QR Codes for writers

Have you heard of QR Codes yet? Here's a quick introduction:

What are QR Codes?

QR Codes look like this:
This one takes you to my site www.JoLinsdell.com

QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a mobile phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your mobile phone. The reason why they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store and digitally present a much larger amount of data, including url links, text and even geo coordinates. A key feature of QR Codes is that many modern mobile phones can scan them. The full Wikipedia description is here.


How do you generate a QR Code?

You can easily generate a QR code using a site like Kaywa.com or Mobile-barcodes.com. Many other sites also have QR code generator tools including Google (but it has limited functions).
How can writers use QR Codes?
You could use QR codes in a number of ways:
  • You might auto generate one next to every book/product on your web site containing all the product details and the purchasing link. 
  • You could add one to your business card containing your contact details so its easy for someone to add you to their contacts on their mobile phone.
  • Add them to any print advertising, flyers, posters, invites, etc... containing information like; product details, contact details, your author bio, your book blurb, offer details, event details, competition details, a coupon, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn profile links or a link to your YouTube video.
  • You can encode a SMS message ready for your followers to send to a friend e.g. a message encouraging the recipient to buy your latest novel.

I personally used one on my website for the home-schooler kit I created to be used with my book 'Italian for Tourists'


QR codes are a simple yet powerful way to expand your marketing potential. 


Are you using QR Codes? Can you think of any other ways they could be useful for writers?

2 Comments

  1. Frances Pauli29 March 2012 at 21:41

    I've considered using them on a card or bookmark to give out at events, with a code that led to a free story or book/character extras.

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