Local Search, Mobile Internet, and You
Trying to figure out how to use local search to make your site more findable? Want to help capture some of these mobile visitors? There are new tools that can help you get out there.
One of those tools is QR Codes. Actually they’re not new, they’ve been used in Japan for some time but are beginning to make headway in the US as well.
A QR Code is sort of like a bar code . . . only better. And it can be the bridge between offline marketing and online marketing.
How does it work?
It's very simple really. First you create an image (there are dozens of sites that will do this for you), then someone can scan or take a picture of it with a smartphone that scans it like a barcode and then takes you to a specific web page. Sound complicated? It's not.
Here's an example:
Scan this with your phone and you will be able to go directly to http://www.educyber.com/web/.
You do need to have an application installed on your smartphone to do this.
Blackberry users can find some compatible apps at http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software/blackberry/.
iPhone users can find some at http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10412329-2.html
and finally, my favorite, Droid users can use Google Goggles.
The fun doesn't stop there however. Want people to use their smart phones to give you a phone call? You can do that as well. Download the app for your phone and give this one a shot:
If you want to have your own business cards made with a QR code check out this site: http://www.b2vcard.com
it lets you upload your own art or you can use one of the templates. best of all it creates your QR code from your profile so if something changes you can update your profile for free and your QR code on your old cards scan your new info!