Hi guys. lots of buzz about QR codes and how to best use them in the real estate business so I thought I would upload an updated version of a “How to create a QR code for real estate video“.  

This video will take you step-by-step through creating a QR code using http://goo.gl

There are several sites that will create a QR code for you for free. Goo.gl is just one of them. The reason I like Goo.gl is that it has some pretty neat tracking tools that allow you to see how many times your QR codes was scanned, when it was scanned and even what kind of phone they scanned it with like this.

If you want to find other sites that will create QR codes just Google “QR code generator” and you’ll see lots of other options including sites that will allow you to create a QR code that pops up an SMS text message (think lead generation) or a QR code that just calls your phone number etc.  I believe one of the best ways to utilize QR codes is by linking them to a video, so that is what I did for my example in this video.

Here’s a few ideas:

1. Simply recording a video of yourself talking about why people should want to work with you, talk about your special knowledge of a neighborhood or property type (people like to work with agents that specialize in their needs). You would then create a QR code linking to this video & put this QR code on the back of your business cards with a note that says “scan this to find out why you should work with me” etc.  2. How about shooting some quick video of your buyers the day of closing  (only if they are happy ) creating a QR code to this video and putting it on your business card saying “find out what past clients have said about my services” etc. 3. Why not create a video tour of a neighborhood you specialize in (Hawk’s Landing for example) then post the QR code you create that links to this video on a sign in the local stores in the neighborhood (many have bulletin boards) that says “scan this to find out why Hawk’s Landing is a great place to live” etc.  4. Create a video tour of a specific property then insert a QR code that links to this video on the property flyers.  A buyer pulls up to the house, gets a flyer out of the flyer box, then scans the code and watches a video tour of the home on their phone while they are sitting in-front of it.

So many different ways to utilize these things and the best part is they are FREE!  Imagine how impressed a home seller will be when you introduce them to QR codes during a listing presentation by scanning a property flyer you brought with you using your smartphone and a video tour of a home starts playing….powerful way to let them know you are using the latest technology to market homes.  Will they change the way people buy homes….probably not, but they will be another technology that links the offline world to the online world using mobile technology so why not give it a try.

If this is your very first experience with QR codes remember you need a “QR reader” app for your smartphone, just go to wherever you download apps for your phone and search for QR Reader they are free and will allow you to use your smartphone to scan QR codes

If you are curious about Microsoft Tags like this one:

They are a similar technology but use a different reader and different site to create them but in essence do the same thing, linking the offline and online worlds together.  There are some advantages to MS Tags such as more possibilities and the ability to have the image even smaller and still be recognized .   The advantage that QR codes have is that they have been out longer so consumers are more likely to have tried them by downloading a “QR Reader” app.  It remains to be seen if this will continue to be the case as Microsoft may put some money behind the promotion of the MS Tag standard and make it more prevalent in the future.

Hope this was helpful please feel free to comment here or over on Facebook and let others know how you are using QR Codes in your business.

Until next time….Max

written by Max \\ tags: link qr code to youtube, microsoft tag, QR codes, QR codes in real estate

What are these things called QR codes?

I get this question allot so I thought I’d write a post and upload a video showing how easy it is to create a QR code that can help drive traffic to your listings.  Think of QR Codes (which stands for “Quick Response”)  as an electronic symbol that connects the online and off-line worlds.  We are all familiar with UPC or “bar Codes” like this

but QR codes are a newer form of computer recognition symbol.  They were developed in Japan (actually by a subsidiary of Toyota) to track items at high-speed.  Now they are used by in all sorts of applications as a way to direct people to a particular destination.  They need to be scanned with a QR Reader (which is available for just about any phone with a camera nowadays), once scanned (like taking a picture) the QR code tells the smartphone what to do.  You can create QR codes that link to your website, to an email address, to a video on YouTube  etc.  There is lots of hype around QR codes in real estate right now and although I don’t see them as a “game-changer” immediately, anybody that wants to stay on the cutting edge of technology and marketing should pay attention to their impact to our industry. It remains to be seen just how fast consumers will adopt this new way of discovering information, but it’s free and easy to leverage as part of a marketing plan so I would recommend learning how to utilize this new technology.

I have uploaded a video that shows how easy it is to create a QR code and also utilize a free service from http://goo.gl that will shorten a URL that you want to link your QR code to and give you the ability to track how many times the QR code has been used.  Enjoy the video and let me know if any of you have had success yet using this new technology either in impressing home sellers or actually connecting with buyers.

written by Max \\ tags: how to use QR codes in real estate, QR codes, QR codes in real estate