QR Codes seem to be at the center of the questions that I received this week. I felt it was time to explore best practices and how to utilize this marketing tool so that it is efficient and effective in your marketing plan.

QR or “Quick Response” codes have been around for awhile, but seem to be interesting those owners of small and medium size business as of late. They seem to be adopting QR codes to show their customers that they are on the high end of technology. Besides, QR codes are interactive and fun.

It’s important to keep in mind that QR codes are just one type of 2D Barcodes, but at this time seem to be the most popular.

My guess is the majority of you come across at least one QR code daily. Perhaps you’ve seen one in a magazine, product package, billboard or a business card. They are finding their home everywhere.

The benefit of a QR code is that it gives business owners and marketers a way to get a prospect to take immediate action – easily! The problem with QR codes is when they do not give a customer value they can become frustrating. There is nothing worse than hyping a QR code, but the end result is something that could have been achieved without it.

Who are you trying to reach with your QR code? You must determine that before launching a campaign. Who is the ideal person that uses a QR code?

A recent webinar done by Merkle and Webtrends created the following profile of those that use QR codes:

• Between the ages of 25 to 54
• Mostly male with a baseline income of $50k
• Customer uses an iPhone or Android Smartphone

The overall QR users is affluent and younger, others may not resonate with the understanding of a QR code. Make sure that your target audience fits that profile, otherwise it may not bring you the desired result that you want.

When considering a QR code campaign, ensure that you are following best practices. Best practices include the following:

• Inform your audience of what to expect when they scan the code.
• Your QR code should be no smaller than 1 inch by 1 inch.
• Make sure the destination is mobile friendly. You don’t want them to land on a web page that does not render correctly using a mobile phone.
• Think about how your QR code integrates with the campaign. How is the user experience? Is it friendly or confusing?
• Test the user ease of your campaign and the functionality.

QR codes are catching on, as a matter fact we have gone from 1,000 daily scans to upwards of 25,000 daily scans. If your customer profile fits the above and you follow best practices there is no reason not to join the QR craze.

What can you use a QR code for? Here are some ideas:

• Business Cards
• Scavenger Hunts
• Contest and Promotions
• Gain Likes and Follows on Social Media Platforms
• Build Your Email List

Generate your QR code today – you might just be glad you did!

By Laura Lake, About.com Guide