When QR codes are employed correctly it can be very impressive. It should also be rewarding for the user that has been patient enough to pull out their smartphone, open the scanning application, scanned the QR code and accepted the applications message to open the URL.
If you read last weeks blog, “QR Codes: Error Message #1”, a failed use of the QR code is to put it beside the web address that the code is about to take me to. This is especially true if your web address is short. It actually takes me less time to open Google on my phone and type in the URL than it takes to go through the steps listed in the opening paragraph.
I was pleasantly surprised when the United Way Perth-Huron launched a simple poster campaign near the end of their 2011-12 fund-raising drive. The campaign conducted in the “11th hour” appealed for $11 dollars to help them reach their goal and it utilized a QR code. I just had to scan the QR code. It took me immediately to a mobile friendly donation page; easy!
If you were in the market to buy a home, you might, as you drive by a real estate sign take note of the agents name and company name. With that mental note, you could go home and select numerous ways to connect with the agent. Provided you weren’t on a busy street or you didn’t mind looking like a stalker, you might stop at the side of the road long enough to write down the house number, phone number or website address from the sign. Thank you for patiently going through the obvious ways to connect with the agent but would you do the following?
- pull out your smartphone (as you drive by) and scan a QR code printed on the sign?
- pull into the driveway and attempt to scan the QR code from your car?
- get out of your car, walk over to the sign and scan the code?
The third solution is the only one that works my stalker friend and that’s why a QR code on a real-estate sign on someones front lawn is a “fail”!
Are you taking note of how companies are using QR codes? Can you see any possible, useful ways to use them for your business?
