Now that there is a broad consensus emerging on how QR Codes can help make interactivity between online and offline world better, the only missing links lingering in stakeholders minds are where to invest, how to identify opportunities, when and what to profit from and offer to end users/customers.

Typical applications of QR Codes include:

• Manufacturing
• Product traceability
• Process control
• Order and time tracking
• Inventory and equipment management
• Warehousing and logistics
• Item tracking
• Retailing
• Point-of-purchase product identification
• Sales management
• Inventory control
• Healthcare
• Medical records management
• Patient identification
• Medication tracking
• Equipment and device tracking
• Life sciences
• Specimen tracking
• Transportation
• Fleet management
• Ticketing and boarding passes
• Office automation
• Document management
• Marketing and advertising
• Mobile marketing
• Electronic tickets, coupons, payments and loyalty programs

The newest and most innovative uses of the QR Code are in marketing and advertising.

QR Domain Names:

Four segments offer good value to invest in. They are:

1) Geo QR Names:

As QR codes gain prominence, penetration, and visibility, it makes perfect business sense to own GEO Names with a QR as a prefix or a suffix tagged to the name. Soon, there is going to be a mad rush for GeoQR names and don’t lose out edge to your competitor in your region. Here a top down approach works better. Work out from the Country level to the County level.

Examples: QRUS, QRIndia, IndiaQR etc.

2) Printing & Publishing QR:

Companies and agencies already into printing, publishing, logo designing, card and brochures designing and printing, website designing can offer QR Codes as one more value added service or as a top-up to their existing and new customers.

Examples: Qrcards, QRbrochures etc.

3) Realty QR and Directory Solutions:

QR offers huge value for Realty brokers, agents to make user experiences innovative, enriching, less time consuming and aid in better decision making.

Leading Realty companies, agents, broking firms, builders, construction companies can offer QR based solutions for prospective buyers. QR yard signs, QR directories, QR virtual realty tours and landing pages offer value.

4) Social QR:

This is an all encompassing space involving everything and anything which enhances your social marketing and social media presence. Here QR shirts, QR caps etc. are the differentiators in the social space to make you stand out.

Another emerging segment is the wineries and the Auto space which offers information and potential lead conversion if used properly.

Free QR generators and readers space is getting crowded but the paid QR space which can offer branded QR, custom QR, color QR can go beyond from being just a fad to fruitful usage. In today’s competitive environment, for marketers anything that sets them apart from the rest of the pack is a value proposition. So while the QR trend is hot, ride it!

I have been observing 2 business models for the last 3 years and now with certain degree of confidence can say that by 2015 they would be huge with more than $100 billion revenues each and many players fighting for a share of the lucrative pie. I will cover them in 2 parts, so here goes the First part…

ORGANIC Products:

Few facts about Organic business:

► U.S. sales of organic food and beverages has grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $28.6 billion in 2010. Experiencing the highest growth in sales during 2010 were organic fruits and vegetables, up 11.8 percent over 2009 sales

► Organic fruits and vegetables, which represent 39.7 % of total organic food value, and nearly 12 % of all U.S.fruit and vegetable sales, reached nearly $10.6 billion in 2010, up 11.8 percent from 2009 performance.

► According to the Organic Consumers Association, organic beer accounts for only about $50 million of the overall $7 billion craft beer market, but the figure continues to steadily grow.

► By 2015, a conservative estimate projects the need for 42,000 organic farmers to meet increasing market demand. Today, the industry is serviced by a mere 14,500 certified organic farmers.

► Organic dairy, the second-largest category, experienced 9% growth to achieve a value of $3.9 billion, and captured nearly 6 percent of the total U.S. market for dairy products.

► The Indian organic industry expects its total turnover, including exports, to go up from $ 135 million in 2010 to close to $ 1 billion by 2012, according to the International Competence Center for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA).

Six Organic Myths Busted in 2011

Organic Trade Association (OTA) highlights news that defied the old stereotypes this year. OTA examines several myths about organic agriculture that were “busted” this year by researchers, the media and shoppers.

1. Myth: Organic is a niche market

2. Myth: U.S.consumers are ambivalent about GMOs

3. Myth: Organic foods are too expensive for the average family to afford

4. Myth: Organic farming can’t feed the world

5. Myth: We no longer need to worry about pesticides

6. Myth: The Jobless Recovery

Detailed explanation for above myths is given here

Go Organic Today: Few Videos

Quick responses and Quirkier Uses – we have to accept we are living in a QR World. These images would further reinforce how QR is spreading virally across the globe and across industries.

1)Airlines

2) Business Cards

3) QR Social Media

4) Realty/Rentals/Property

5) Wineries

13 QR Code Uses for Wineries

6) Adult QR

QR Code Tips

Creating QR codes is quick, easy, and free. Just because you can create a QR code doesn’t mean you should. Here are some things to consider:

1. Define your goal.

Are you trying to lead people to a Web site? Offer product information? Promote a contest? Show a video?  Why would this be important and worthwhile to the person taking the time to scan the code?

2. Optimize for mobile viewing.

Most codes are scanned by smartphones, so make sure yours leads to a site that works well for those devices.

3. Size matters.

The more data you encode, the bigger the QR code will need to be. Tiny codes packed with data—which makes the pixels denser—are more difficult to scan. Larger codes are more reliable, particularly in less-than-optimal conditions such as low light, uneven surfaces, or those that need to be scanned from a distance. A one- by one-inch square is the minimum size recommended.

4. Test the code.

Test it with various devices and using various scanning apps before you promote it.

5. Be Strategic.

How will you track and use the data? QR codes provide information such as where the scans take place, whether people scan a code more than once, whether the codes are shared, etc. What you do with the information can really make a difference.

6. What happens to the link?

A QR code on a T-shirt is going to live even after an event. At the very least, make sure the link remains live; better yet, redirect the QR code to new information.

7. Add a URL. If you want to ensure that even those without smartphones can access your link, include a Web address just below the QR code.

 1) DOMAINfest

This is the first major event of 2012 in the domaining space and sets the tone for the rest of the year. In a way, it gives us a pulse, hint, gut feel of how the next 11 months might unfold. It’s a treat to attend this event and of course, the sumptuous feasts are unforgettable. I had attended a few of them over the last few years and hope to be at this years’ conference. The summation of the mood of the visitors, the interactions I have with old friends, new friends made and speakers helps me in fine-tuning my portfolio allocations for this year.

2 things I love about the event are:

A) Power-packed Agenda (Link Here)

B) Dine with an Experts (Link Here)

The 2012 DOMAINfest Conferences have some interesting sessions. Of special interest to me are the ones below:

► Panel: Mobile and Local Opportunities for Publishers and Advertisers on Jan 31st

► Workshop: Analyzing Keywords to Find Revenue Opportunities on Feb 1st

► Presentation: Landing Page Optimization Best Practices and Conversion on Feb 1st

► Workshop: Domain Valuation Techniques for Buying and Selling on Feb 2nd

► Panel: SEO Tips and Best Practices for 2012 on Feb 2nd

2) Southern California Domainers Meetup

Event: January Southern California Domainers Meetup

Venue:   The Shore Hotel, 1515 OCEAN AVENUE, Santa Monica, CA

Date and Time: Mon Jan 30, 7:30 PM

URL: http://www.meetup.com/domaining/

This is the first meetup of the group for 2012 and is scheduled the day before DOMAINfest. I will be attending this event and look forward to networking with my friends. 99 have RSVPed, so hoping to have decent networking here.

1) GOLD:  Gold has risen like a Phoenix from the ashes and analysts and naysayers who doled out numbers and figures  on why investing in gold was a bad investment and showed negatives ROIs are now a minority and hiding their recommendations.

Gold is turning out to be the best asset class  and is fast gaining a parallel currency parity and easy liquidity tag. With gold ETFs, gold loans gaining wider acceptance, its no wonder that Gold may soon surpass the US$ 2000 per ounce and might touch the magical $ 2500 if economic crisis persist or deepens in 2012. If you still have doubts, try reading Jim Rogers, George Soros, Goldman Sachs reports on Gold

Physical gold, Gold ETFs, Gold domain names are safer bets in 2012.

2) CLOUD:  Cloud computing is a major disruption I have seen in the last 1 decade and nothing works better for it than a recessionary environment and a blessing for corporates trying their best to extract maximum bang for their buck.  More than 5 billion dollar buyouts happened in 2011 with many million dollar deals also going unnoticed. More momentum is brewing into 2012 and sooner than later we would hear Cloud billionaires appear in Fortune 500.

Cloud businesses and Cloud computing names are a safe haven to bet in 2012

3) MOBILE:  Petabytes of articles have appeared on mobile and why it’s the future. Adding tablets and other smart gadgets to this growing segment, there is exponential demand to be met and users expectation of everything they have on the desktop and laptop on their mobile is driving the demand.

Mobile shopping, mobile payments, mobile security, mobile entertainment are going to be the major boosters in 2012 where maximum venture capital and PE money would move in. Mobile education is another niche not to be ignored.

4) QR CODES: It’s a QRazy world out there. Newer platforms are being embraced by users and marketers and also discared with equal speed. QR codes had a meteoric rise in 2011 and this trend is only going to proliferate in 2012.  Channeled properly, QR Codes have a longer life span and their usage across verticals and domains will create more brand loyalty.

Here, There, Everywhere…the QR movement is spreading fast and soon QRs may “Occupy Timesquare.”

Research Firms on QR:

1) Gartner says smartphone sales were expected to total nearly 500 million units worldwide in 2011 and jump to 1.8 billion by 2015.

2) Scanbuy reports that its system processed more than 20 million scans in the first nine months of 2011, a 440 % increase from the same period in 2010.

3) Comscore found that in June 2011, 14 million mobile users in theU.S.scanned a QR code on their mobile device. It further reports those who scanned during that month were more likely to be male (60.5 percent) between the ages of 18 and 34 (53.4 percent), and have a household income of  $100,000 or more (36.1 percent).

4) During 2011,  Nellymoser analyzed every page within the Top 100 magazines for ‘mobile action codes’ (all 2D barcodes, QR Codes, Microsoft Tags and Watermarks). They reviewed every 2011 issue of the top 100 national magazines – all 164,000 pages. They found a total of 4,400 QR Codes, Microsoft Tags, JagTags, SnapTags, BEE Tags, watermarks and other codes.

Mobile action codes, which include 2D barcodes, QR codes, Microsoft Tags and watermarks, have seen a tremendous uptake in magazine media in the last year. According to the study, there were 352 codes appearing in the top 100 titles in Q1, which increased   to 1,899 in Q4—a total of 4,468 action codes appeared during the year.

Among other findings:

• By December 1 out of every 12 magazine ad pages had an action code.
• QR codes and Microsoft Tags dominated at 97 percent of all codes in the fourth quarter of 2011 — but QR codes were by far the most popular at 72 percent of all used.
• Almost 40 % of action codes used by advertisers were in the beauty, home and fashion markets.

You can download the full report from Nellymoser here and here.

5) Chadwick Martin Bailey found that while just 21% of internet users surveyed had heard of QR codes before, more than four in five knew one when they saw one. As QR codes pop up in more places, awareness of them is growing, and many users seem to learn what they do before learning what they are called.

QR-in-a-Box: the NEW QRdentity

Business Cards, Tattoos, Stickers, Signs, Shirts, Chains, Ads – you name it, if it’s innovative and increases retail participation, Fortune 500 companies are game for it. A new study by Burson-Marsteller titled “The Fortune 50 Use of Mobile” has found that 22% of the Fortune 50 are placing QR codes in magazines, on billboards, or at any convenient location to deliver relevant content to smartphone users.

Scanbuy Survey Results:

Conducted through SurveyBuilder platform that includes an audience of over 5 million panelists from around the world, the study reveals new data from the marketer’s perspective that can be used to gain a better understanding of current adoption rates, and how campaigns are being implemented and assessed. Scanbuy’s survey link available here. In brief the results are:

2D Barcode Awareness & Adoption:

►► Difference in awareness of 2D barcodes between large and small businesses is relatively minimal with 95% and 89% respectively.

►► 61% report using open source code formats with QR Codes leading by a large margin at (45%), Datamatrix (16%), Microsoft Tag (14%), EZcode (12%) and Snap Tag (11%).

►► Top 3 content choices that the codes link to include: product details, promotions and coupon offers.

►► Top 3 media placement choices included magazines and newspapers, direct mail and product packaging.

►► When asked if they were happy with their experience, those that used a paid service were 50% more satisfied than those using a freeware generator.

►► Expectations both in the quantity and the quality of QR Code marketing are expected to grow considerably in 2012 with 86% of respondents reporting that they plan to use 2D barcodes in the future.

 QRShopping: Is it the Future?

How TESCO became No.1 in KOREA using QR Codes and Virtual Shopping: An Excellent strategy!

 Misuse and Abuse of QR:

Indeed, despite competing formats like Data Matrix and Microsoft Tags, the benefits of QR are proving too irresistible for marketers to ignore. Unfortunately, far too many Marketers utilizing Mobile barcodes are sacrificing its true potential – merely using them just to direct consumers to an existing website.

Enticing the user and giving the user a deal, a coupon, or some people of information or knowledge that they are seeking in order for them to go into their pocket, get out their phone, and visit your marketing campaign should be the ultimate goal of a campaign. Consider that 53% of all QR code scans are a result of some type of incentive.

United Airlines in-flight magazine – Hemispheres recent issue had liberal sprinkling of QR Codes in many ads. In Hemispheres, fifteen separate QR codes in diverse print advertisements were seen. Is this just the beginning of a QRrraze?

Mobile Barcodes have started popping up everywhere. We see them appear in magazines, catalogs, on outdoor signage, on packed goods,  and on billboards. QR Codes or in Short “QR” or Quick Response codes may appear as black-and-white squares showing up in subway ads or in least expected places tempting you to pick up your smartphone ASAP.

Thanks to our growing addiction to our smartphones, you’ll likely be seeing more of them. You already might have found them on posters, storefront window displays, TV ads, business cards, websites and even on T-shirts. When accessed with your phone, a QR code takes you to a landing page where you’ll usually find special promotional content.

QR Codes 101

What is a QR Code?

QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are 2-dimensional bar codes that have actually been around since 1994. They have widely used in Japanand in parts of Europe with US being a late but fast adopter . With the increased adoption of mobile phones, they are increasing in popularity across Asia especially in India, Korea, Indonesia etc.

Introduction:

How can you catch the attention of busy, mobile consumers? How can you get them to respond to offers before the opportunity is lost? The answer is quick response codes, or QR codes for short. Although QR codes are typically in black-and-white, they can be created in color, too. They can even include your company logo.

How Do QR Codes Work?

Viewing QR codes is simple. Simply point your mobile phone camera toward the code, snap a picture, and the software on your phone decodes the image. (On some phones, QR code readers come pre-installed. Others require you to download them.) Instantly, you are directed to a website or a landing page. Or you might be presented with a special coupon offer or see a special text message.

No need to write down anything or type in URLs by hand. Just stop, scan, and view.

Many QR scanning applications are available for Android, iPhone, BlackBerry and Symbian phones. Anyone can generate their own QR code for free. And you can link it to anything — from URLs to contact information, your social media links to your GPS location.

Brands and companies are increasingly taking advantage of this relatively low-cost marketing tool. Designer QR codes are the way forward for QR removing the boring and inducing the color and fun element. A recent article by Mashable showcases 15 Beautiful and Creative QR Codes [PICS]

GLOBAL QR usage in double digits:

“Awesome” is the right word to describe the growth of QR Codes across the globe. The recent stats by Comscore and Google Trends and Insights is further endorsement of its viral growth.

>>> i-Nigma Tech’s Recent Report on Global QR growth

Google’s Trends and Insights Stats on QR Codes:

QR Readers

1)http://www.i-nigma.com/Downloadi-nigmaReader.html

2) http://gettag.mobi (Microsoft tag readers)

QR Generators:

0) http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

1) 30 Sites to Generate QR Codes

2) Create Colorful QR Codes and Brand with your Logo

3) http://qreateandtrack.com/

4) http://www.beqrious.com/

5) http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/

6) http://scanlife.com/

7) http://barcode.com/qrcode.html?view=qrcode

Why, What For, and Where are QR Codes used:

37 Examples of Using QR Codes…the list is growing as you read

http://www.slideshare.net/bannersonaroll/37-examples-of-using-qr-codes

QR Codes Vs JagTag Vs Mircosoft Tags

Debate is going on comparing QR codes with other technologies in the market and some even portending that newer technologies like NFC, AR would wipe out its usage. I will reserve that debate to my next post and suffice to just compare other products in the same space. A good comparison is provided here.

10 Reasons QR Codes Will Be Absolutely Everywhere:

You may hate them or like them but you cannot ignore them. The time to acknowledge them and adopt them in your business is the best way to evolve.

Read why they are becoming omnipresent HERE.

QR FAQs:

21 QR Code Frequently Asked Questions

INDIA: Early Adopters and Rapid Growth of QR

After becoming a rage in mobile-evolved and data-rich markets like theUnited States, Europe, Korea and Indonesia, marketers back home are attempting to rewrite the rules of engagement with QR codes.

Google stats on QR Codes putsIndiaamong the Top 15 countries. Car-maker Ford has been a pioneer of sorts when it comes to deploying QR codes inIndia. An year ago, the auto giant ran ads in leading newspapers for the Ford Figo with a QR code.

The early adopters of the technology in India range from food, hospitality and retailing to automobile, telecom and technology. QR codes are turning out to be the perfect marketing package – a brief, compact, message driver and engagement tool – all loaded in one single code. QR codes for campaigns like the one for Godrej’s social networking site GoJiyo, Taj Hotel’s holiday packages branded Safari, and the soon-to-be-launched promotion for Cottonworld.Indiahas witnessed stunning growth in the last few years in smartphone sales and with this growth emergence of newer tools like QR codes to provide instant access to promos is gaining acceptance.

All of the above products were first shown to the public at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) before reaching the stores and buyers were talking about them day-in and out until they laid their hands on them to get the first hand feel of it.

CES 2012 is going to be bigger and better with everyone anxiously waiting to see if the visitors this year will break the 150, 000 record, and if the next cool product will be within their budgets, and will there be a pioneer who would crush the market share of other players,  and which company stock is worth betting on in 2012.

It’s a must attend show for the consumer electronic geeks, for the trend followers, and for the CXOs to see where the future lies and what they are missing.  For the webpreneurs, this year is going to be an interesting one with some radical technologies ready for roll out. Let me take inspiration from Nostradamus and dole out my predictions of what will set the media buzzing this year.

Here is my list…what is your take on them or am I missing something BIG? Do send us your comments, I am all ears  :-)

A) “Connected”, “Ultra”and “Always-On” generate a lot of Buzz

B) M to M (Machine to Machine or Mobile to Mobile), move over P2P

C) Multi Screen Mania (1st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th – TV, PC, Tablet,Mobile…is there a 5th screen on the horizon?)

D) In-CAR Entertainment (InVehicle…isn’t 20-30% of  our life spent in a car?)

E) V2X (Vehicle to X Technologies)

F) Over-the-top TV (OTTTV…so many T’s)

G) TV Everywhere 

H) Smartcars (Connected Cars…are there anymore Smart’s left?)

I) Ultrabooks get Ultimate eyeballs while 3D TVs and Tablets struggle for attention

J) Digital Health Tech ( Babyboomers ..here is a New Year gift)

K) Last but not the least Mobile, Mobiles, and more Mobiles

Thanks to Sortable.com, an excellent Infographic on CES shows the entire CES history and the precedents it sets each year for consumer electronics demand.

Infographic courtesy of Sortable.com

“E“nterprise = “M”obile + “I”nmemory “C”omputing + “C”loud

Paperless is now moving to Contactless and touch and tap based.

Mobile is radically changing business models and a firm without a mobile strategy is assured of its place at the bottom of the ladder and on a path to self-destruction.

In-memory computing is making its way out of R&D labs and into the enterprise, enabling real-time processing and intelligence.

Cloud Computing is a disruption as powerful as the internet and firms need to fast evolve a cloud strategy to cut costs, improve efficiency, enhance customer delight and increase bottom-line.

BIG data is creating bigger problems and it is new technologies like above which help the elephants to be nimble enough to dance and not be overtaken by start-ups.

As a webpreneur, are you ready for the fast track or have you lost track? Do you have an online or a offline edge over your competition?