To QR code or not to QR code?
Ok, I’ve got to say it. I’m addicted to QR (Quick Response) codes.
QR codes are similar to the standard flat barcodes we’re all familiar with, except they’re 2D and store a lot more information because they do so by storing the information both vertically and horizontally – and, as you’ll see from the gallery below, can also be customised quite nicely.
I know they’re still very much a novelty for most people/companies, but I think they have a lot of potential Watermelon Media is certainly encouraging clients to at least give them a go.
I’ve started seeing them pop up with direct links to companies’ Facebook pages (allowing potential customers to go directly to a “like” option), but also directing users of the QR code in question to a page that acts, effectively, as a business card for individuals. I even saw a resume that featured a QR code and anyone scanning it was whisked off to an online version of the resume. Very clever!
Other companies use QR codes as calls to actions, so for entering a competition for example or to drive traffic to a specific page on their website.
Though most people have never heard of a QR code, they’ve actually been used widely in Japan since they were invented by Denso in 1994 and they’re starting to pop up all over the place. Check out this ad from GoDaddy.
GoDaddy's novel use of QR codes as featured in New York's Times Square. Image source: Overdigital.com
It’s a novel use of a QR code – and appeared in Times Square last month.
Other practical uses of QR codes include:
- On individual sales pages for products
- On sales brochures
- On business cards
- On packaging
- To direct clients to promotions/competitions
- On Facebook to garner Likes and new followers
- On t-shirts
- Using QR codes to generate SMS messages and embed phone numbers
In a more sensible note, and cool-factor aside, we did learn a few things when creating our QR codes, bright colours don’t work well (hence why my favourite green one above isn’t being used by Watermelon Media) and we’ve actually ended up using our black and red one simply because, in testing, that’s the only one that had a 100% success rate!
Feel free to contact us if you’d like us to create a customised QR code for you, but if you’d like to try out a free one, check out www.qrstuff.com where you’ll find all sorts of fabulous QR-code related goodies, including personalised chocolates stamped with your company’s logo!
So, it seems QR codes are useful marketing tools – and delicious, too!
