Gettin’ Geeky Episode #5 Podcasting, Skype and CallBurner

Gettin’ Geeky Episode #5 Podcasting, Skype and CallBurner

@GinaSchreck

November 19, 2010 | Filed Under Gettin Geeky, Gettin Geeky Video, Technology, Video | Leave a Comment

36 1/2 Ideas for QR Codes and MicroSoft Tags in YOUR Business

QR Code

According to Wikipedia: A QR Code is a matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by QR scanners, mobile phones with a camera, and smartphones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data.

Common in Japan, where it was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. QR is the acronym for Quick Response, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.[1]

I like to think of QR Codes as Hyperlinks on our physical world! They are no longer just black and white and Microsoft Tag has come along and added a few more features that make the little codes even more flexible.

I have been seeing more of the colorful Microsoft tags on the backs of cereal boxes and around town. These require a separate scanner app from Microsoft (free download on any smart phone-look for Microsoft Tag Reader) and can be customized into pictures that are very cool.

Microsoft Tag can provide data on how often and where the tag was scanned. You are also able to change the data source without having to change the tag.

Here are a few scanner apps that people have voted as their favorites for QR Codes (be sure and share yours in the comments):

Android Platform: BarCode Scanner (I use this and find it to be the fastest); QuickMark for Android (Both FREE); Google Goggles works for QR codes as well (FREE)

iPhone: Optiscan for iPhone (known as fastest for iPhone -$1.99); NeoReader (Free); QR Reader (Free); Google Goggles work for scanning as well.

Blackberry: ScanLife Barcode Reader (Free); QR Code Scanner Pro (vibrates when code connects AND Free); NeoReader (Free)

QR Code Made From Lego (by LarryStraining)

Here are my favorite QR Code Generators:

ZXing: I like this one because you can embed content (memo), a URL, Contact info, and even a calendar event!

Kaywa: Like above you can choose to embed a URL, text content or contact information, but UNLIKE ZXing, you have to choose one.

TIPS: The more information you put into your QR code, the more complex it will be. The geometric pattern will be denser, and could be more difficult to accurately scan and interpret. Shorten your URL using a tool like bit.ly to add some analytic features and see how many people are going to the site you sent them to.

36 1/2 Creative Uses for QR Codes or MS Tags:

QR codes for business, unique uses for QR codes, Gina Schreck, Technology expert, social learning, mobile

Sweet Code

1. QR Code on food products to take you to nutritional information.

2. QR Code on produce to tell you where the product was grown.

3. QR Code on items that need assembling taking you to a website with detailed instructions and a video!

4. QR Code inside a book taking you to a website where updates are available.

5. QR Code at zoo or museum to bring up videos or additional information on subject.

6. QR Code at conferences for handouts, exhibitor information and more.

7. QR Code on T-shirt taking prospective clients to your website, Twitter page or a video link for a fun surprise.

8. QR Code on business cards instead of cramming more info on there!

9. QR Code on health club door taking you to a site with great healthy recipes or trainer tips

10. QR Code on paper products with quick and easy recipes for families obviously on the go!

11. QR Code on sticker for laptops, phones, & other important gadgets that get left behind with your contact info.

12. QR Code on a rubber stamp for envelopes, stationary or even your forehead taking people to special promo pages on your site.

13. QR Code at the end of an article taking people to a bonus video.

14. QR Codes providing clues for a treasure hunt.

15. QR Codes around a school yard taking students to learning content (while they play! SNEAKY)

16. QR Code on art piece taking you to artists portfolio.

17. QR Code at the end of a video on YouTube taking viewers to more fun content.

18. QR Code on wedding invitations or favors taking guests to online photos of the couple.

19. QR Code hidden in product or on raffle tickets – most go to fun content site and one goes to YOU’VE WON page!

20. QR Code on a bus stop bench with links going to car dealers website or eco-friendly sites.

21. QR Code on a grave site to take you to a page telling about the deceased.

22. QR Code on clothing tags taking you to designer websites or sites to provide styling tips.

23. QR Codes around an organization that take you to videos revealing the history or story of a company.

24. QR Code hidden in posters or marketing material that takes you to a special discount code.

25. QR Code on fingernail art taking you to a Facebook page or a nail salon website.

26. QR Code on dog tag taking you to a video sharing dog’s contact info or dog’s Facebook page )

27. QR Codes on plant stakes to provide growing tips, plant origins, and coupons to fertilizers or gardening supplies.

28. QR Code on belt buckle taking you to your contact info or website.

29. QR Code on cupcakes or cake taking people to a special page with photos or videos featuring the guest of honor.

30. QR Code on car windows at dealer lot to allow shoppers to see video of car features when dealer is closed, or if they want to browse on their own.

31. QR Codes on menus taking people to a video of chef explaining the unique ingredients used.

32. QR Codes on mailers that are sent out to take prospective customers to a video of you telling them why they should work with you.

33. QR Codes at the end of proposals that take people to a video of you addressing the potential client by name and giving the benefits of working with you.

34. QR Codes at the end of each book chapter with bonus audio or video content.

35. QR Code on business cards taking people to a white paper or free product to download.

36. QR Code on accountant’s business cards taking people to forms they need.

36 1/2. QR Code tattooed on your child…If lost, please return to… OK maybe not!

Now that I have your brain engaged here, what other ideas can you add? What are creative places and uses you have seen?

Gina Schreck

Gina Schreck
President & Chief Hooligan at Synapse 3Di

@GinaSchreck

November 8, 2010 | Filed Under Education, EVENTS, Future, Marketing, Mobile Technology, Social Learning, Social Media, Technology | 6 Comments

QR Codes out of Legos…Let YOUR Imagination BUILD SOMETHING

Thanks to Paul Simbeck-Hampson for sharing this fun video and to Phyllis Khare for passing it along. Social Learning at its BEST!

See how technology and toys can lead to fun customer engagement and higher sales. What will you embed in your codes?

QR Codes are like physical world hyperlinks! You can add them to anything and let people discover clues, trivia, and more!

To get started:

1. Download a FREE scanner app on your smartphone by searching your app store for BARCODE SCANNER or SCANNER.

2. Go to one of these sites to create your code for FREE!

http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/ (This site lets you add additional information aside from your website URL. Type in a message like I did on the code below.

QR codes, Gina Schreck, Technology speaker, social media business, Getting Geeky

Scan This

http://QRStuff.com (This site is fun because it allows you to create a QR code from a URL, text, a Vcard with your contact info on it or even a Google map with a specific location pinpointed! When you create your code you can order fun merchandise like hats, shirts, coffee mugs, and more)

TIP: To add some analytics to your QR Codes, create a short URL over at http://bit.ly or http://Goo.gl and then use that link to create your codes so you can track the numer of clicks and more.

Where can you put these fun codes? Where will you take people?

Have fun playing and learning~

@GinaSchreck

Gina Schreck

Gina Schreck
President & Chief Hooligan at Synapse 3Di

@GinaSchreck

October 13, 2010 | Filed Under Marketing, Mobile Technology, Social Learning, Technology | 1 Comment

A 12-Second Lesson on Why You Should Start Your Own Blog

Gina Schreck, social media for business, facebook for business, technology speaker

Don't Get Caught with Your Goods Inside

Today I got a notice that 12Seconds.tv was shutting down. If you had never used this service, it was basically Twitter on video. You created a short (well, 12-second) video message using your webcam or mobile phone and it went out to your friends. There were many people who spent a lot of time crafting and creating thousands of these short diddies and many people who created at least a few of them, and now… bye bye. They are allowing folks to download or pull their videos off of the 12Seconds.tv site until October 22. I had signed up for their service when they first launched 3 years ago but never actually used it (that’s probably what did them in! They would have had WAY more traffic had I just gotten on board!)

It is sad to see an innovative company close their doors but it is a good reminder to all of us who post great juicy nuggets of our content on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and any other site other than our own… that your content is not your own unless it is on your own site. Sure you can post to Facebook and Twitter and every other social site in the universe, but let it also have a home on your blog. How many people thought there would never come a day when MySpace wasn’t king? Who can imagine a time when we wouldn’t be loading all of our treasured memories and content on Facebook? Your photos…your videos…your content. Be sure you have a back up plan just in case Mark Zuckerberg decides to pack it all up and move to Farmville!

Farewell 12Seconds.tv may you REST IN PEACE!

Gina Schreck

@GinaSchreck

Gina Schreck
President & Chief Hooligan at Synapse 3Di

@GinaSchreck

October 4, 2010 | Filed Under Blogging, Brand Management, Facebook, Facebook PAGES, Gettin Geeky, Social Media, Technology, YouTube | Leave a Comment

SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE: Making time for social media

Time for social media, social media for business, making time for social media, social media training

Time Squeeze

Yesterday someone sent me a question that really got me thinking. It doesn’t take much to send my brain off on a 2-hour tangent, but this was a question we all struggle with. Her comment and question was this:

“I am marginally involved in social media, but, like most of us these days, I’m so busy taking care of the “have-to’s” that there is little time to devote to keeping things current on Facebook and LinkedIn. I recognize, however, that I always manage to make time for the really important things. How important is social media? “

Now I am no life coach or productivity expert (that made me laugh just typing it!) but when it comes to prioritizing activities around social media here are some questions you must FIRST ask yourself:

What are my goals? What am I trying to achieve in my work and personal life (if they are separate?)
What activities must I be engaged in to get me to these goals? If your goal is to move into a leadership position (which hers was) then personal and professional development are essential activities. If your goal is to start your own business, then networking, learning to market and sell become essential. So we must first identify the activities.
NOW- what are the best ways to perform these activities? What tools can I use to do these activities better, faster, BIGGER? If your goal is to learn management skills, take a class, but also find and connect with other top leading managers and leaders on Twitter to learn from the best (go beyond the book). Network with others in management classes on Facebook or LinkedIn to share knowledge and accelerate our learning. Through social media you can create your own mastermind group of experts where you can listen, ask questions, and grow faster than you could on your own. You are also putting your name and expertise out there creating more opportunities for yourself. My oldest daughter is a zoology major up at CSU and I have encouraged her to connect with and learn from others in her field on Twitter.
Lastly, what are those other “HAVE TO” activities that I am filling my day with and how can I re-prioritize or become more efficient while doing those?
If you are spending 2-3 hours attending meetings that are not productive…ask for agendas, call in instead of attending live, etc. If you are spending too much time on email, commit to becoming more efficient with that by creating rules and telling people to send you messages only when necessary- no FYI messages. And at home how are you spending your time? If you are spending time watching television at home, well then….. YOU HAVE TIME!

Social media tools are just that…TOOLS. They can help you perform some of these activities on a much bigger scale and less myopic than other activities (ie- going to Chamber lunches or Association meetings) (Yes, I am anticipating the hate mail on that comment), but the bottom line is you have to start with the end in mind. What are your goals and how can social media tools help you reach those goals?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this~ What are YOU doing to make time for social media? Is it working for you?

Gina Schreck

Let us help you set those goals and find the right tools to get there FAST! We help organizations use today’s technology to connect in meaningful ways with their communities.

Gina Schreck
President & Chief Hooligan at Synapse 3Di

@GinaSchreck

October 2, 2010 | Filed Under Facebook, Facebook PAGES, Gettin Geeky, LinkedIn, Social Media, Technology, Twitter | 2 Comments

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