They are popping up all over the place — you’ve probably seen more than a few times and wonder what they are. Alien code? Bad graphic design?  Those wacky black and white squares found on billboards, postcards and other forms of print collateral are QR codes and they are taking the marketing world by storm.

Quick Response Codes or QR Codes are a two-dimensional pictures that can be scanned to direct a consumer or event-goer to an online destination or url. Currently very popular in Asia, QR Codes are starting to make their way into the US marketplace and makes for a great interactive marketing experience.

If you see a QR code while out and about, do not be afraid — scan it. See where it takes you. Think of it as an adventure! Scanning a QR code is simple. Using your smart phone, download any free QR scanning application and use your phone like you would a camera and take a picture of the code.  Once you scan the code, you will be redirected to a website, video, Facebook page – depending on how it was set up.

HATHWAY intern extraordinaire, Katrina Stern is graduating this weekend from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Congrats Katrina! When looking for an interesting way to decorate her graduation cap reflecting her focus of studies and interest, she decided a giant QR code would be the best bet.

A QR code made sense for Katrina because she plans to go into the public relations and marketing industry after graduation. More importantly, it will make for an interactive graduation day. Katrina's QR code will direct her friends and family to her Twitter page where they can follow her Tweets and communicate with her during the day.

Congrats Girl! Follow Katrina on graduation day @kstern19.

For more information on QR codes and other ways to use interactive marketing to further your business - give us a call.