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QR Codes for Real Estate

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Metrolist

If you've never seen a QR Code, you're about to see them everywhere. A QR code is a matrix barcode that can be deciphered by most smartphones using the phone's camera and a QR decoder app.

QR codes, which are used to direct a smartphone to a specified URL, are gaining popularity as a marketing tool, especially in the real estate industry. For example, this QR code goes to the Metrolist Facebook page.

QR codes can be placed anywhere, and brokers are finding many creative ways to use QR codes, such as on yard signs, listing brochures, business cards, promotional items, etc. Pam Franz of PJ Promotions tells us that, "QR codes were the big thing at our promotional products tradeshow this year. They are really gaining momentum and are showing up in more and more places."

Effective QR Codes
To ensure that your QR codes are effective, it's important to link to valuable content that is formatted for viewing on a mobile device or smartphone. Don't send your QR decoders to a non-mobile-friendly site that provides little or no value. Some things that you might consider linking to are listing pages that are formatted for mobile viewing, YouTube (usually very smartphone friendly) video tours of your listings, or a mobile "tool kit" with contact information and a property search.

Suzanne Taylor
Ultima Real Estate - Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi, TX
Home Sales In Corpus Christi, TX

Melissa,

I was surprised you didn't post in the QR group also.  I have got to get with the program and start using mine, well, maybe tomorrow.

Mar 15, 2011 07:25 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Thanks for the reminder; Suzanne thanks for the tip, didn't know there was a QR group.

Mar 15, 2011 08:28 PM
Torgie Madison
Quicksilver Real Estate Solutions, LLC - Portland, OR
Websites and Contact Management

I haven't started using these myself, probably because I'm behind the times and don't have a smart phone yet! I'm going to add this to my "to do" list though as I have been seeing more and more of them recently.

Mar 16, 2011 03:37 AM
Jordon W.Y. Wong, Jr.
Marcus & Associates, Inc. - Kailua, HI

What program do you use to generate your QR codes?  I'd like to start using QR codes in my marketing materials too.

Mar 25, 2011 11:36 AM
Melissa Olson
Metrolist - Greenwood Village, CO

We used the QR generator at http://delivr.com. It was easy to create and gives you analytics tools to track how many times your QR code has been scanned or viewed.

Apr 16, 2011 05:11 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Thanks for the information, Melissa. We are using Snap Tags on our for sale signs, riders and flyers. The battle between Snap Tags and QR codes is a pain. Similar to Beta vs. VCR or the two dueling Blu Ray formats. I have to have several aps on my smart phone to make sure one of them reads the funny little squiggles, triangles and squares.

Here is ours:

Snap Tag

May 01, 2011 11:53 AM
Neetu Kainthla
BHHS Caliber Realty - College Station, TX

One of the problems I have seen is that QR codes send the phone browsers to the agent/company web page. It is difficult to read those pages on the small screen and in my opinion defeats the purpose.

Jun 23, 2011 05:33 AM
George Fanucci
CoreFact.com - Los Altos, CA
Internet - Technology - Business - Solutions
Very good tip, make sure that your QR code points to a mobile-friendly landing page or URL.
Sep 03, 2011 08:52 AM