A Quick Response (QR) code is a two-dimensional code that can be scanned by smartphone cameras to automatically pull up text, photos, videos, music and URLs.

These codes have become mobile-friendly ways to point people in the offline space to online resources.

Already popular in Japan, consumers in the United States are becoming more familiar with QR codes as each day goes by. If you’re unfamiliar with the business potential of QR codes, here are some ideas how you can use QR codes.

Put them on marketing materials: If you’re using flyers, brochures, programs, handouts, whitepapers and a myriad of other materials in your media kit, just add QR codes to direct viewers to a particular how-to video, send them to a Flickr photo set, get them to follow you on Twitter, or point them to a mobile-friendly landing page that promotes a new campaign.

In storefront windows: Generate your own QR code to place in your window. You can use this code to encourage Foursquare checkins, point scanners to your Yelp profile, your Facebook page or simply invite customers to share memories in photo, video or text form via Stickybits and Flickr.

For freebies or deals: If you really want people to pay attention to your QR codes, make them good for something fun. Say you’ve placed a QR code decal in your storefront window, why not reward those who scan it with 10% off their purchase or a free pastry? Give them something small to thank them for their patronage. Simply create a custom QR code for the freebie you want to offer. You could even get creative and hide the QR code offers online, like on your Facebook page or website, or somewhere inside your store.

Inform your print customers: Let customers know about QR codes and help them add them to their marketing materials. You may attain more design work or maintain print jobs as they like receiving ideas from their technically savvy printer!

How to make and scan a QR Code:

Type in QR code generator in Google or any other search engine and you’ll get a plethora of results.

A quick Google search for “QR code generator” is all it takes to find a plethora of places you can go to generate your own barcodes. Consider starting first with Kaywa, iCandy or Stickybits.

Kaywa’s QR code generator is the simplest way to generate a QR code for a URL, text, phone number or SMS. Simply select your preference, enter the content, specify size and click “Generate.” Then, save the code to use elsewhere or grab the HTML to embed it online.

iCandy is a bit more robust and helps you track scans and look at analytics around generated QR codes. You can also print codes through partner services.

Stickybits is slightly different in purpose, but the service also makes it simple to create stickers for your codes, as well as inspire collective content creation from people who scan your codes.

On the scanner side of things, apps that can scan codes are available for most smartphones. Simply search your app store for “barcode reader,” or “QR code scanner,” and you’ll find several to choose from.

On the iPhone, options include “QuickMark” and “Optiscan.” On Android, “Barcode Scanner” is a popular QR code reader.

Good Luck! We’d love to hear how you implemented QR codes into your marketing!