Where's Your QR Code?

I am sure that you have seen them.

Those crossword puzzle looking things that are popping up in store windows, signage, on the back of business cards, in print ads, and flyers, etc. They’re Quick Response (“QR”) codes.

QR codes and other two-dimensional codes are similar to bar codes used by retailers to track inventory and price your items when they scan your products for purchase. The difference in a QR code and a bar code is the amount of data that they store or share. Bar codes are linear one- dimensional codes that normally only hold 20 numerical digits, whereas the QR codes are two-dimensional matrix bar codes that can hold thousands of alphanumeric characters of information.

When someone scans or reads a QR code with their iPhone, Android, or other camera-enabled Smartphone, they can link to digital content on the web, activate a number of phone functions, and connect the phone to a web browser.

QR codes are starting to make their appearance on real estate agent’s signage, in real estate for sale magazines like HOMES&LAND and on the back of business cards and flyers. My friend, Jerry Hobby of Anything Internet agrees that QR codes are the way to go in the promotion of your listings and your services. You can read his article on page 18.

In this, our June 2011 issue of Premier Agent Magazine, we start introducing our own QR codes to our two Company Profiles for Gateway Credit and Mr. Electric (on pages 10 and 11) and in clients’ ads like Churchill Mortgage, Champions School of Real Estate, Houston PreForeclosures, and SWE Homes.

Soon you will see them in the publication on all on-going advertisers. The reason we are doing this is simple. We know as top producing Realtors® you want and need immediate access to information. In print media, QR codes make that happen!

In addition, If you will scan the QR code on the top right side of my column, it will take you to a presentation of photos (with music no less) from our “Cinco de Mayo/Meet our Kansas City Publishers Party”. We thought it would be a fun way to introduce the QR code to our magazine.

This month's cover honoree, Lewis Walker of RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring utilizes the QR code on his signage and has achieved success by adding the codes.
Lewis is a great guy and a great agent. Barbara and I enjoyed getting to know Lewis, his staff (Cindy & Misti,) and his wife Jenny.

I know you will enjoy his story!

Many thanks to Efren Hernandez, the General Manager of Americas Restaurant (21 Waterway Avenue) in The Woodlands and his staff for their hospitality during our photo shoot on May 12th . Check them out at www. Cordua.com. You will find Americas Restaurant in Barbara's “Realtor Recommendations” column is this issue.

It is time to let you enjoy this month's copy of the magazine. Do you have your Smartphone ready to scan?
Good reading, good sales and success to you!

Steve Levine
Publisher

2. From the Publisher
9. News Worthy
12. The Business of Real Estate
13. News Worthy
14. As I See It
15. Realtor Recommendations
16. Mortgage Corner
17. NAHREP News
18. Life, Business, & Money
19. WCR News