Support for Indie Authors discussion

I have used QR codes maybe 3 times in the past six years. It wouldn't help in marketing to me, but I don't see how it could hurt.

This is my observation and opinion based on my experiences in the public at booths/tables/conventions : No, they're really not helpful.

From what I've seen, even if people have a QR code scanner app, they don't take the time to pull out their phone, scan it, and wait for it to load. They don't even get their phone out of their pocket for it. QR codes, while an idea with potential, fell flat a few years ago.

If it was free and it only took a few minutes, it's not going to hurt, but I wouldn't expect much of it.

Yeah, I think the issue is that they were never really adopted as built-in tech on mobile operating systems. You have to actually download an app to use them ... and where's the impetus to do that when there's always some other way to interact, purchase, discover, buy things?

I used them on some swag before and never saw any real lift from them [totally subjective]. But they're not BAD to use, just likely ineffective.

Micah wrote: "Yeah, I think the issue is that they were never really adopted as built-in tech on mobile operating systems. You have to actually download an app to use them ,,."

That is why they never went mainstream, yes. If Apple or Google had made QR codes a standard camera feature, more people would use them.

I would say a Bit.ly link on Twitter would be more effective. I used QR codes on products a couple years ago, and got a decent amount of traffic from it, but haven't used them the last couple of times because for awhile there everyone was freaking out about QR codes that contained viruses. I think they have run their life.

I usually post a flyer with my novels that are out and I actually have another one for an upcoming novel that both have QR codes on it. You never know, someone might just use it and I don't want them to have trouble finding my site or having to type or anything when they can just click the phone at it and get there

bit.ly can definitely do the same thing. It will shorten any link as far as I've been able to test.

Erica, you can track whether your qr code is driving traffic, so you will know.

abd yes, bit.ly does take the person srraight to tge link, again you can track the bit.ly links as well to know whether people are clicking on the link.