QR Code is very famous these days even though everyone is somehow using the QR Code. There is no denying the popularity and convenience of the QR Code. But, you would be wondering what exactly are QR Codes, and how you can create your own QR codes for your personal or professional work.
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What are QR Codes?
QR stands for Quick Response and a QR Code is a two-dimensional barcode that consists of black squares arranged on a white square grid that can be read by digital devices and which stores various types of information, such as website URLs, contact information, or product details.
These codes can be scanned using a smartphone camera or a QR code reader app, which allows the users to quickly access the encoded information. QR codes are often used in marketing and advertising campaigns because they are easy to scan and interact with.
How to scan a QR Code?
You can scan a QR code by using your smartphone camera or a QR code scanner app which lets you quickly open the web page, send a text message, download an app, and much more. Here are the simple steps to scan a QR code.
- Open the camera app on your smartphone.
- Aim the camera at the QR code, making sure it is within the frame of the camera.
- Your smartphone will automatically detect the QR code and display a notification or a prompt.
- Tap on the notification or follow the on-screen instructions to open the encoded information.
How to create a QR Code in Microsoft Word?
Now, let’s see how we can create our own custom QR code in Microsoft Word. In which are using the Microsoft Word 2019 version. Creating a QR code in Microsoft Word is very easy just follow our step-by-step guide to quickly create a custom QR code.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Office, go to the Home tab, and click on Add-ins.
Step 2: Once you click on the Add-ins option, a pop-up will appear, and then click on Get More Add-ins
Step 3: In the Get Add-ins window, Type the QR code in the search bar, then press Enter look for QR4Office, and click Add.
Once you add it, on the Right Side of the document, a QR4Office window will appear.
Step 4: In the QR4Office window, you can enter the URL/TEXT you want to encode. Additionally, you will get the option category to choose the color and background of the generated QR code.
After generating the QR code, you can click on the INSERT button and the QR code will appear on your Word document.
Now, that we have seen how can add a QR code in Microsoft Word it’s time to see how we can create our own custom QR code using Google Chrome’s inbuilt feature.
How to create a QR Code using Google Chrome
Google Chrome has an inbuilt QR code generator, you can use this feature in Android, iOS, and Desktop versions of Google Chrome. To create the QR code follow the steps:
Step 1: Click on the Share option in the Search URL box, then click on the Create QR Code.
Step 2: Once you click on the Create QR Code, a QR code will be generated and an input box will also appear. You can change the QR code by changing the text in the input field, you can enter TEXT/URL then click on download to save in your device.
How to create a QR Code using an Online Tool:
If you are looking for a simple way to generate or create a QR code, you can get help from online QR code generators. We will use QR Code Generator to create our custom QR code. Here are the steps to create it.
Step 1: Go to Google.com and then type this URL: QR-code-generator.com, then hit Enter. The website will open as shown in this image.
Step 2: You need to enter the URL. You can link other things like PDFs, IMAGES, TEXT, MP3, E-MAIL, and much more. After picking the content you want to create the QR for, the generated QR Code will appear on the right side of the window automatically.
Step 3: This online tool gives you a bunch of customization options, where you can choose different types of frames, Shapes & Colors, and Logo.
Step 4: If you want to download the generated QR Code, then just click on the Download button, which is shown in the above image. You can download it in JPG or Print Quality such as SVG/EPS.
Features of QR Code
QR codes offer several features and benefits, making them a valuable tool for businesses and individuals alike. Some key features of QR codes include:
- Versatility: QR codes can store various types of information, including URLs, text, and contact details.
- Accessibility: Can be scanned using any smartphone with a camera, making them accessible to a wide audience.
- Trackability: Tracked and analyzed to gather data on user engagement and behavior.
- Customization: You can customize with different colors, logos, and designs to match branding or aesthetic preferences.
Best QR Code Generators
Here are some of the best online QR Code generators that you can use for free or with a paid subscription:
- Uniqode: A QR Code solution that offers a variety of features, such as dynamic codes, scan tracking, analytics, mobile landing pages, and more. It also supports multiple QR Code types, such as URL, text, contact, PDF, app, email, phone, and SMS.
- QR Code Generator: Simple and easy-to-use website that allows you to create QR Codes for different purposes, such as URL, text, contact, email, phone, SMS, and WiFi. You can also customize the look of your QR Codes with colors, logos, and frames.
- QR Code Monkey: Free QR Code generator that lets you create QR Codes for various content types, such as URL, text, email, phone, SMS, vCard, meCard, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Bitcoin. You can also design your QR Codes with custom colors, shapes, and logos.
- Bitly: Popular URL shortener that also provides QR Code generation and management. You can create QR Codes for any Bitly link and track the performance of your campaigns with analytics and insights. You can also edit the destination URL of your QR Codes anytime.
- UserGuiding: A user onboarding and product adoption platform that also offers QR Code generation as a feature. You can create QR Codes for your web pages and guide your users through interactive tours and tooltips. You can also measure the effectiveness of your QR Codes with analytics and feedback.
Conclusion
QR codes are a powerful tool for sharing information quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re creating QR codes in Microsoft Word or using an online generator, incorporating QR codes into your marketing strategy can help enhance engagement, drive traffic, and streamline processes.
FAQs about QR Codes
Q1. What is the maximum amount of data that can be stored in a QR code?
Ans. QR codes can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters, or 7,089 numeric characters, depending on the encoding mode and version of the code.Q2. Are QR Codes secure?
Ans. While QR codes themselves are not inherently secure, they can be used as part of a secure authentication or verification process when implemented correctly.Q3. Can QR codes be customized?
Ans. Yes, QR codes can be customized with different colors, logos, and designs to align with a brand’s identity or specific marketing campaign.Q4. Do QR codes require an internet connection to work?
Ans. No, scanning the QR code does not require an internet connection, but accessing the linked content does require.Q5. What are some creative uses for QR codes?
Ans. Creative uses for QR codes include interactive scavenger hunts, augmented reality experiences, and immersive storytelling campaigns.