QR Codes Transforming Commerce

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Try out on your Smart Phone

I don't even have a smart phone.  Believe it or not I have no desire or need for one.  But I have a QR code for my book, Right Now Is Perfect.  I can appreciate the power of such a mysterious emblem.  The QR codes are appearing everywhere and only the old farts of the world are clueless.  I have only gotten on board in the last nanosecond of history, so I still consider myself part of that clueless class. 

But I do have an imagination and I can foresee how transformative these postage stamp-like symbols can be.  Here is an example:  In my neighborhood the MarketPlace, a huge shopping structure containing all kinds of vendors, offers various things for sale.  Most of the time the vendor/artist/author is not on the premises yet a QR code by the display of their offerings allows the shopper wandering by to access all kinds of information about the vendor or the product.  For instance, my book is available for sale in the 'local authors' bookstore there.  If I include my QR code in my display, a strolling smart phone shopper can be directed to my YouTube presentation about the book (or my web site, etc.).  This allows any vendor to provide any sort of marketing content –as they say—24/7. I could include the QR code on my business card, or any marketing material.

 In a very real way the QR code could revolutionize commerce in much the same way as eBooks have revolutionized publishing.  By allowing sophisticated marketing instantly, the QR code brings local crafts people and artists into the same league as the largest and most sophisticated retailers.  The difference is the MarketPlace for example, is distributing one-of-a-kind works of art rather than mass-produced 'made in China' consumer goods.  Now that is revolutionary!