We’re always looking for new ways to extend the reach of the web world, and we’re very excited about the potential concerning 2d printed codes. These codes allow mobile users (with the right scanning application) to point their phone at a code and immediately visit a URL, call a number or send a text. 

Who will win the top spot in terms of acceptance across the US and international sites? QR codes already have a head start in Japan and Google has added QR codes to their map world allowing people to scan a code and identify it as a favorite place.

Both have strengths and weaknesses. Here are just a few of our findings so far:

• QR codes support a higher variety of code types (email address, sms, geo coordinates)
• MS Tags can be printed significantly smaller
• QR codes are an open standard, so you can make a variety of different kinds of tags
• MS Tags have analytics built in since they all go through a single data system
• QR codes can be read by a variety of readers already deployed across many platforms, while MS Tags can be read by a single reader (developed by MS but available on major phone platforms)
• The detail in a QR code can cause issues with phones that have weaker cameras, while the simplicity of the MS Tag allows it to be read under tougher conditions
• Both can be integrated into applications for on-the-fly code generation and rendering

It’s hard to tell which one may end up being the industry standard, even though QR codes have a nice head start. We will keep watching and playing to see how this can enhance the overall experience for you and your customers!

It comes as no surprise that as Facebook continues to evolve it is creating more ways to bring our friends and acquaintances together, even outside the confines of the network. For many users, this is a dream come true, allowing our sphere of influence to impact all aspects of our online experience, from hearing songs our friends like on Pandora to seeing our friends’ reviews on Yelp. 

The new Facebook plugins allow websites to incorporate familiar Facebook activities such as “Like” and “Recommend” into their sites. As of last week, over 100,000 websites have incorporated the new plugins resulting, for many, in increased site traffic.

While the plugins allow other sites to offer the same personalization that we love experiencing on Facebook, it is not achieved without some controversy and ardent debate. Facebook continues to mitigate significant privacy concerns, including a backlash of users coordinating mass “Quit Facebook” days.

We each have a different comfort level regarding our privacy and the Web. Be aware of your personal privacy settings and set them accordingly to match your comfort level. Click here for answers to questions surrounding the new social plugins.

Online reviews are commonplace, from company sites to social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Unmonitored reviews from customers may have been a fear of companies in the past, but today they must be embraced. A recent eMarketer interview with Denise Zimmerman of NetPlus Marketing, Inc. highlights tactics for addressing any less-than-stellar reviews that might surface about your company.

"Reviews were positive for the business. If you had a good product and you were a good company, the positive reviews far outweighed the negative ones. You also got valuable feedback about potential issues or problems with a product that you might not have gotten before. But the challenge for retailers was, what do you then do about it? And a lot of this is relevant to the larger social media picture." - Zimmerman

She says you have three options:

1. Ignore it.
2. Respond.
3. Take it down.

Sure, one and three may seem a bit "anti-social," but they are clear options, and there are times when they are very appropriate. Companies should determine whether or not the review stemmed from an isolated event, or was potentially submitted by a "trouble maker." Based on this analysis, they can proceed with the best response.

Read the full interview here.