QR code marketing
QR codes used as mobile tagging began in Japan in 2003 and are being implemented in several fields of mobile marketing worldwide. As marketing applications, their uniqueness stems from their Quick Response orientation which allows customers to access real time information.
How does it work?
- Mobile users take a picture of the code with their cameras
- This image is read by software and decoded into a URL
- This URL triggers an action; be it a link to a webpage, email, downloadable file or other such web-based content
QR codes are offering endless marketing opportunities. Today, with the remarkable growth of smart phones and readily available free QR reader software (which is increasingly coming preloaded onto mobile phones), this potential can be easily implemented.
Some realwork examples...
E-ticketing applications
Applications have started to appear recently where you simply purchase your tickets online in order to receive a QR code on your mobile phone, which is then scanned when you show up at your check-in/event. Once the QR code is scanned at the counter it is marked as used. Heathrow Express trains from Londons Paddington to Heathrow now employ e-ticketing and Japan airlines are also using a QR code scanner at the ticketing gate.
Loyalty points system
Coca Cola have recently been QR codes with Cmode-enabled drinks vending machines to allow Japanese customers to redeem collected loyalty points for free drinks.
Intelligent advertising
Dynamic QR codes (QRMe Code) where the URL is stored on the main web server and not encapsulated within the actual QR code itself offers a very flexible approach. The URL is dynamic and can be changed to suit the advertising campaign or even the weather allowing the same printed QR code to point to successive web pages, revealing more information over the course of a media campaign.
For further information on our QR code marketing solutions, call us on 0844 8709219 or contact us.