QR Codes and Social Media

People are talking about QR codes and QR marketing. QR codes are codes that allow you to tag on your mobile devices. They look like 2-D barcodes and the partnering of them with social media will cause a business revolution.

QR codes have actually been around for many years; however, their new connection with social media has not been around for very long but is gaining a tremendous momentum at a very rapid pace.

Resources, rate of adoption, and valuable numbers

  • A large percentage of people who own smartphones have downloaded applications to their phones that will scan barcodes.
  • In the second half of last year, there was a huge increase in the number of people who scan QR codes. There is a prediction that the increase in their use is cyclical (or at least peaks around holidays). However, the increase of use during non-holiday times is also exponential.
  • The scanning method has become more sophisticated than it once was. Millions of people have code readers on their phones; however, the new feature, which allows you to scan and send allows a much greater of QR code accessibility, which can now reach the majority of phones with built-in cameras.

The usefulness keeps increasing

Once a QR code is scanned, one of three things will appear as a result: a link (one that you have defined), a record of contact information, or a text field. It is essential that you have the ability to reroute people from one unique URL to another for QR codes to really work in partnership with social media. This approach is revolutionary because it will put valuable information at people’s fingertips where once they would have to wait almost indefinitely to get any answers. In the near future, there will be no end to the type and amount of information that can be obtained through the bar codes.

How do QR codes work effectively with social media?

  • Enhancing an already-excellent idea: This concept applies to any and all businesses and this approach is doing a great deal to dramatically increase business revenue. When it comes to consumers getting involved with social media, they will be far more inclined to buy products and/or services once their social relationships have been established, strengthened and maintained. The question is how can QR codes entice people into buying? The reality is that once people have made a purchase, there is a much greater likelihood that that they will become loyal. The existence and use of QR codes makes it tremendously easy for people to continue in that manner.
  • Helping to solve business issues: One of the tremendous advantages of pairing QR codes and social media is that people have a direct, easy and fast connection to social media through the codes and the mobile devices. They can make instant decisions to commit to social networks.

What is the potential of QR codes and social media?

There is a large variety of uses and potential uses for QR codes and social media:

  • Links to maps
  • Scavenger hunts
  • Landing pages for customers/web traffic/blog readers
  • Confirming that someone is actually at a specific event (a type of check-in)
  • Business cards, labels, stickers, etc

Conclusion

The approach of using QR codes connected with social media should be strategic and should always go in the direction of research. This partnership really lends itself well to instant gratification. The more people get involved, the more usefulness will be discovered. It is a grave error to assume that QR codes and social media are a fleeting fancy. Their usefulness and value are most definitely here to stay.

We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. Please contact us at CompuKol Communications for further discussion on how we might be able to assist you and your team and don’t forget to “like” our Facebook page.

Author

  • Michael Cohn

    Michael Cohn is the founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of CompuKol Communications. He has decades of experience in IT and web technologies. Michael founded CompuKol Communications to help small businesses and entrepreneurs increase their visibility and reputation. CompuKol consults, creates, and implements communication strategies for small businesses to monopolize their markets with a unique business voice, vision, and visibility. Mr. Cohn earned a Master’s degree in project management from George Washington University in Washington, DC; and a Master’s degree in computer science and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.

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60 Responses

  1. Joshua Crumbaugh says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Transformational Leadership: Front Runners in Organizations
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    We have rolled them out in our company and use them both for video advertising within our print media and also have programmed v-cards into them which we place on the backs of business cards. This technology is still in infancy, but is taking the world by storm. Furthermore you can now use barcode tech to digitally encode data on a printed document. Since my business gets a lot of faxed documents that originally contained digital data this is an extremely valuable tool.
    Posted by Joshua Crumbaugh

  2. Alita Hawksworth says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Tweeple
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I have already started seeing them as a part of email signatures. It's a quick way to exchange business contact information and will be great for conferences, networking events, etc. Looking forward to getting one myself!
    Posted by Alita Hawksworth

  3. Michael Durwin says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Social Media Marketing
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I've been putting QR Codes on all of the print ads my company has been doing. I've just added them to a series of business cards for specific conferences and will be adding them to our recruitment poster. Great tools.
    Posted by Michael Durwin (mdurwin@gmail.com)

  4. Mark Schaefer says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I'm skeptical about QR codes. I think they will be our generation's 8-track tapes. They are clunky and most people don;t even know what they are. They will soon proliferate out of control and crap content will overwhelm good content making the whole technology suspicious. Within 18 months, the technology will be leap-frogged by augmented reality, which will simply apply the desired digital layer on top of the real world through a smart phone or even your glasses. No opener required : )
    Posted by Mark Schaefer

  5. Kaylee Bates says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Social Media Marketing
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    People need to think of the practical application of a QR code before they slap them on everything. Here are some things to think about before using a QR code.

    – Is the link mobile friendly? If not, don't use a QR code, use a web address. The thing that makes QR codes cool is that it comes up on your phone. If it just goes to your companies website that is not helpful.

    – What does the link do for your customers? If the answer is nothing, stop using it. Yes QR codes are handy but you have to take out your phone, scan it, and wait for it to appear. Even though this may only take a minute your customers need a reason to give you a minute of their time. I have actually seen a QR code next to someones contact information in their email signature that takes you to… wait for it… their contact information! Clearly they thought long and hard about that one.

    – What is your reason for using a QR code? If you answer goes something like this, "They are new and cool and everyone is doing it," don't use them. You need to have a strategy for using them, and that is what most people are lacking. You should have QR codes to make something more convienent for your customers. If you have a mobile app that is new and makes life easier for your customer have the QR code scan to a place that you can download the app.
    Posted by Kaylee Bates | idegy

  6. Susan Czubek says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Search Engine Watch
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I like jumpscan.com for this!
    Posted by Susan Czubek

  7. Peter Baxter says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Social Media Marketing Questions & Answers
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I use the Microsoft equivalent of QR codes–the Microsoft Tag–on my business cards and have done tags for some of my contacts. I'd say they–QR and MS Tags–are still not out of the novelty stage, but are gaining popularity.

    One good thing about them on the card is that they start a discussion. And some people actually do use them to put my contact info into their phones. They also mark the user as being technically savvy and on one of the leading edges of marketing communication.
    Posted by Peter Baxter

  8. Lakshmi S says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: MyVerizon
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Sure excited everyone when we first found about the QR codes. There are Free websites to generate QR codes and free QR readers for smart phones. Point at it and it takes you to the website! I had my name coded and uploaded the image as my profile pic in FB – generated some discussion! And NASA visitors area had it in a few places.
    Posted by Lakshmi S

  9. lynn l says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Informed Ideas For Writers
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    This article amazed me. I had never heard of QR codes and I am still not completely certain I understand what they are.
    Posted by lynn l

  10. Jerry Jones says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: AOL Small Business
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Sure hope QR codes work well because we are putting them on our signs.
    Posted by Jerry Jones

  11. Sheri Kurdakul says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: New Jersey Networking Group
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Starting to see them in print ads and at some events, but overall, most audiences still need some prompting as to what it is and what you are supposed to do with it.
    Posted by Sheri Kurdakul

  12. Julie Kelemen says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Freelance Editing Network
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    What does "QR" stand for, and from a consumer perspective what exactly do/will QR codes accomplish for the consumer? I want to understand this from the marketing *and* the consumer perspective.
    Posted by Julie Kelemen

  13. VicToria Freudiger says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: AssociationofWriters.com
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    What does 'tag on a mobile device mean? We are looking for the ability to embed a link inside an ebook that sends the reader to a youtube stream or an audio link and then takes them back to their device. Is this what you are referring to?
    Posted by VicToria Freudiger

  14. Elias Shams says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: ThoseinMedia
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    It’s no brainer to see that social media is here to stay for good. Given vast variety of the existing channels to choose and stick with, it’s time for such a hot space to enter into a new category. There is a need for a portal to provide a quick and intelligent decision for both the consumer and the enterprise about their online connections.

    A Platform to Help us to Distinguish Our Quality vs. Quantity Friends, Fans, Followers, and Companies

    Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, Flickr and others have been doing a decent job of providing additional marketing exposure and even in some cases, additional revenue. However, as more and more social networking sites pop up, how do you manage your brand across all these channels? Maybe more importantly, which one of these sites should you select as the one that will help you best reach your target audience? The proliferation of the social media avenues is becoming overwhelming.

    This glut of information reminds me of the early 90’s when WWW was adopted broadly by the general public. Every company rushed to have a presence, to the point it became literally impossible to find the right information on the Web. That’s when a better generation of search engines – at first the Yahoo! and then Google – entered the market and helped us find the most relevant information by just typing simple keywords in their search box. If you had asked before Google launched, if there was a need for another search engine – most would have said no, we already have those….

    Then came Web 1.0 & 2.0 – Youtube, Flickr, myspace, Facebook, Twitter and countless others have turned everyday people into content producers, influencers and experts. We basically tripled down on the information overload How do you know which channels to select for deploying your social media strategy? How do you know which one is the right channel to let your fans and followers to find you, your products, and services? Most importantly, who is Joe Smith that is recommending that person, that company, that product?

    I hope my awesomize.me can accomplish such a mission. The site is not another social networking platform. Yet the portal to all your existing social media channels. The platform helps you, your fans, your potential clients to make an intelligent decision as to which company to connect to or follow via which social media channels and why? It’s free!

    Elias
    CEO & Founder

    Posted by Elias Shams

  15. Kristine Sheehan says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Writing Mafia
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I've seen QR codes on Business Cards… nice for mobile devices to scan and see your product/service website or other link.
    Posted by Kristine Sheehan

  16. Pat Roque says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Medical Education Communications and Pharmaceutical Marketing
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    QR codes seem like a great way to provide valuable info to patients/consumers quickly and efficiently, at low cost…imagine a patient seeing your ad, scanning your QR code and getting more info/enrolling in your RM program just minutes before they see their doctor. Or engaging HCPs with them on the professional side? Would love to hear more about pharma brand/agency adoption, MLR reactions, etc. Obstacles? What does success look like?
    Posted by Pat Roque

  17. Marc Puma says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Medical Education Communications and Pharmaceutical Marketing
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Pat is right- this is going to be be BIG! We'll have to figure out how to use it, but this is the link between the cell phone and the internet we've all been looking for. Not as passive as an ad on TV or magazine, but an easy way to get only those interested in the information right to it.
    Posted by Marc Puma

  18. Pat Roque says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Medical Education Communications and Pharmaceutical Marketing
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    …yep, and a great way to ensure that the source of that connection gets "credit" for engaging those targeted folks — assuming you'd implement unique identifiers, eg vanity codes as brands do for print, web, etc. Guessing anything that helps ensure relevant measurement/value will become a welcomed addition to a team's marketing arsenal.
    Posted by Pat Roque

  19. Justin Rogers says:

    Justin wrote on Facebook: "We recently added QR Code to our business cards at Inspired Innovations and everyone compliments us on them. Whenever someone scans them they load all our info into their phones. But there are all kinds of other great ways to market your business with QR Codes. Now if Microsoft's Tags don't win the market battle we should be alright."

  20. Victoria Ipri says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Mark and Michael, I hear what you're saying. I just completed a report on QR codes because, as Michael mentioned, we're seeing/reading more and more about them. I do disagree that they are a passing fad. QR codes were introduced in 1994. They were not originally meant for marketing, but have been used for years in many marketing applications throughout Asia and Europe with great success. I think we're simply slow in catching up. And of course, the more it catches on, the more technology will be applied to make them "better." Smartphones have completely captured the imaginations…and wallets…of people. Datat usage bears this out. QR Codes are simply the crawling infants in a technology that will soon to learn to walk, then run.
    Posted by Victoria Ipri

  21. Janine Gregor says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: New Jersey Networking Group
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I wrote a few blogs about QR codes, created a video and held a contest on my blog asking folks to identify an object that was 'behind' the code. I enjoy finding ways to integrate them into my clients' businesses. They are particularly useful for real estate professionals but mostly I use them for targeting friends for Facebook pages and promoting coupons.

    However, recently I came upon a new code by Microsoft called 'Tag'. It seems to have more flexibility than 'regular' QR codes. Here's the Msft link http://tag.microsoft.com/consumer/index.aspx

    Right now the product is free. Just when I thought QR codes were the 'new' thing…something else comes along! 🙂
    Posted by Janine Gregor, MSM

  22. Mark Schaefer says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    It is a mistake to assume that because something catches on in Japan it will catch on here and we are just "slow." Why would an American be slow in picking up a useful technology?

    Why isn't Facebook working in Japan? Are they slow? No, there are cultural obstacles that cannot be dismissed around anonymity. I hear this agument all the time — that it worked in Japan so it will work here. Respectfully, this is a false premise.
    Posted by Mark Schaefer

  23. Victoria Ipri says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    No disrespect, Mark. I appreciate your input. We're allowed to disagree 🙂 I wasn't necessarily saying "it works there so it has to work here", but just that pointing out that it has been embraced elsewhere. I believe Americans are slow in many ways to embrace new technologies. But you make a good point about Facebook.

    I see you're at Rutgers. I was recently invited to speak there, so perhaps we will meet each other one day soon.
    Posted by Victoria Ipri

  24. Ankit Duggal says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: New Jersey Networking Group
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Janine, if you don't mind how did your 'behind the code' contest go in terms of new user acquisition? long user interaction?……basically want to see what QR code mixed with an engagement (is it powerful or not?)
    Posted by Ankit Duggal

  25. Janine Gregor says:

    Via LinkedIn Groups
    Group: New Jersey Networking Group
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media
    Hello Ankit, I would classify the QR contest as a successful experiment. I am a social media contributor on a blog called Business Darlings so I ran the contest there, on my own blog and promoted it heavily on my Facebook fan page. I picked up several new FB fans. I received a few contest entries and selected a winner. But what REALLY happened was that people wanted to know more about QR codes so I spent a lot of time answering people's questions. I created a tutorial which received a fair amount of views which prompted compliments on the tutorial and social networking discussion. 

    I only ran the contest for one week. I plan to run another contest but will extend the time to see if I can prompt more folks to participate further. 

    I think QR codes have amazing potential. The drawback is that one needs a smart phone with a QR reader AND that individual must be motivated to pull that out and scan the image. In a world where immediate gratification is possible just by clicking through a web page to view a coupon or a virtual tour, QR codes can't (currently) compete. But if the only device that is available at the given moment is a smartphone with a QR reader, the codes allow users an alternative to capture information in the here and now. It also gives companies an opportunity to offer a 'call to action' to a potential customer whose business might have been lost. 

    I could obviously talk endlessly about QR codes but to answer your question, the power was in the curiosity it spawned not so much in the activity I was trying to promote. Next time I run a contest, I will utilize that curiosity factor and measure the results over a longer term.
    Posted by Janine Gregor, MSM

  26. Jose Somarriba says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Writers
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I would say QR codes are flowing already but many people still dont know them yet, or dont have a cellphone With the right software installed.
    Posted by Jose Somarriba

  27. Kevin Masten says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Marketers like QR codes because they represent a way to quantify response in a medium that's been traditionally difficult to measure—print. That's very cool. What I've noticed, however, is that the way they're being used isn't terribly effective. The consumer should be rewarded in some way for scanning a QR code. Presenting a second call to action on the landing page is risky. Marketers need to ask themselves if there's really a benefit to using two layers of advertising to get to a response. Especially when the first layer excludes such a large percent of the population by default.

    Lately, I've been to several marketing events where colleagues have handed me their business cards printed with nothing more than a QR code—that's right, no name, no telephone number, no website. It's very clever. I hope my competition continues to market their services in a way that doesn't give a potential customer a way to respond. Should be good for my business!
    Posted by Kevin Masten [LION]

  28. Shannon Janeczek says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Publishing and editing professionals
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    This will help one of my authors immensely — thanks for the tip!!
    Posted by Shannon Janeczek

  29. Samantha Needham says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    QR codes are def. not mainstream from an American consumer perspective but I feel the potential is there.

    The average person doesn't understand QR codes or how to use them.

    Also, the amount of time it takes to open an app/scan the code is still equal to typing in a URL or even slower.

    From an end-user stand point, certain variables need to change. What if all smart phones were shipped with readers by default. Or if traditional campaigns were used to promote QR codes; similar to how social media moved mainstream.
    Posted by Samantha Needham

  30. Stephane Dangel says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: New Media, Social Media, and Social Networking Participants
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Associated with AR (augmented reality), what a gorgeous combo!
    Posted by Stephane Dangel

  31. Janeile Cudjoe says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Going to have to disagree with Mark as his premise is weak. He claims that QR codes "will soon proliferate out of control and crap content will overwhelm good content making the whole technology suspicious". You can say the same thing about the internet/web content, email marketing, TV or anything else that is produced or duplicated in society. Just because there is some "crap content" on the internet doesn't mean I stop using it or discredit every website, blog or RSS feed. There are a million plumbers out there, but if I have a bad experience with 3 it doesn't mean I'm going to never use a plumber again.

    QR codes have their place and can be beneficial…as well as being just junk. It's all in the way you use it and the content you associate with it. And there will always be a demographic that will use it just because they think its cool.

    Frankly, I see mobile/SMS marketing having more of an appeal because it doesn't require a special app and allows for data capture.
    Posted by Janeile Cudjoe

  32. Kimmo Linkama says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I'm not quite sure where the QR codes are supposed to be present in the context of this discussion, but to me it would seem much simpler to give some instantly recognizable information: image, text or numbers. An ordinary URL would do the trick fabulously. Or a short number you can send an inquiry/curiousness SMS to. Also, every QR code looks just the same as every other QR code, so you have no way of creating any awareness.
    Posted by Kimmo Linkama

  33. Victoria Ipri says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Numeric QR codes can currently hold more than 7000 characters of information. Rarely do companies take advantage of this. Yes, Kimmo, a URL is ok…but this assumes the company has done all the necessary work to optimize that URL so the user's experience is great when he lands. A QR code is merely one more way to communicate your message. But the code itself means nothing if there is no strategy behind it. Far better to think it through thoroughly, then provide information within the code that rewards the user for bothering to scan it in the 1st place.

    And by the way, it may seem like all codes look the same, but companies are doing some innovative things with code design. Simply type "QR code design" into google inages…you'll see lots of fun ideas.
    Posted by Victoria Ipri

  34. Kimmo Linkama says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Victoria, I agree about the strategy/optimization aspect, but then again that's a premise for a successful campaign anyway. It just seems to me (as it does to Kevin above) that QR is adding an unnecessary hurdle between the person and the information. I assume we're talking about B2C here.

    The designs are great, but scanning quickly, they all seem to use QR just for novelty. A couple of examples: BBC would get the same recognition with ordinary lettering, and does the sneaker manufacturer really believe I'll scan someone's shoes as she's walking by? The same goes for the codes with a pictorial representation of the brand already familiar from other contexts.

    If we're talking about innovative new technologies, I'd place my vote on RFID/mobile phone connections rather than QR, The plus side of "push" is that it makes the content far easier to consume.
    Posted by Kimmo Linkama

  35. Adam Reiser says:

    Via LinkedIn
    Adam Reiser has sent you a message.
    Date: 4/25/2011
    Subject: QR Codes
    Marco,

    All of our SEALs have Shotcodes built into them. We are also using dynamically generated QR Codes in our back end for document archive and retrieval.

  36. Mitchell Barker says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Marketing Communication
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    My company PSG a Geiger Company uses these on promotional items that we Market and sell , Nice drink wear items. For companies to promote there messages or brands. These are doing great.
    Posted by Mitchell Barker

  37. Neil Nathanson says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Bergen Area Networking Group
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Michael, QR Codes are super cool 2D bar codes, they link the real world with the Digital world. You'll be seeing them more and more over time. I've done some serious work with them as well as have some fun with them. I actually invented 3D bar codes.
    Posted by Neil Nathanson

  38. Kimmo Linkama says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Just ran into a couple of good articles that shed more light on the QR code vs. something else issue. Look at the comments, too — good debate there!

    By Tom Edwards of iMedia Connection: http://bit.ly/kjcQiG

    By Brian Asner of The Awesome Blog: http://j.mp/ewhszT
    Posted by Kimmo Linkama

  39. Victoria Ipri says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Good stuff, Kimmo…very helpful to me im making some decisions. Thanks!
    Posted by Victoria Ipri

  40. Craig Patton says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Social Media Marketing Questions & Answers
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    We are really big on JagTag at EFK. Unlike QR-Codes JagTag can deliver multimedia to 90% of U.S. Mobile Users through your camera phone. It is true however that a lot of people don’t really know what the codes are or how they are used yet but I think that is rapidly changing. Nintendo is starting to use QR codes on the Wii and their upcoming handheld device. I would expect to see a large gain of QR-Codes with youth marketing in the near future.
    Posted by Craig Patton

  41. Jonquil Coy says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    This is an interesting debate…can anyone tell me if it is possible to use a QR code in reverse…i.e. scan a code to send MY info or register an interest etc?
    Many thanks!
    Posted by Jonquil Coy

  42. Victoria Ipri says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    To my knowledge, Jonquil, no…of course, you might scan a code which then asks for information from you, but I know this isn't what you're describing. Interesting way to look at this issue!
    Posted by Victoria Ipri

  43. William Blackmon says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    TO ALL – This is all great information. I really like that so many people are involved in here an expression thought, sharing links, and strategies.
    Posted by William Blackmon, PMP, CSM, BSEE

  44. Peter Burke says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Thanks, to all, for the information/viewpoints. The QR discussion is one I'm having with a number of clients at the moment.
    Posted by Peter Burke

  45. Rachel Hancock says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Hi Jonquil (and all). I just stumbled on TwittQR ( http://www.twittqr.com/ ) – might this do what you're asking (a sort of 'reverse' QR Code)? You create your own QR Code (e.g. containing your contact info and, say, a gift coupon code, etc.,), take a photo of it and tweet it to the recipient. The recipient would presumably scan the tweet QR Code to unlock the info.

    Does anyone have any experience with TwittQR? Have I got it right?

    Thanks,
    Rachel
    Posted by Rachel Hancock

  46. Jonquil Coy says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Hi Rachel!
    Thank you for that suggestion! – I'll certainly take a look at that as never heard of TwittQR!
    Posted by Jonquil Coy

  47. Jim Dilley says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I've enjoyed the discussion. As with any other tool, QR codes have no value unless you know your outcome. Then and only then do they potentially make sense. We have the perfect tool for building mobile functionality (SMS, QR codes, and mobile enhanced web sites) into your marketing campaign.

    Posted by Jim Dilley

  48. Stephen Flick says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Social Media Marketing Questions & Answers
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    My spouse received a quarterly magazine from her old high school — they're going to be including QR tags in their next yearbook.

    Q: Whose software would you recommend for a small/startup business?
    Posted by Stephen Flick

  49. Sharon (Grazioso) Katz says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: Social Media Marketing Questions & Answers
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    We were just discussing QR codes today, too. I have the same question Stephen does. Software recs and other useful tools for small businesses would be quite helpful!
    Posted by Sharon (Grazioso) Katz

  50. Patrick Zuluaga says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Actually, it is a good discussion going here. I would prefer to be quite frank that all other marketeers stay blissfully unaware and/or dismissive of using QR codes with PURLs in their direct response marketing programs.
    Posted by Patrick Zuluaga

  51. Rachel Hancock says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I'm always looking for examples of useful ways in which people have used QR Codes. If people know of any, and could post links to them, I'd really appreciate it. Especially B2B examples, but at this early stage, B2C is fine.

    I just found an example of a QR Code on a company's contact page that brought up its location on Google Maps. I use Google Maps on my iPhone as my GPS when I drive, so I thought this was extremely useful – everyone's contact page should have one.
    Posted by Rachel Hancock

  52. Jennifer Altimore says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    QR Codes are huge in real estate, but as many of you point out, they are kind of clunky right now. Pull your phone out open the app, or open the camera, assuming of course that you all ready have the app downloaded…. I've been reading a lot about NFC, and curious if this will take the place of QR Code's, or begin to read a QR Code like scan? So imagine just holding your phone up to it, and it automatically pops up! Thoughts on this?
    Posted by Jennifer Altimore

  53. Richard Turrell says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    I am a strong believer that QR codes can play a pivotal role in helping engage customers and convert an offline audience into online/mobile users.

    Through my own experience I have found that QR codes are very effective in enhancing campaigns by acting as a simple point of entry to an online environment from an offline frozen asset, that can most importantly be measured.

    For me a simple yet effective example is for anyone hosting an event where you have to print the collateral in advance of the event. By placing a QR code next to the speakers name you can direct the attendee to a mobile optimised landing page that contains the rich content such as key discussion points, contact details, online profiles and any other relevant content and links. Aside from the user benefits, as a Marketer it also means that this content can be updated at the very last minute and amended if required moving forward.

    @Jennifer I agree that opening a QR reader app can at present be somewhat clunky but as the other alternative would be, in this instance, opening a web browser and typing in a URL it's still an easier route of entry.
    Posted by Richard Turrell

  54. Paul Stark says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Part of the equation is your audience and the value they perceive from the marketing tool. Just a couple years ago, I attended a mobile marketing seminar that included a marketer from Kraft Foods, arguably very savvy marketers. At that time Kraft was investing relatively little in mobile apps and putting considerably more effort into mobile web platforms. At the time, they felt their target audience of homemakers/shoppers/cooks did not have a critical mass of smart phones and the current state of apps did not produce enough perceived value. Their effort was better spent covering more of their audience with mobile web presence tailored to various, less-sophisticated mobile devices.

    My point is… don't write off QR codes so quickly, esp with rapid penetration of smart phones. Deliver the technology that's appropriate to your targeted audience, but be prepared for improved technologies & improved user experience to deliver better customer value and acceptance.
    Posted by Paul Stark

  55. Josef Ohlsson Collentine says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    QR codes has not been used much before since basic infrastructure has been lacking for easy and efficient usage. With the emergence of smart-phones, cell phone cameras and people always connected to internet via phone we will see a much greater use of QR.

    Using QR for being techy and forward in marketing is not very good but if utilized right it can make things a lot easier. E.g. QR for getting next train departures or visual information about where your ecological coffee was produced.

    An example of QR marketing that worked efficiently on me was when I was walking down the street and saw a QR code sticker, scanned it and then listening to a Brazilian rock band for the next 20mins.

    When I worked for Flattr we experimented a bit with QR marketing. Flattr.com in a short explanation is a company that does a "digg-button with money attached". With QR codes we add value by making "off-line" content rewardable. Using this QR marketing at a geeky event like #SXSW lead to a lot of exposure but not much usage.

    To summarize: QR code marketing is still maturing but will become much more popular with technology improvements
    Posted by Josef Ohlsson Collentine

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  56. Rachel Hancock says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: B2B Social Media
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Thanks for keeping the examples coming. QR for getting the next train departure is a great time-saver/appeals to a broad audience (do they have them on bus stops yet?).

    I stumbled on this one today: It sounds like they can change the content of a QRCode post-print (on vcards at least), so presumably promos, etc. could be updated without having to recreate/reprint the QR code (and flyers, etc.). So far it's just for vcards, but the technology must be getting there… http://getcontact.info/

    Have a good weekend, all.
    Posted by Rachel Hancock

  57. John Richardson says:

     

    Via LinkedIn Groups

    Group: New Media, Social Media, and Social Networking Participants
    Discussion: QR Codes and Social Media

    Check out daqri.com — QR + AR made simple!
    Posted by John Richardson