Advertisers Target Snap Happy Mobile Phone Users with QR Codes
Thursday, January 15th, 2009 by Julia Hyde
Julia
They may look like a child’s puzzle maze but QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are beginning to gain a lot of ground here in the States. Brands are adopting them to change the way they interact with consumers and, perhaps more importantly, how consumers interact with brands.
If you’ve yet to be introduced to this nifty little tool, a QR Code is a type of 2D (2 Dimensional) bar code. It was originally developed by Denso Wave to keep track of auto parts. The difference between a QR Code and a standard bar code is that QR Codes hold a lot more information, can be read vertically and horizontally, can be placed on a variety of advertising mediums, and be accessed with one click on a mobile phone. That makes their promotional uses virtually endless.
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Polo Print Ad using QR Codes
QR Codes transform almost any object including magazine ads, direct mail, digital signage, billboards, T-shirts, product packaging, merchandise, maps, and even video into engaging interactive links that target, entertain, inform, and promote in real time. They can even be used by advertisers to track and manage the effectiveness of campaigns by medium used, impressions, time/hour, minute, and conversions.
It’s not hard to understand why advertisers are keen to try them out. Think of the possibilities:
Retail Sales
QR Codes take up less space on product packaging and can be used to link to online recipes, show product features or ingredients, and used on in-store digital signage and tags to promote special offers. Customers scan with their mobile phone and have immediate access to the code’s contents. Pepsi recently put QR Codes on 400 million cans and bottles in the UK. When users scan the code, free games and videos, and links to ‘wacky’ web sites are revealed.
Real Estate Sales
Real estate professionals can use QR Codes on “For Sale” and “Open House” signs to give potential buyers immediate information as they drive by or take a first look at the property. They can add them to promotional flyers—even use them as a back up on the sign dispenser—and business cards. By keeping track of the number of times QR Codes are scanned, they can instantly gauge and track interest in their listings.
Cinemas and Theatre Promotions
QR Codes can be used to tag movie and show posters with show times, link to trailers, information about the cast, crew and reviews, and purchase tickets. They can even be placed on websites, blogs, promotional T-shirts, and other merchandise.
Restaurants, Bars, and Hotels
In addition to using QR codes in magazines, video and online advertising, they can be used on the premises to help visitors get directions and promote specials, menus, hotel facilities, and reservation details.
Websites and Blogs
Use QR Codes to let your visitors download songs, contact information, product reviews, price, product or service information and videos. Information embedded in QR Codes can be stored on your customers’ mobile phone, so they’ll have it stored and at their fingertips for future use.
Tradeshows and Conferences
Visitors can capture information about exhibitors and their wares, and share with friends or access later. Invitations to future events and promotions can then be sent to people who scanned the code and opted-in for such communications.
Education
Professors can use QR Codes to take student surveys, share reading lists, assign homework, share important calendar events, and much more. Along with utilizing them in class, students can advertise rooms for rent, stuff for sale, study group meeting times, and so on.
Of course, there are many more ways in which QR Codes can be used as a promotion tool. What are your favorites?
Tags: Advertising, digital signage advertising, julia hyde, mobile advertising, Mobile Marketing, online advertising, QR Code generator, qr codes, QReatebuzz
