QR code
QR or “Quick Response” codes have been around for more than a decade but they are not as popular as they were when smartphones were just booming along with a surge of QR code and barcode reader apps. It is true that not many people are willing to take out their phone and scan that QR code printed on a wall or poster. It is even possible for a person to not have the app installed on the smartphone at all. But that doesn’t mean that QR codes are useless for marketing purposes. As long as you can place it on your marketing material without distracting the rest of the design, you can use it and it is even better if you provide some sort of reward to people that go through all the trouble of scanning it.
Where to use the QR Code?
QR codes are best for spots where you expect people to view the material while being idle. A business card is the best example because an individual will stop and look at the business card analyzing the information and noticing the QR code. It is less useful on a billboard placed next to a highway because drivers won’t just stop and take a quick picture. Typical QR code scanners can’t read blurry QR code images anyway. Print advertisements such as posters, banners placed indoors and brochures serve as worthy areas for QR code placement too.
What should the QR Code contain?
The QR code should contain a piece of data that would normally look uglier on the media if it was printed out right. For instance, you don’t want to put a very lengthy URL to that special raffle promotion on a big poster. A QR code of that URL would be a more efficient way to go. Besides, copying a lengthy URL to your smartphone isn’t all that practical and having a QR code can make the task easier. On a business card, you can put extra details such as a phone number that you don’t want exposed or a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Properly placed QR codes can make the design less distracting and more appealing overall. You can even add a little bit of spice to these QR codes to make them blend in better with the advertisement itself. Expect another post about this in the future.