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| I have learned to leave the price off of bar codes that I purchase for my books (Watch for January's post: Purchased vs Free Bar Codes) |
By Linda Wilson @LinWilsonauthor
A QR Code (quick-response code) is a type of barcode on steroids. A better definition comes from Wikipedia, which defines the QR Code as a two-dimensional matrix barcode. The QR code system was invented in 1994 by a team of researchers at the Denso Wave automotive products company in Japan, headed by Masahiro Hara. The purpose for the invention was to keep track of automobile parts by replacing individual bar codes with a single label containing a QR Code that provided a greater amount of data. (Wikipedia: QR Code)
Barcode vs QR code
Also according to Wikipedia, a barcode is a machine-readable optical image that contains specific information about the labelled item. A QR code offers much more: dedicated data for a locator, an identifier, and a web-tracker.
How a QR code works
Mainly, smartphones are used to scan QR Codes. However, there are other ways, such as purchasing software like QR Code Studio and using your webcam to scan QR codes. If you don’t own a smartphone, you can find more information by searching “QR Code scanner online free.” Websites are available that can read QR Codes and provide free links.
Back to smartphones. Android and iPhones make scanning QR Codes easy. Newer smartphones are equipped with built-in QR Code scanning in the camera app. Simply point the camera at the QR Code and a link pops up, which directs you to the embedded content.
Older smartphones and basic-feature phones might not have the built-in QR Code scanning capability. If this is true for you, you will need to use a third-party app to scan QR Codes. Screenshots of QR Codes work as well, as long as the shot is clear. The QR Code will contain all necessary information.
QR Codes and You
You can direct customers to your webpage, your social media, and your website, for example, by loading your information onto your own QR Code. I’m in the early stages of studying the information I need to create my own QR Code—for free. Here is a short list of websites I found in my search:
https://www.canva.com/qr-code/generator
https://www.adobe.com/express/feature/image/qr-code-generator#
https://www.flowcode.com/free-qr-code-generator
QR Codes are everywhere. For example, you’ve been to restaurants where you can view the menu by scanning the establishment’s QR Code. But I didn’t think of using a QR Code for my own book sales until I met a YA author who uses her QR Code very effectively.
I observed my fellow children’s author while sharing a table with her at a recent book sale. She mentioned her QR Code to everyone who stopped at our table. She had created a “sell sheet” on half of an 8 ½ x 11 paper, that had her logo, book titles and blurbs, and her contact information. In the bottom right-hand corner she directed customers to scan her QR Code so they could reach her newsletter directly, and encouraged them to sign up. Voila! She told me that was one way she’d been building her base of contacts. I was thoroughly impressed and thought it was a smart and clever way to be in touch with interested readers.
I hope you find the introduction to QR Codes in this post helpful. If you use a QR Code for selling your books, please leave a comment so our readers can benefit from your experience.
Sources:
Google "QR Codes How to Use to Scan My Website": You will find information and videos on YouTube to help in all areas of using QR Codes
Wikipedia: "QR Codes"
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| Lobo Lucy visited out book sale on Veteran's Day this year. I wore my husband's Navy cap to honor his service and the service of all our brave soldiers. |
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8 comments:
Linda, I love this post! QR codes are a great marketing tool. My publishing client just sent me a QR code to add to her Find-Me page on her children's board book - she hired someone to create it. Maybe once you create one, you can share your process with us.
Thank you so much for the information. I have wondered how QR codes differ from Bar codes! It is also great to have those links!
Nina
I love it, too, Karen! I have started using them when they first came out but had a mini disaster. I used it on my book cover and when the link that went to my website was no longer viable, changing the cover was rife with problems. I'll let you imagine. I am not sure I remember all the exigencies. I didn't use codes anywhere after that. It wasn't intention. I just sorta forgot. Thanks, Linda! I needed that nudge!
Very best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Yikes, Carolyn. I'm putting the QR for my client on the last interior page - it's her Find-Me page. This way the covers don't have to be touched if there are any changes. And I don't include the price of the book on the barcode so that if there is a price change, the back cover doesn't need to be revised.
Linda,
Thank you for this article about QR codes and book sales. I confess I have been a slow adapter to using them but your article makes me want to explore it and see how I could sell more books using it.
Grateful,
Terry
author of Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Revised Edition) [Follow the Link for a FREE copy]
Good point about the retail price being on the covers as well. it doesn’t seem so long ago that it wasn’t a bad idea at all. And I remember even putting both US and Canada prices on mine! Although we should all probably note – – though the policy may not be across-the-board – – that Amazon hasn’t raised the prices on many old editions that were already on Amazon. Example: All of my poetry books, including the small chapbooks are still at their original prices – – both the paper and the e-books.
Hugs,
Carolyn
Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate them. One of my writer friends said QR Codes are a good idea, but you still have to get people to use them. Hmm. She could have a point. So we need to make our sales pitch and books so enticing, people won't be able to resist!
Yes, Linda. Getting our readers to use our QR codes. One thing about them, they are easy to repeat and repetition is one of the big benefits of QR codes. It doesn't hurt to add a tag line or pitch or what they'll get if they do use the QR code. A freebie or tip or ???
Hugs,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
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