— June 6, 2011 —
By Tobin Harris
Latest research shows that 40% of UK consumers know what Quick Response codes are, and 12% have actually scanned them to access the information they contain. This means that it’s a good time to start getting serious about how you can use them for your business.
Here’s some ways you could use a QR code for your business.
Sharing information with customers
This restaurant is using QR on it’s plates. When scanned on your phone, you’ll be shown a list of ingredients in your meal. Very cool stuff.
Thanks to Adam Jones for this one.
Put a QR code on your product packaging
Pepsi are putting QR codes on their product packs. When scanned, people are taken to watch an amusing video of “Rusty”. They can also get to news, games and other content.
WinergyInc are encouraging wine distributors to put QR codes on the labels of their bottles, so that customers can instantly scan them and then rate the wine or add bookmark it.
Put one on your business card
A QR code can include all your business contact details. So, by printing one on your business card, you people to simply scan your details into their address book, rather than making them tediously type it.
In your advertising
Advertisers are starting to use QR codes in creative ways.
In the UK, Brands such as Heineken, Sky, Pizza Express, Grazia magazine, and Gamma DIY all adopted QR codes in campaigns during Q1 of this year (2011).
The neat thing is that, when people scan a code, they can be taken to a more engaging experience such as a web site or video. It allows consumers to take the experience away with them.
Levis using QR codes in bill-board advertising
Scottish Attraction using QR codes in tourism
QR codes in Facebook, Twitter and Online
There’s opportunities to get the benefits of QR codes in any other mediums you publish to.
Coupons and vouchers
A UK survey revealed that 49% of people would be keen to have QR codes contain vouchers or additional brand information.
This article discusses how The Gift Experience are one company looking to make the mobile phone a more powerful shopping tool.
Who uses QR codes?
18-24 year olds are the most likely to scan your QR code, followed by 25-34 year olds. So, you’re going to have more success if you target younger audiences.
Further ReadingThis Social Media Experiment articles gives a good background to QR codes, and also discuss various applications.
