Use QR Codes to Deliver your Mobile Marketing message

Quick Respose Codes (QR Codes) have been around for a while, but are really starting to make an impact on the public consciousness. This is being driven by a range of innovative marketing campaigns that are utilising QR codes in a quirky, eye-catching ways. QR Codes are simply 2 dimensional barcodes that can be scanned using a qr reader on your smartphone. The barcode can be anything, but many marketeers are using QR codes to display mobile website URLs, that when scanned display a websites with promotional messages, mobile newsletters or other calls to action. And the good news for marketeers is that you do not need a massive marketing budget to run a quirky, eye-catching campaign that will help you promote your brand and communicate with your customers. Here are a few examples we have come across that caught our eye.

Total Produce rolls out QR coded packaging

Total Produce are one of Europe’s largest fresh produce marketers. Growing, sourcing, importing, packaging, distributing and marketing over 200 lines of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, the Total Produce group distributes some 250 million cartons of fresh produce to the retail, wholesale, foodservice and processing sectors across Europe annually.

The companies research has shown that that the majority of consumers are interested in knowing more about the fresh produce items they purchase. As a result the company has announced the launch of new ‘Smartpack’ packaging with QR barcodes that allow consumers access immediate relevant information on the fruit or vegetable.

The QR codes can be read from any smartphone and once the code is picked up, consumers will automatically be directed to the appropriate area of Total Produce’s new consumer website, where they can get additional information on the product they scanned such as receipes and instructions on how to prepare the food.

For example, a QR code accompanying a pitahaya (dragon fruit) will direct the consumer instantly to a three-minute video explaining how to prepare and serve the fruit.

Ethical Bean Coffee Co. use QR Codes on In-Train Advertising

In late 2010 The Ethical Bean Coffee Co. started adding QR codes to their ads in train. When customers scan the QR Code with their smartphone cameras, a coffee menu pops up on their screens. They can then order a cup of coffee on the train and have it waiting when they arrive at one of Ethical Bean's shops. According to CEO Lloyd Bernhardt, business has doubled since then, with Bernhardt adding - We catch people who are on the go and don't have a lot of time.

Ethical Bean have also started adding QR Codes to their bags of coffee to share roasting secrets, among other things.

Barcode Gallery taking the Art of the Barcode to a new level.

One of my favourite recent examples of a clever use of a QR Code is the new website Barcode Gallery. On this site, users are able to use a QR Code to create customized and personalized pieces of modern art. What makes this art unique is the ability to encode a text message into the artwork itself, which is only revealed when scanned by a smartphone. Barcode Gallery allows up to 300 characters of text providing the opportunity to embed a favorite quote, poem, or personal message.