We briefly mentioned URL shortners in a previous blog, but we have recently decided that they are such a great tool and they deserve an entire blog dedicated to them.  So here it is…

I was at a social media presentation the other day and one of the speakers was presenting his info through a Powerpoint slideshow.  In his slides he had several long links like this: http://blog.milesprintingonplastics.com/2011/07/top-3-things-to-know-about-qr-codes-if-you-are-directing-the-user-to-a-website/

I’m not sure if he expected the audience to sit and write down the 100 or so characters of the link and then type them into a browser or what, but it was basically a waste of good slide space to list these gigantic links! 

He should have used a URL shortner!!  I would be much more likely to copy down a url with only 10 characters! 

Here’s how a URL Shortner works : You basically copy your long url address and paste it into a box and hit the shorten button and viola, you have a short and sweet url to use!

Here are some of my favorite free shortners: 

• bit.ly
• ow.ly
• tinyurl.com
• goo.gl

Here are some great uses for shortners:

1. In Twitter posts where you are limited to 140 characters
2. When generating QR codes
3. To disguise the underlying URL address – can help to avoid spam and being put on blacklists

So apparently QR codes are a hot topic for us right now! If you are unfamiliar with QR’s, see our post here on “What is a QR code?”

If you go to a website, make sure the website is mobile friendly.  The last thing you want is for the user to scan the page and it crashes their phone while trying to load.  So, make sure there are not a lot of rotating graphics or images, high res photos, etc.

Use a URL shortner.  The longer the url, the more intricate the QR codes is…..and the more intricuit the QR code, the harder it is for a Smartphone to scan it!  There are several free url shortners out there:  www.bit.ly is one example.  You basically copy your long url address into a box and hit the shorten button and viola, you have a short and sweet url to use to generate your QR code!  Here is an example: anything on our website is “www.milesprintingonplastics/milesprintingonplastics/solutions/casestudies/…. “  this is over 50 characters long and will create a really pixilated QR code (see Photo #1).  If we use a url shortner we get a much cleaner and easier to scan code (see Photo #2)!

Don’t use your homepage of your website!  It is best to create a landing page specifically for the QR code.  You can keep it simple and forward the page to your website homepage or you can create unique content on this landing page.  Having the unique landing page allows you to be able to edit the content at any time.  For example, if you put a QR on your business card and create a landing page for it you can feature a discount offer for the first quarter of the year and then change the offer for the second quarter and then just forward the page to your website homepage for the remainder of the year.  If you set up the QR to go directly to your website homepage you would not have the flexiblity to change the content with out re-vamping your website.  You would have to change the content for all users not just those who scan the QR!

Well, it is a 2 dimensional barcode that when scanned with a Smartphone can perform a function.  Most commonly, QR codes are programmed to take the user to a webpage, but they can also do things like send a text message or add contact info to your phone book! 

Anyone can produce a QR, all you need is a QR Generator (there are lots of free ones on the web!)  Anyone with a Smartphone (with a camera) can scan QR codes.  If your phone does not currently have an app for scanning QR’s you can download one from http://scan.modi!

Miles Printing recently created a new business card that features 2 QR codes on the back side!  The top QR when scanned will take the user to a Miles webpage, and the bottom code when scanned will add the contact information including the reps phone number and email address directly into your Smartphone!

Here at Miles Printing, we have been learning a lot about QR’s lately.  We will be sharing some QR tips through the blog this month!

QR codes on your business card drive customers directly to your web site

Those small boxes with the design inside are appearing everywhere! From newspaper ads to POP retail displays, packaging to FaceBook pages, and now –on business cards. Scannable “QR codes” are increasingly popular, and for some pretty good reasons.

What is it? QR is short for “Quick Response.” QR codes are 2D data workflow formats, which can be scanned from a smart phone. QRs were originally developed by an auto parts manufacturer to keep track of inventory. This code format is one of several 2D formats now circulating world wide, but is generally thought to be the one most likely to predominate.

How is it used? When scanned, the QR image uses encoded text data to perform a certain function.  Most QRs will direct the user to a specific webpage or internet site so the user can access more information about the product on the packaging, the house in the realtor ad, or the business on your business card. QRs will also do things like adding contact information to your cell phone or filling in the “to:” field on a new email!

Miles Printing has just approved a new design on their business cards, which features two QRs on the back of the card.  The first QR will direct the user to a Miles Printing webpage so they can access more information about us and maybe even find a discount offer!  The second QR, when scanned, will add the business card owners contact information into the user’s SMART phone contact list.

What a great idea! Provide a quick way for your potential client to scan your business card to find out more about you and your business! It’s high-tech and consumer friendly. And here’s the best news: Miles Printing can QR code your business cards (or anything else) at very reasonable prices.

Consider adding QR codes to your next business card order!