Vinyl records, Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League Final and Robert Downey Jnr, all great comebacks, but have many been more unexpected and glorious as the QR code? Well, probably, but 5 years ago, it looked like a brief and failed gimmick. Now, they’re everywhere and becoming part of our everyday life.
What’s happened?
Let us give you the lowdown on QR codes, how they work, why they didn’t take off the first time around and pick the bones out of their renaissance.
What are they?
The QR stands for ‘quick response’ and they made their first appearance in the mid-90s. They work a little bit like a barcode, the code is made of black and white squares (pixels) that a system processor can read. It can store various information, like URLs, contact details, email addresses, geolocation data, and text. They are easy to create, and all the user needs is a smartphone camera, which automatically scans the code which can take the user to a page, take a payment or bring up some relevant information.
Very clever and slick, right? So what went wrong?
Why didn’t they work in the first place?
They first came to prominence in the early 2010’s and started to appear everywhere, however they didn’t really take, off and quickly and quietly seemed to drift out of sight.
Early versions often required you to download an app first to scan it, and the quality of these apps and the cameras on the phone often meant that the scanning took a long time or simply didn’t work. If you did get through users were often prompted to download another app or be directed to a website that wasn’t optimised for mobile. So, by the time all this had been achieved, you may well have just googled it or downloaded the app from the app store as normal. This frustration and general perception of uselessness quickly rendered QR codes ineffective.
Why they made a comeback during COVID
We all know the reason why QR codes regained their popularity, the pandemic. However, they had started to become easier to use at least. In 2017 Apple and Android released an update that allowed their cameras to scan and recognise QR codes, making them more efficient and removing the need for 3rd party apps.
Then, with the outbreak of COVID19 in 2020 we needed a contactless solution to several things, and quickly. QR codes were a ready-made, quick and cheap solution. You can view menus, order to your table, store your ‘track and trace’ info, or check-in to a room all without touching anything but your own smart phone.
Why they are still popular?
The days of social distancing and ‘COVID Passports’ are over, but QR codes are still going strong. The fact that they are much easier to use, we are more used to them, and technology keeps advancing means we are much more comfortable using them.
They are also an environmentally friendly solution. Using QR codes to deliver information to mobile devices eliminates the need for physical materials like brochures, menus and price lists. It also allows businesses to quickly update details, prices, and availability without having reprint reams of copies.
QR codes in Marketing
So how can you use QR codes in your marketing strategy?
First and foremost, they are perfect way to get direct traffic to your website. QR codes can be applied to various physical items such as business cards, brochures, signs, billboards, product packaging, and posters, offering a direct connection to digital resources. Additionally, incorporating QR codes into your website or sharing them on social media allows seamless navigation from online exploration to targeted products, pages, or information.
They are also engaging! We always encourage more engaging content for your audience and QR codes are perfect for this. They can be employed to provide exclusive discounts, subscribe to newsletters, sign-up to loyalty programs, request reviews, and explore many other ways to boost customer interaction. Additionally, they can be effective in growing your social media following.
If you are looking at a new marketing strategy, starting a fresh lead generation campaign, refreshing your social media or producing a piece of printed collateral then contact Blue Bee today!
