A relatively new, engaging, and effective marketing tool is becoming increasingly popular today: QR codes. Quick Response codes are barcode-like, square, 2D patterns typically similar in scale to commonplace barcodes. Of course, the information they deliver is not so threadbare.
A typical QR code looks like this.
What’s In a QR Code?
Where normal barcodes have encoded pricing data (numeric), QR codes can harbor many other forms of information. What’s promising about this technology is how they are used today.
QR codes are read through smart phone cameras and decoded by QR code reader applications.
QR codes originate from Japan, where car manufacturing giant Toyota introduced them years before to identify (and present data of) their new cars. The Western hemisphere has only recently caught wind of the many varied uses of the barcode level-up. Today, QR codes are typically scanned via smart phones and a specialized QR code reader application decodes the information in them. It’s soon to become a common occurrence for someone to whip up their smart phone and scan a QR code on a product flyer with their camera, then they are automatically routed to a website where they can access more information about the product.
Top Uses for QR Codes
Okay, so you can use these QR codes and place them in your print design. But aside from URL data, is there anything else they can provide? Well, depending on what you encode in them, they can provide a wealth of information, or at least point to places where information can be obtained. The top three uses for QR codes are:
Sharing – QR codes can share a lot of information, and sharing seems to be the ultimate marketing tool nowadays. With a QR code on a business card you can let clients scan it and make it automatically save a vCard, or perhaps route to your business’s website URL. A promotional flyer can link directly to a product sales webpage. You’re limited only by your creative marketing ideas, really.
Community-building – Sharing is the first step towards community building. In the Web, communities are important in many aspects, and they are also immensely effective stages for marketing. Consider launching a sideline marketing campaign that focuses on giving away printed material with QR codes that when scanned lead to a Facebook “Like” page for your business or newly launched product. Social media communities are among the most effective ones, and time has already proven how much influence a social media circle can impact marketing.
Call to action – In the same vein that “Add to cart” buttons on online marketplaces are simple, interactive call to action elements, QR codes can become offline call to action elements in your print design. Have a QR code lead to a sales POS webpage and label it “Add to Cart” – that’s a seamless integration of offline and online marketing.
QR codes are still on the rise and not a lot of people know about them. Take this opportunity to use them to share, build communities, and make great calls to action with and you can be ahead of the marketing game.
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