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QR Codes ~ A rough draft of our new riders!

By Christie Lane Craven

Real Estate Agent with Blackwell Real Estate License# 641163

December 23, 2010 10:07 AM

QR Codes ~ A rough draft of our new riders

QR Code Rider for Real Estate

Here's the rough draft of the new signs we will be using after the first of the year. I'd love some feedback and also love to hear how any others are using QR codes in their business. So far, the plans are to include a 'add contact' QR Code on business cards, and an 'add date to calendar' QR code on open house flyers. What other inventive ideas have others come up with?

Also, brownie points if you can tell me the address of the property in the QR Code above :)

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FN LN

Toronto, ON

Hi Christie - I would just show the QR code without all of the text. If a person doesn't know what a QR code is or how to use or find the application, they won't use it.

Dec 23, 2010 09:00 PM

Rosemary Brooks

BMC Real Estate - 209-910-3706 - Stockton, CA

The Mother & Daughter Realty Team

I agree with Marc, the works are too much. Although QR codes are new now, in 2011 they will be out there so everyone that will use them will probably know how to use them. Or cut your text way down. Like SCAN for more info

Dec 24, 2010 12:30 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

I've been working on riders also as they are a great way to get a lot of information on to a sign that you normally don't have enough room to present to a buyer. Just like you have done with your property on Ayrlawn Dr.

Dec 25, 2010 01:24 AM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Marc & Rosemary- Good points, definitely something to consider. I do like some thing on there. Scan for more info is good as well.

Todd- I agree, so much info in such a small package :) You win on the address as well! :)

Dec 25, 2010 06:44 PM

Jim Paulson

Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID

Broker / Owner - Progressive Realty Corporation

QR codes for the win! I am in the process of researching them and plan to have them be a large part of my marketing campaign for 2011 for my company here in Boise, Idaho.

Dec 30, 2010 12:45 PM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

PR- I truly think they are going to play a big part in the future of real estate (and else where as well!) When you can fit so much information in such a small area, how can you not love it?

Dec 30, 2010 01:31 PM

Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC

Selling the Upstate since 1989

I haven't started using them yet.. I am anxious to see how you do with them.. keep us updated!!

Dec 31, 2010 12:24 PM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Shelia- I will. Getting them on the riders is just the first step. I think it will be a while until they are main stream but I want to get out a head of the curve.

Dec 31, 2010 02:15 PM

Keisha Hosea- KASIHomes.com

KASI Homes - Chino Hills, CA

Real Estate Solutions For Real People

Funny Christie, I was just talking about this today. I think because QR codes are relatively new, you should explain them. Just because someone does not know about them RIGHT now does not mean that they are not part of the demographic that you will ultimately want to hit. There are lots of people who love technology but just have not heard the word on it yet. Once it becomes more common place then obviously you could drop all the instructions. Happy New Year!

Dec 31, 2010 02:43 PM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Keisha- Very true, I have run into people who do have 'smart phones' and have heard of (or seen) QR codes (though they may not know what they are called) who didn't know they could read them just by downloading a free app on their phone.

Dec 31, 2010 06:14 PM

Terkel Sørensen

Real Estate Places - Temecula, CA

Realtor, 951.805.0773 , Bank owned and Short Sales

Very nice Christie.
BUT, I'm not finding the address easily - at least not on my smart phone - and the site you are sticking to me does not look like it was optimized for phone viewing?

We use them on signs, flyers etc...

Jan 02, 2011 04:04 PM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Terkel- Very true. The address is at the top of the page. Redirecting to a phone optimized site is part two, but definitely in the works. Are you seeing good usage of them from your signs and flyers?

Jan 02, 2011 04:12 PM

Nancy & Mike Thompson

Prudential, Cody homes, - Cody, WY

CRS, ABR, e-PRO, GRI - Prudential Real Estate - Cody Wyoming Homes

Hi christie,

Trulia is now offering free QR codes for your listings on trulia and I print them on magnet paper and stick them on the sign. So far it works well.

Jan 11, 2011 09:44 AM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Nancy & Mike- Ooooooo.. magnet paper! What a great idea! Those riders are plastic but I can definitely see some uses for having the codes on magnetic paper. Thanks for the suggestion!

Jan 11, 2011 09:53 AM

Nancy & Mike Thompson

Prudential, Cody homes, - Cody, WY

CRS, ABR, e-PRO, GRI - Prudential Real Estate - Cody Wyoming Homes

we use steel signs here(we get wind sometimes that would break plastic and our signs are bolted into the frame) :-(

Jan 11, 2011 10:49 AM

Chris Richter

Wintrust Mortgage - Chicago, IL

Christie, that rocks. I love what you are doing. Did you ever find a good solution on this?

I'm trying to go permanent sign by using a permanent shortened/forwarding URL that can be updated to a new landing page for each listing. Basically the text keyword and QR code are "permanent" but I just update the SMS response and QR forwarding location via control panel.

Basically I think I just need a good digital printer...anyone have a recommendation?

Looks like this:

sample qr & sms sign rider

BTW,

Feb 23, 2011 08:43 AM

Kelly Dix, Real Estate One

Real Estate One - Fraser, MI

Hi Christie

I've been trying to figure these out. I've downloaded a couple different readers and I still can't read your code. This is kind of frustrating and I wonder if it would be for customers as well???

Mar 06, 2011 01:29 PM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Chris- I'm still playing with the riders, mainly because I'm a perfectionist. On my test scans with different phones is seems to load fine 95% of the time. I want 100% lol. I LOVE your concept of having the same sign with URL redirecting. That is something I need to consider. I find the bigger I make the codes (obviously they need to be a decent size to be on a rider) the more distorted the image is so it takes longer to read the code. I keep hoping they will come out with even better phone apps. I also still want to work on directing it to a mobile optimized site. Keep me posted on how you are making out on your end and double brownie points for not just getting the address right, but putting the answer in a QR code.

Kelly- I've had the best luck on my Droid based phone with the app- "Barcode Scanner" and Optiscan is a popular one for iPhones. I have more experience with my Droid based Barcode Scanner but even being the devoted Google lover that I am, I have to admit that Optiscan read the codes much quicker. I do agree it is something that could be frustrating for customers but I definitely think it is something I have to try to incorporate. It's just another tool in the toolbox.

Mar 08, 2011 05:51 PM

Phil Leng

Retired - Kirkland, WA

Phil Leng - Retired

Hi Christie,

I like the idea of using the code everywhere.

To me that huge rider is obnoxious and ugly. (Just my opinion)

The QR code itself is pretty ugly. I am scouting around to learn how to give it some color and some artistic look.

Thanks for the post

Phil

Apr 11, 2011 05:58 PM

Christie Lane Craven

Blackwell Real Estate - Odenton, MD

Your Anne Arundel County Agent

Phil, That's for the feedback. This is honestly my favorite blog I have posted to 'the Rain' as I've received so many great ideas from other members. Some of the commenters above brought up some great points. 1. Too much text- People either know what QR codes are or don't and if they don't you aren't going to explain it on a rider. 2. A QR coe should direct you to a mobile optimized site since it is obviously meant to be viewed on a mobile phone.

I would like to condense it down to something smaller than a whole rider.. we use a lot of those anyway. I do have to say though, I disagree that the QR codes themselves are ugly. I like them but then again I am pretty geeky :) I've seen them with different colors and with pictures incorporated, but my phone at least also has a harder time reading those.

Thanks for stopping by!

Apr 12, 2011 06:00 PM