QR Codes are quickly gaining mainstream acceptance. This simple technology allows users to easily move from an offline (newspaper, magazine, hoarding, brochure) environment to an online one, by just using their smartphone cameras.
Apart from the ability to move users online, QR Codes also open up fascinating new opportunities for content creators to engage their audience. Following up on my earlier post on the topic, I have listed some of the most innovative uses of this technology. The campaigns below are my personal favorites. In fact, it was the Tesco South Korea example that really got me thinking about the potential of this technology.
1) Tesco in South Korea: The retailing giant actually created a virtual store in subway stations so people could actually do their shopping while waiting for their ride home.
2) Mytoys.de: German online toystore used the codes (and Lego) to promote Lego!
3) Chili’s: The QR codes where part of a charity effort and appeared on marketing materials on tables.
4) Starbucks and Lady Gaga: Am not sure who benefitted the most from this campaign. My bet would be this campaign did as much to popularize QR Codes as the two brands using it.
5) JC Penny: Personalized messages using QR Codes. Love the idea.
As the Penny campaign says, "maybe its magic." Yes it is and there’s more of that to come, especially when content creators incorporate mobility, time and analytics into their QR code campaigns.
Finally this is a very short list to do let me know other interesting uses of the code that you are aware of.