Last week, my firm announced that it was giving attorneys the option of including QR Codes on the backs of their business cards.  QR Codes (or Quick Response Codes) are two dimensional codes readable by QR barcode readers and camera phones.  (For instance, I scan QR Codes using Qrafter for the iPhone).  They can be printed on ordinary paper and used to store (and transfer to the scanning device) contact information, a website URL, and other information.  

For example, the QR Code on the back of my business cards (shown above) directs users to my biographical information on the firm's website.

QR Codes are common in parts of Asia and Europe but have only recently found their way into the United States.  Here, they have most often been used in interactive marketing campaigns in magazines and other printed materials and have been virtually ignored by the professional services industries.

I was first introduced to QR Codes about a month ago by a friend (@DrewLawrence on Twitter) who is a business development and marketing professional in the real estate industry.  However, a number of law firm marketing professionals have been discussing the technology and ways it can be used.  (In particular, Donna Erickson's blog post on the effective use of QR Codes was very helpful as we were having internal discussions about adopting the technology.)    

Hopefully, the QR Code on the backs of my business cards gives my e-clients and prospective clients an easy way to access more information about me, my practice, and my firm.  Since I work for a lot of e-commerce and technology companies, my clients are generally "techies" who are either familiar with QR Codes or intrigued by the concept.  As a result, I've received universally positive feedback on including the codes with the other information on my business cards.  (I'm not sure how useful QR Codes would be amongst a less technologically sophisticated client base.  However, nearly everyone has a camera phone now and that's all that is needed to scan a QR Code.)

Because my firm is among the first in the legal industry to adopt QR Codes, our announcement was mentioned in the Washington Post and the ABA Journal and my QR Code has made its way to electronic billboards in Times Square . . .

and Las Vegas . . .

If you've incorporated QR Codes into your law practice or other business, please leave a comment letting us know about your experience.  We'd love to hear from you.

 

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