Sometimes I just chuckle and just shake my head when I see tweets or hear complaints and rants about how QR Codes suck, or don’t use QR Codes for this or that and my personal favorite, NFC is better than QR Codes, especially when it comes from “thought leaders” or a super savvy “social media guys/gals”. I chuckle because there’s a huge educational curve for QR Codes to go main stream in the USA but they have taken off and proven valuable as when have seen over the years in Japan/China with all of their smart technology. Personally I think the biggest problem for some marketers is that no one person can claim to “own” the QR Code space and you can’t put QR Codes in a box to say, QR Codes are only good for one thing because QR Codes have various use cases. See 101 Ideas for Using QR Codes.
Also using QR Codes for marketing/promotion in any type of campaign requires more than just thinking of tweets and things to say to make you sound cool. Using QR Codes requires thinking about the time and location of where a QR Code may be seen offline. It requires working with various teams about creating smart, fast, valuable mobile content. It requires thinking about mobile users, social users and offline users along with existing marketing efforts. It requires thinking about in-dept /instant mobile analytics. Thus is one of the reasons I think we have seen a lot of bad QR Code examples so far.
During my recent travels and keeping an eye on QR Code usage in the wile I came across a few smart ways major brands, music artist and publications are using QR Codes. Below are a few photos and examples after I scanned some of the QR Codes with my iPhone app.
1. 2011 Ford Explorer magazine QR Code with Kevin Hart.
After you scan the QR Code you’re sent to a mobile content/video page.
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport QR Code ad
After you scan the QR Code you’re sent to an airport mobile directory page.
3. Download load the Delta app QR Code print ad:
4. American Heart Association QR Code Kroger sign
After you scan the QR Code you’re sent to the American Heart Association local information mobile site.
5. deliver magazine QR Code
(note the qr code is on the back but I photoshopped it on the front)
After you scan the deliver QR Code you’re sent to a mobile deliver website
6. Download the Redbox app using QR Codes
7. Starbucks, Lady Gaga, Srch QR Code Digital scavenger hunt
More on this later but check out the Starbucks qr code frappuccino scan video below via QR Codes Anywhere blog.
To sum it up out of the seven QR Code marketing examples we have.
Scan the QR Code to download a mobile app (2x)
Scan the QR Code to see a promotional video and learn more information about a product.
Scan the QR Code for additional magazine or location or venue information
Scan the QR Code to start a digital scavenger hunt
Note if you’re looking for a fast QR Code reader/scanner iPhone app try my app here.
