QR Codes Gain Popularity for Big Brand Names

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During this holiday season, consumers may see more Quick Response (QR) codes creeping up in advertisements. A QR code is an image that you can scan using a smartphone, which then reads the code and brings the phone to a website, images, or other text, including someone’s contact information.

There are a variety of uses for the QR code, including personal. For example, this past year at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, participants each had a QR code placed on their name tag, which contained their contact information or a link to their Facebook or Twitter page.

Big brand names, including US Airways and Verizon, have started to use QR codes for marketing purposes. Stores have picked up on using the technology in their circular ads so consumers can scan the code for a certain item and be taken to a webpage where they can purchase it.

One drawback of these codes is that not everyone knows what they’re all about. It’s great that large companies are putting them out there for consumers to find. But if they’re not aware of what the code is used for, then how can we help them to learn about the technology? One suggestion I found is for companies to include a short description of what the code is for, how to use it, and where it leads to when scanned. So until QR codes really catch on to a wide audience, this may be necessary to inform consumers what they are looking at. 

There’s definitely a fun factor to using the codes. The trick is knowing how to use them.

For more about QR codes:

QR Code List: 101 Major U.S. National Brand Using Two Dimensional (2D) Scan Codes in 2010 (That’s GREAT!)

In Brief/November 2010 (U.S. Airways)

5 Unique Uses for QR Codes (Mashable)

Will the Holidays Save QR Codes? (The Eleventh Screen)

Related posts from Pace:

QR Code and Bar Code Scanning Soars 700%, as Champagne Joins the Party (Pace Blog)

The QR Code In Custom Content (Pace Blog)

Grocery Marketers Find a Receptive Audience Among Smartphone Users (Pace Blog)

-compiled by Katie Ostrowka

Posted By: Digital Trends Team