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I Don’t Hate QR Codes

April 27, 2011 By Jeff Turner 9 Comments

I don’t hate QR codes. I hate how QR codes are being used. I hate the lack of thought being given to QR Code use and I hate the hype over their use. But I don’t hate QR codes. QR codes are inert. QR codes are only as good as you make them.

If there is magic in using a QR code it is in doing something truly unique, something that will reward the user for taking the time to scan it. It should be something that uniquely connects the offline world with the online world. The vast majority of QR code uses miss this mark by a long shot. They are simply a fancy URL. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Yesterday I received a tweet from Jason Crouch directing me to an example of QR code use he thought I’d enjoy. He was right. Watch this:

That is a great example of how to use a QR code effectively. You can see it here on the campaign website.

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Filed Under: Commentary, Technology Tagged With: marketing, qr codes, technology

Comments

  1. Erin says

    April 27, 2011 at 9:35 am

    very very smart (and cool)!

    Reply
  2. Jay Thompson says

    April 27, 2011 at 10:15 am

    Brilliant.

    Reply
    • Jeff Turner says

      April 27, 2011 at 3:31 pm

      Similar, just as brilliant use for on a resume. Thanks, Brad Carroll for pointing this one out. http://mashable.com/2011/04/26/qr-code-resume/

      Reply
  3. Matt Stigliano says

    April 27, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    So Jeff, why is it that you hate QR codes so much?

    😉

    Reply
  4. Greg Afarian says

    April 27, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    That was brilliant and a very clever way to get a point across especially in countries that people have no voice….

    Reply
  5. Debe Maxwell says

    April 29, 2011 at 6:59 am

    Love it, Jeff! I wonder who came up with that brilliant idea?

    Reply

Trackbacks

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  3. Computer Vision for Consumer Services: What It Means for Marketers | 360i Digital Agency Blog says:
    July 18, 2013 at 7:59 am

    […] to wedge into impractical spaces for unimaginative uses. The prevailing notion is that it’s “a fancy URL.” Plus, the QR is illegible to human eyes. It’s made to be seen by a […]

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