Ultimate uses of QR Codes!

Firstly I need to reiterate what I have said in earlier posts, the biggest mistakes that marketers can make when using QR codes in marketing and advertising is having them link to a non-mobile website or in an area where scanning is impossible! For example, do not put QR codes on an airplane where phones are not allowed and there is no internet access. Now that I have cleared up some of the most common mistakes, I will provide below some effective and unique uses of QR codes.

- Business Cards: Have you ever been to a trade show, networking event, or conference and have given out and received more business cards than you can remember? This is where QR codes can be a huge help. QR codes can easily be scanned and have the contact information automatically uploaded into your phone contacts. You can add notes right there to remind yourself about the person and what to bring up when you follow up with them after the networking event. Additionally, scanning a QR code on a business card would eliminate any chance of miss typed numbers of e-mail addresses. This is definitely a possibility when typing with a touch phone.

- For Sale Signs: Real Estate Agents can keep up with the rising popularity of smartphones and mobile communication. Putting a QR code on For Sale signs is a great way to communicate more information to interested clients. For example, having a For Sale sign with a QR code that links to more information, pictures, and even a video walk through of the house will make the buying process easier for the client. Firstly incorporating a QR code on a For Sale Sign can be beneficial, but having a branded artistic QR code is even better. A branded QR code which can be easily created at qrartist.net attracts the client’s attention while expressing your brand image at the same time.

- Newspaper Articles: The Vancouver Sun is a perfect example of how to use QR codes in the newspaper. They are currently using QR Artist to create branded QR codes that connects the reader with additional relevant content online. The text usually explains to the reader that by scanning the QR code they will be redirected to more information, videos, pictures, or anything related to the article. This is a great way to connect customers from print to online media.

- Print Advertisements/Brochures/Pamphlets/Catalogues: Are you running out of space for important information on your brochures or promotional pamphlets? QR codes are the perfect solution! Simply put a QR code on you brochure and link it up to your mobile friendly website where you can provide as much information as you like and can even include pictures and videos.  

- Retail Stores: Ever have the problem at a retail store where your item is sold out? Your size is not there? Or you want a different colour of jacket that is sold out? Why not put QR codes on your shelves for when items are sold out customers can still immediately order the product and have it shipped directly to their house. This would keep the customers at your store instead of shopping elsewhere.

- Restaurants: Have QR codes on menus linking to photos of complete meals. Without the use of QR codes you can only have a select amount of food items with pictures as examples. This way the customers have full access to photos of all the food items and can pick a meal that looks most appealing to them resulting in a better customer experience. This also decreases the likelihood of unsatisfied customers and any possible comments such as "I was not expecting it to look like this". Another use of QR codes in restaurants is to have them appear on receipts where the customer can fill out a survey for x% off their next meal even if they have already left the restaurant.

- Banner advertisements: Place QR codes on your banner advertisements. This would be great for networking events, trade shows, public events, fairs and even on the side of the street. Make sure that where the banner is posted a person is able to stop and pull out there phone to scan. A poor placement of a banner would be in an area without internet access or in a crowded area where there are a lot of people walking and it is difficult to pull out a smart phone to scan.

- Business hour signs: Put QR codes on the sign of your business so people can scan the sign and have your business hours saved into their phone for future reference.

-Posters: QR codes are great for community events or even band posters. The QR code can provide directions through Google Maps, video/sound samples of bands attending and more. The QR code can also put the event date into your calendar to make sure you don't forget.

Any great ideas that we've missed? Leave a comment below!