3foldComm

Here’s my new obsession with an old – but gaining in new popularity – technology: QR codes.

If you don’t know what this is, a QR Code is a two dimensional bar code, created in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso-Wave.  QR stands for Quick Response, and it means it.

Basically, these little square codes can be programmed with website addresses, messages, or contact information, then, with the help of a QR reader – like the app I have on my iPhone (a few options found here) – you capture the image and receive the embedded information.

The potential uses, especially for marketing, are abundant:

• Tracking an ad’s reach or outcome
• Asa tag and hint provider for a scavenger hunt
• Used for a VIP identification program
• Creating a value-added addition to a website, ad, or poster
• At an event to gain VIP access, free stuff, or extra information

These little codes have been popping up all over the place lately, like at SXSW (South by Southwest) as a way to scan conference attendees badges to capture each others contact information; by Fandango as a way to go paperless with your movie tickets; and is even being introduced on Facebook as a way to pass your information or status on quickly.

By far my favorite example to date, though, are these QR Cupcakes by Montreal-based clevercupcakes as a promotion to send people to the Montreal Science Center website.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, but my take is QR codes are the perfect way to get interested audiences targeted messages in the moment they care about your product or organization.

QR Cupcakes - Image Credit