Why should B&Bs take advantage of QR codes?
- They are free to make and free to use.
- You can print them yourself on paper or labels
- Once they are made you don’t have to update them, just create new ones as the opportunity arises.
A bit about the QR code:
The QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. QR is the abbreviation for Quick Response, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.
QR codes storing addresses and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) may appear on print media, in magazines and newspapers, buses, bill boards, racks cards, brochures, business cards, or almost any flat object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct QR reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page/URL in the phone’s browser.
Here are a few free QR code generators, there are many more free ones out there as well.
- http://delivr.com/qr-code-generator
- http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
- http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/
- http://www.qurify.com/en/
This is also a neat version of the QR code that provides you with a single web address and QR code for all your social networks, websites, blogs and online accounts so people can connect with you easily and quickly. Sort of like a digital business card that doesn’t take up much room printed or online. http://kimtag.com/
Also Likify is kind of interesting, get Likes on your Facebook page, as well as giving you the ability to show a coupon code when the user Likes your product. http://www.likify.net/
A few ideas for Using QRs code for inns and B&Bs:
- Link a QR code to recipes on your website or blog.
- Link a QR code to photos or photo albums on your website, Facebook or Flickr account.
- Put a QR code into a magazine linking it to your special offers/packages page.
- Link it to your Facebook Page (give them an incentive to do so, follow us for Facebook only special offers).
- Link to your blog or to a specific blog post you want to generate interest in.
- When doing specific recipes that you want to draw a guests attention to, have cards or labels printed with QR codes and link to the recipe or a blurb about the recipe and give to the guest. Guests may pass it along to friends and generate more interest in your inn.
- Link it to your twitter account (give them an incentive to do so, follow us for twitter only special offers).
- Put the QR code in as your twitter avatar, change it regularly and draw attention to it in your tweets.
- Link it to a Note on your Facebook Page (Notes give you the ability to write more then the standard Facebook post allows for space, it is a great format to run specials, contests and giveaways on).
- Create a QR code and insert into your Facebook page post or use it to create albums of QR codes in Facebook and create a contest or use it for Easter egging.
- Use a label to stick it on your business cards, rack cards, postcards and other printed media, if its to a web link make sure the information in the QR code stays valid so someone linking to a page for a seasonal special will not go nowhere in 2 months from when you printed it.
- Print it on a T-shirt with a teaser phrase to get people to scan it, have it linked to a mouthwatering photo or some other type of teaser picture. A phrase like: “Got romance?” Can link to a photo of a spa tub filled with rose petals and glasses of bubbly with candles in the background for example.
- Use it for specials offers or packages (suggest web only so you can easily change once it’s over).
- Use it as a voucher for reservation and check-in: if you have a code reader on your phone, or a code scanner, the guest could show you his QR code confirmation.
- Use QR codes around your inn, say a painting or object has a historical story, put the information in to the QR code link, guests can wander the inn reading about it.
- Bonus idea: For inns that do geocaching packages, make your own caches and have the QR codes be the hint for where the next one is.
Will do but it takes time, lots of work
Great ideas !! Thanks , I especially love the one for the art. Got enough art to make it a 2 day event to scan and read about them all
Would love to see some photos and info if you guys decide to do some
Absolutely great ideas! I loved the one about the T-shirt – and linking to the recipes idea (wonder if I could get the code embroidered on my napkins?) I have one on my vacancy sign with a special walk-in rate for people which can help fill up those empty rooms at the last minute.
If you do try it on your napkins, please let me know if it works!