Increase your email database with QR Codes!

Email Sign up with QR Codes:

This clever idea i noted from Tiger Stores which is part of a Danish chain store network of retail shops. They have sign up cards next to the cash register. Here a customer can fill it in right away or take the flyer with them and sign up via scanning the QR Code. It then opens onto a Tiger Danish page where the user is offered the English translation. (location specific). Here the user clicks yes.
Then they pop in their email address and are then registered for news from Tiger stores.

They have the QR code bug in Lanzarote!

From a recent trip to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura plus from recollection of Tenerife, i have noticed a huge difference in the uptake of QR codes in these islands compared with Ireland.

There are everywhere! Bottles, pubs, shops, advertising, menus.
Though the QR codes were prolific in terms of visibility it did not mean that they all had effective outcomes. Some did lead to mobile web sites, some to non mobile websites, others led a web page virtually containing nothing while one should have been a data matrix code. (just a reference number)
To sum up, it was definitely quantity over quality but nonetheless they must be popular and understood by users for them to be ubiquitous?

It is also worth pointing out that some of QR code images have big international brands behind them. Their marketing is these cases must be country specific as their QR Codes are not visible on Irish brand products. E.G: Pepsi & Heineken.


Here are some examples below:

Something different with a QR Code!

Yikes, €2.65! I only bought it cause it had a QR Code on it!
Well, it was a nice tasty drink with real Aloe Vera inside. This drink from 'alo' had a good size QR Code on the side label. Next to it read the words SCAN TO UNLOCK. This in itself is a good marketing tool and instead makes the result more secretive. This code scanned well and once opened linked to a Sound Cloud link where a piece of music was ready waiting for me to press play.
I can't really remember seeing this done before so first of all it was inventive, it was unique and it was definitely different. In terms of brand association there wasn't anything when scanned that linked me back to the product or offered more information on the product. I guess this isn't that important if you have created a new transaction with the QR Code.... ALOtones!

It completes its function but i was expecting more!

Supermac's have a QR code on the back of their fries holder pack. Maybe you will be compelled after your nice meal to want to scan the code or just get rid of your litter.  Either way, the QR code scans effectively and brings you to a mobile optimised website. They fulfil the 2 most important conditions. In this case, you cannot say much negative about it.

But i think the consumer would like more. The code could bring the user to an online world full of imagination, a competition, a fun video but it's just the web address that is written just below the QR Code. Remember when you design a QR Code it doesn't have to be so bland. You can incorporate a logo, picture or design giving it a more attractive appearance.

Good job, Supermac's : )

Nobody ever asked me could they scan my t-shirt before!

I was getting my car washed for the NCT and couldn't believe when i seen the QR Code on the back of the car washers t-shirt.

First of all, it's an awkward wet place to take out a mobile phone to scan the t-shirt. After the car wash, i asked can i scan your QR Code to which his reply was. Yes, no problem but nobody ever asked me could they scan my t-shirt before. I'm not really surprised as a QR code in this way within this service is too invasive. Additionally, this shows low recognition of a QR code/low scanning of a QR code in 2015.

So after my car wash, i got out of the car and attempted to scan the t-shirt. He was kind enough to pull the t-shirt straight to give me a chance at getting a scan. It would not work if creased. I tried for approximately one minute to get the code to scan and it wouldn't. I was conscious of another car waiting on a wash and they were probably wondering what is this girl doing.  I thanked him for his help but i did not get this code to scan at all.

Conclusion:
The QR Code is probably too big and makes it difficult to capture the full square in the scanning grid. The QR Code around an unsafe area (wet ground) could cause potential problems.
A QR code on a t-shirt can be successful in the right environment. (see earlier post entry)
A QR code must be tested before and after production bearing in mind surface quality. Remember t-shirts fade wash after wash. Don't let your campaign vanish!

Bit of a mixed 'bag'.

Seen this code on my friends shopping bag and said i gotta have that!
I tried to scan the code but had great difficulty. I think a combination of the creases and also the bag material delayed my scan read out.  Eventually i got it scanned and it lead to a website that wasn't fully mobile optimised and looked too cumbersome to navigate from a mobile device.  I clicked on the offers section and it automatically downloaded a pdf to my phone files. When opened it displayed very effectively on the phone.

Conclusion: QR codes need to be printed on a surface that cannot become compromised. This bag will be folded away in a press for it's next use and therefore time after time the QR code becomes difficult to access. Also the material was reflective which perhaps also inhibited a perfect scan.
All in all, a bit of a mixed bag!

Find a job with a QR Code!

Next to the checkout in Holland & Barrett, i came across a card which advertised that they were hiring. It gave the long email address of www.hollandandbarrett.ie/careers and a phone number but also a QR Code.

The QR Code though i thought was a little small scanned perfectly. It brought the potential employee onto a really good mobile optimized site.

Conclusion: This QR code activity used for job recruitment is a great idea especially if the web address is long. It is also a reminder to them if they take the card home to apply for/and how to apply for the position.  From a business point of view, potential interest of the position can be viewed if the QR Code is managed (analytics).

Feedback made simple!

In the space of one week, i have seen 2 QR Codes used for customer feedback.
It certainly is a great way to entice customers to review a product/service.

Instead of having to log in to a website and find the link to do this, it is made much simple by targeting the customer to the direct page.  Again they are probably more likely to review service shortly after the experience so having this on the receipt is making the review process easier for the user.

The QR codes in both examples are an effective size plus they lead to a mobile optimized site.
Well done Halfords! Well done Mace!

Use a Social Media link if you don't have a mobile optimized site!

Today I scanned my lunch. Good to see QR Codes appearing on an Irish soup product.
However, after scanning i get to a non-mobile optimized website.

We already learn the web address as this is stated above the code. Yes it might bring us there faster but what's the point! I can't view this on my phone without pinching outwards.

Instead, if you want to use a QR Code and don't have a mobile website - bring the user to a social media site as this is already mobile optimized. Let's make QR Codes user friendly. Remember one bad experience may cause the user not to bother in the future.

Don't forget the printers!!!

So you think you have your QR Code all worked out. This QR code scans somewhat well on the Sweet'N Low sachet on the left though a little on the small side and missing a quiet zone. Nevertheless it does scan after a few seconds.

Size note:


However, the QR Code on the sachet on the left does not scan at all.  This is where it is very important to have the printers on board if you are serious about your QR Code Campaign. Additionally, there is no indication on these sachets what the QR Code will result in, for some it could be a just a product type code for the manufacturers. Luckily, it does bring you to a mobile optimised website.

Conclusion: Identify with your printers that the main space of you QR Code must not compromised otherwise it is useless to have this on your product.