just a demo so while these QR Code Powered Widgets aren't officially supported we can try to troubleshoot any issues you may have. Click here to get in touch with us.