The Google URL Shortener will shorten a web address and generate a qr code (if you have an account). It takes a long URL like:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/GAUDY-BEAD-STRETCHY-SINGING-GRINCH-UGLY-XMAS-SWEATER-M-/290513972051?pt=US_CSA_WC_Sweaters&hash=item43a3fb6b53#ht_715wt_1141
and creates a shorter URL like http://goo.gl/eVkTh with a qr code to match.
You need to have a Google URL Shortener account to get the qr code image but it does give the ability to see how many people have followed the link (built-in mini analytics). It will also keep a record of all the shortened web addresses you have created.
The downside of using Google URL Shortener is it does not give you any control over the error correction level or the resolution. Also, you cannot send the individual directly to your web address -- may be a branding issue for you or your company.
Sidneyeve Matrix suggested these generators to me: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ (a simple to use) and http://www.facebook.com/QRcode.generator (a facebook app with more features).
If you are creating QR Codes regularly, you might want have your own generator. One of my customers needs to regularly create QR Codes for printed direct mail pieces so I wrote them a simple program. Later, they will be doing a mail-out and each printed piece will have a custom qr code -- the program will definitely come in handy.
QR codes are here to stay. Smartphones will continue to decline in price and the number of users will continue to rise -- do not miss the opportunity to leverage this simple but effective tool.
Hello,
ReplyDeletewe offer you QR code generator that where you can put all kind of links (long or short) or links to your social network. We believe that QR codes will make the connection between offline and online worlds easier.
YouScan.me
I have started to see QR codes growing in popularly recently.
ReplyDeleteAnother great use for these would real estate. When sending out an open house invitation or providing some basic information about the house just include a QR code to directly lead the potential client to a page with all of the information and house photos. By taking away that one small step of typing the URL in, you'll be able to get more people to take that second step and learn more.