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Managing Director at Shorthose Russell
02 November 2011 14:34pm
Hi
We have been using QR codes for a while now, in pitches, presentations and some trad advertising, but with a short shelf life.
We're now in a position where we want to use these on client literature; from a client care point of view can someone clarify the following questions?
i) How are they built, what stops a duplicate QR being generated for a different link? Are they based on the characters of the URL?
ii) Longevity is a worry, once created are they active for a certain period of time?
iii) from a design point of view, what can we alter and what do we have to leave within the QR code? I have seen some with Union Jacks in the corners coloured blue.
If this has been covered then I apologise, however practical resource regarding QR's isn't readily available through Google searches. Everyone seems a bit blasé about them.
If anyone can help I would be grateful.
Thanks
Jayms
Shorthose Russell
Director at Ideal Interface
17 November 2011 16:10pm
Hi there, we've implemented QR Codes for retailers and can hopefully shed some light...
QR Codes are merely a 2 dimensional representation of a set of characters, typically a URL (It really is just a complex barcode that can represent letters, numbers and other characters). For each URL there can be an individual QR Code, so there is no chance of anyone creating one that duplicates/conflicts with yours... Or more accurately put, anyone can generate any QR Code and make it available; but there's no point sending people off to anywhere but when you want them to go (its like me advertising a competitors URL somewhere).
QR codes do not have a shelf-life, once they are created they can exist all the time. However the destination URL may change, so you need to ensure you do not move the page you want to take them to.
Note: a lot of QR Codes are sent to a URL shortening service (e.g. Bit.ly) before being redirected to their true location. This has several benefits:
1. You can quickly track users using the shortening service analytics (hugely beneficial if you can't get access to your own website analytics in a hurry)
2. You can change the page you want to redirect them to if required
3. The shorter the URL, the less complex the QR Code (which is very useful if you are putting the QR Code: behind glass, at a distance, making it smaller to fit onto something, etc.)
Altering the QR Code is a process of trial and error to see what affects it. The general advice I have is to try not to affect the ‘dots’ too much, but they don’t necessarily have to be just black on white either. Basically… the more you try to do to a QR Code, the less likely it can be read by all readers (and some are better than others).
If in doubt, contact me directly
Managing Director at Shorthose Russell
24 November 2011 13:13pm
Hi Hayden
I couldn't have asked for a more comprehensive reply.
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch.
I will get in touch if any more questions come up.
Thanks
Jayms