While I love the promise of QR codes, I haven’t used them much at flyte. We did run a campaign for a client that was fairly successful in helping them with list building, but we haven’t run a second campaign for them.

So, are you using them? Where do you run them, and what do you use as an incentive to get people to click through?

Do you feel that your audience is ready for QR codes, or are the already over them?

I just finished helping a client publish on create space. I suggested using a QR code to the authors Amazon Profile Page or website. So it was simple to place there and it works great. Now we don’t know yet if people will use it or not, but this is how i see the best use for QR codes. Printed material to bring traffic back to the web easily and efficiently. much easier to use a QR code app than to try to type in a long url on iPhone. @rich-brooks

Also, let me add that it seem totally unnecessary to add them to webpages. I mean if your going to add a QR code, just add a link. Bu they are new and there are a lot of young web developers who add them to their websites. I have even seen one where the QR code directed the user to the front page of the website, and that was where the QR was posted. Duh?!!

@rich-brooks “Especially if you’re looking at that email or web page with the very smart phone you need to use to scan the code!”
I just lost it! Your killing me here. OK, the race is on, first person to find the website or Email QR fail example wins! i don’t know what you win, but you’ll win. maybe a QR sticker for your iPhone

@roguecitrus These are printed tech sheets right? or Pdf?

@roguecitrus Why use an QR code in an Email? why not just a link?

Yeah, if the email is printed as pdf, it makes perfect sense! And a great use of QR

@rich-brooks  When I saw the demographics of who uses QR codes I lost interest. From what I hear its males 18 – 34 that are 36% of the users. That’s probably because they are the heaviest smart phone users.

I’m lucky I have a captured audience with my 29 year old son and my 26 year old daughter. They both have smart phones, neither use QR codes. – My daughter is really techy and has all the latest gadgets. She goes to restaurants and bars frequently (which are big uses of QR codes). When I asked her why she doesn’t use them … she just shrugged her sholders and said “why”? I thought that was very telling for the future of QR codes.

I use QR codes on my advertising media directing potential customers to our mobile webpage showing our used inventory.  

I’ve seen where even big companies use QR codes that send you to their regular webpage and on a phone that is ridiculous.  You should always send them to a page they can easily read on a smart phone.

@amyhallbiz

You might be right, but if 36% of QR users are males 18 – 34, then 64% aren’t! (Plus, don’t you help business w/email marketing and WordPress? Aren’t any of them men in that age group?)

Secondly, your daughter might be right on, but that’s a VERY small focus group.

@charlene-kingston

Actually, that’s a  good use of QR codes on websites. Thanks.

At our HITS Horse Shows we have an equine pharmaceutical company sponsor who uses QR codes posted on flyers on site and on the back of the rider “numbers” (similar to skiing bib numbers) that, when scanned, push the individual to the sponsor’s website to learn if he/she has won a prize based on a random selection of 10 rider numbers each week.

We are – to some extent.  We placed a QR code on the back of any new business cards we purchase.  The code directs to our business website.

Timely article from our friends at Mashable. http://mashable.com/2012/05/17/reasons-qr-codes-are-broken/

@tonyhitchcock @kylemj6977 @juleswebb @amyhallbiz @rich-brooks @charlene-kingston @trudyd1474 @phil-mershon @deairby @roguecitrus

@charlene-kingston @amyhallbiz I have a mobile website that has each store’s information and links to Google Maps.  It’s mostly for quick access to company information such as salesmens’ phone and email.     m.eiijd.com

Check out the store locations.

@rich-brooks

My feeling is that QR codes are just a fad for most marketing purposes…

But, the technology can be very useful in quickly connecting customers to relevant customer support or service or in general enhancing the customer experience. A couple of examples of what I’ve seen along the way:

• A food item with a QR code that links to a recepe (it’s easier to scan the code then type in a link)
• Computer parts with qr codes that link to technical assistance or trouble shooting pages

@jasonwiser thanks for the link.  Terrific thread!!