You may have heard about Google’s new QR code, an innovation from Google that allows users to learn more about a company by scanning a special bar code with their cell phones. If you are a Google Local enabled business you may have received a Google sticker/decal in the mail recently; we at OfficeDrop did (and you can see our scan of it below.)

What is Google’s 2D QR Code?

Here is the Google Maps sticker, with the 2D scannable QR code, that OfficeDrop got in the mail yesterday. Scroll to see it on the lower right of the image:

This 2D QR code is actually a bar code. A camera phone equipped with the right software can scan the QR code, launch a web browser and pull up specific information relating to that particular code! Of course, the new Google Android (or Droid) phones have the ability to read these 2D codes. The scanner is then directed to the company’s Google Map’s ‘Place Page.’ As you can imagine, this creates a lot of incentives for businesses to duplicate and post their unique code for the public to scan. This will allow customers and potential customers to learn more about your company.

Scan Google QR Code

Google hopes you will place the decal you got with the QR code in your businesses window. Then potential customers will use their Droid phones to scan the 2D code and learn more about your business. But you can scan and reprint this decal, and place it in multiple windows or locations! You should not hesitate to scan the sticker into a PDF for later use. With OfficeDrop document scanning service, you can scan your code and save it as a PDF. The code will be printable so that it can be read by cell phones and other QR bar code readers.

• Scan your QR code

• Print your code

• Post and get found!

You can also have your code read off a computer screen once it is in digital storage - another excellent way to spread your company’s message to potential customers. Try using your Google phone to read the bar code in the OfficeDrop decal we’ve scanned above!

A few tips if you are going to scan your businesses Google Local 2D QR code:

• Image quality matters. Scan you Google decal at at least 200 DPI. Anything less could result in an image that your customers are unable to properly scan with their phones.
• If you have multiple locations, and have received multiple decals with 2D codes from Google, you should be careful not to mix up the decals. You don’t want place a code for one location at your other place of business.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 12:30 pm and is filed under Market Research, Pixily, Product Features, Small Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.