Which is better? The Reusable QR Code or the Microsoft Tag
We always want to know that we are using the "best" technology. The kind of technology that will beat all of the others and be around for years. None of us want to pick the crappy technology that goes away in months. We want to pick the Xbox and not the Sega CD, the Airplane and not the Zeppelin.
So which bar code technology should we pick, the Microsoft Tag or the QR code?
Lets look at some of the pros and con's of each technology along with some key differences to decide which one is the champ and will survive the longest.
First off, the Microsoft TAG is colorful. Color is nice, but here are the different things that you can currently put in to a TAG.
-URL for a website
-Phone Call
-vCard (contact)
-Text
Here are the things that you can put in to a QR code.
-URL for a website
-Bookmark (Favorite)
-Phone Call
-SMS message
-Email message
-vCard (Contact)
-Text
-Encryption
-Geographical Coordinates
-Jigsaw
TAG's are all the same size in relation to each other which provides for very fast scanning with a reader. QR codes can be read exceptionally fast (hence the QR Quick Response) but only if it is a decent size QR code with a good reader. Extremely large or small QR codes are very tough to scan.
TAG's can only be read with a Microsoft Tag reader (which is available for most phones). QR codes are open source and can be read by hundreds of online and offline devices.
The main difference between a TAG and a QR code is that a TAG is just an ID that fetches information corresponding to that ID. QR codes can be encoded with many different types of data that can do a myriad of things.
QR codes are a very mature technology that have been used for a long time in many countries. TAG is a reasonably young technology that has not yet been proven. TAG's also are accessed on a private server so if that server ever goes down all the tags out there will be SOL. QR codes can put all the information that you need right inside the code. You can make tags look very customized like in the example to the right.
Some QR codes have a Reed Solomon error correction up to 30% meaning that 30% of the surface area of the code can be ruined and the code will still function. This means that you can put a picture of yourself or your company logo smack dab on the code and it will still work. See the example to the right.
Both technologies are useful and can be used to implement great marketing. Microsoft tag has potential and I am taking a wait and see approach before I will fully endorse them. QR codes are proven and have ±60 million users in Japan which is pretty impressive. For now I would use the Reusable QR code (make sure it is reusable and that you can change where it points to at anytime http://upcqr.com) over the Microsoft Tag.
What are your thoughts?
So you are thinking about getting started with QR codes on your real estate signs. Awesome, you are ahead of the curve. This post will talk about best practices when using QR codes for real estate.
First and foremost we need to decide where we want to put these QR codes. There are a few common places, and others that you may think of. Be creative and put them where you think they will benefit you the most.
Places to put your QR codes
-On your RE sign in front of the house
-On your business card
-On your property flyer in front of a house
-On your property flyer not in front of a house (at a different open house, at your office, etc.)
-In a newspaper ad
For each of the possibilities above, and for others not listed, you need to put yourself in the shoes of a would be scanner to think of what you would want when you scan the code.
For this post we are going to focus on a QR code for your real estate sign.
Lets put ourselves in the shoes of someone that may scan our QR code on our real estate sign. They are already in front of the house. They already have a mild interest or they wouldn't be standing in front of your sign thinking about scanning your QR code. What do they need, and what do they want?
Should I put instructions on how to download an app to scan the QR code?
QR codes are becoming quite popular (especially in the RE industry), but they are still new. Many people have never seen one of these codes before. You may be as detailed or ambiguous in your instructions on how to scan the code.
Some agents do not put any instructions, just the code. Others put some steps to scan the code. We suggest, at this point (April 2011), to put some instructions and call to action on what to do. Tell them to scan the code and give them a few steps. Once the QR code market is very active then you will not need to put any instructions.
I want to have instructions, what should I put?
We have found that if you are going to put any instructions on your sign, then you need to be detailed and specific. Here are two examples of instructions, which do you like?
-Download a free scanner on your phone and scan the code!
-Search in your app store (iPhone) / market place (Android) for "Universal Property Code" and tap to download the free scanning app. Once installed open the application and it will open your camera on your phone. Aim your camera at the QR code and it will automatically scan the code and display this properties information!
If a potential buyer has actually taken the time to stop in front of your listing and download an app to scan your code, tell them what to look for. There is nothing more disappointing then having them search for "real estate code scanner" and not figuring out what to download. Pick your favorite free scanner and have them download it! Universal Property Code is a free scanning app that will automatically capture the code and link them to any website without them having to look at ads or click a bunch of buttons.
Yes, they scanned my code, what should I show them?
Your potential buyer has stopped in front of your sign...pulled out their phone...downloaded and opened their scanning app...scanned your code... and now you need to reward them.
What do they want?
They don't want to go to a Realtors website & dig through to get more info.
They don't want to only get a Realtors contact info.
They don't want to have to sign up on a website to get more info.
They don't want to call to get more info.
They don't want to text to get more info.
They don't want to see a tiny website that's not optimized for their mobile device.
They want more information about the house in front of them. They want the price. They want the bed/baths and square footage. They want to see pictures. They want to send info about the house to a friend/spouse. They want all this information, and they want it right away.
Give it to them. Give them what they want. Display the properties information on a mobile enabled web page or use a system like http://universalpropertycode.com that has all of the features built in. Above all else, make sure that if you were the one scanning the code, you would be satisfied with what you got when you scanned the code.
http://universalpropertycode.com has created an easy to use QR system for real estate. They will provide reusable QR codes (once you sell a house just move your sign to the next listing) for $1 per code per month. To waive the sign up fee and receive half off for 4 months enter the coupon code BLOGGER (all caps) at checkout.
It's survival of the fittest and Blackberry has not evolved or adapted. They continue to fail at every turn. For the last several years I had the mindset that they would get their stuff together and continue to be the largest mobile phone company out there. They have not, and are poised to fail spectacularly.
Yesterday I was at a real estate conference in Mesa Arizona focused on Real Estate technology. Our company offers a reusable qr code service for the real estate industry. As part of our service we created a free app for iPhone and Android. We have been debating for the last 6 months whether or not to create a Blackberry app. We had real estate agents of all ages coming to our booth to download our app and try scanning some QR codes.
Nearly half of the people visiting our booth had brand new Android phones (literally looked like they just came out of the box). I asked each one, "What phone did you switch from?". The answer for every single one was Blackberry. I asked if they had any regrets and they all said no. Some even laughed at how long it took them to switch over.
iPhone and Android phones dominated this real estate conference. The real estate industry has been holding on to their blackberries, refusing to switch, for years now. It seems that the holdout is over. Real estate agents are switching over to iPhone and Android at an incredible rate.
People have figured out that Blackberry is dying!
Even now, when Blackberry is sinking like a boat with no bottom, they continue to make blunders. They are launching a tablet to battle iPad that has no software development kit, no native mail, no messaging, and no contact management app.
They may as well stop all research and development, fire everyone not essential to keeping their current customers active, stockpile as much money as possible, and let their customers cancel their service one after another until they can finally shut down their service once and for all.
Okay the last paragraph is a bit overkill but you get the picture. They must change or they will not survive this ultra competitive marketplace. Only time will tell if they fail spectacularly.
