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The earthquake that devastated Haiti nearly two years ago was followed by a massive relief effort that was supported in part by millions of dollars in donations by people who used mobile phones to text $5 or $10 to disaster aid groups.

Mobile giving has also gotten religion -- literally. Some churches in Los Angeles and parts of Arizona have recently tested systems that allow their members use cellphones to make their Sunday-morning offerings virtually, instead of dropping coins, bills or envelopes in a plate passed down the pew.

Many disaster aid campaigns have relied on contributions of fixed amounts, such as $5 or $10, via texting, with wireless carriers dropping the texting fees and collecting the donations to distribute to charities. But new tools make it possible to make more generous donations via an SMS message or a smartphone app linked to a credit card or other account, Plank said.

Start with your business card.

Be creative.

Offer an incentive.

a silicon bracelet that carries a QR (quick response) code. Emergency responders and health care providers can use a smartphone to scan the QR code, which also can be printed on a necklace or wallet card, and call up the patient's personal website, maintained by Richardson's Edmond-based company.The website “basically gives customers the ability to create a profile, and they can choose to show or hide illnesses, medication and emergency contacts

The company plans to sell the wristband or necklace for about $10, with a $5 monthly subscription to the website containing the client's medical information, Richardson said. Each customer would fill out a template on the company website, then the client can determine how much of that information will be displayed when the code is scanned, Richardson said.

scan a unique heart-shaped Buzz (QR) Code with the BestBuzz mobile app, and enter to win romantic prizes from several local businesses

The creative strategy was implemented through various marketing channels, including daily social media posts to Facebook and Twitter, editorial blog features, post card marketing collateral, and email blasts targeted in the DFW area.

There were over 550 scans of the Buzz (QR) Code during the promotion, creating over 150,000 friend-to-friend impressions across social media networks.