Hey , i also offered QR codes when i was offering txt message marketing. The biggest down fall about QR codes although they are useful , google released a statement a few months back that they where abandoning the idea because there is a new technology that will be like QR codes but you wont need to take a picture of a bar code , your phone will pick it up automatically. after i saw this article i realized that QR codes will be a rise fast fall fast feature that will be here today and gone tomorrow. In the mean time real estate i think is the most untapped industry for QR codes and txt message marketing because one extra lead could be a sale which is huge in the eyes of a realtor

Heres the article i was talking about
Google Ditches Barcodes for NFC

I only recently learned what QR codes actually are. Before that, I asked a number of people who had no idea. The people are asked are pretty informed people too, all business executives.

So, on a related note, are QR codes really that useful and used?

The best idea so far in a QR code scavenger hunt which is a JV deal with a bunch of local businesses where people win FREEBIES. The business wins because they get more business.

I throw in the QR code as a bonus for buying my package.

Right now...tis the season to be spooky -

Find a carving video on youtube - and carve a QR Code in a nice big -

(or just do it the easy way out and put a print-out next to some pumpkins at the local market...or any place hang out - :rolleyes:

And encourage people to carve them up like

A lot of these ideals are real cool and I do have faith in QR codes only because they used them like crazy everywhere when I was in Japan. Recently Microsoft seems to believe in them as they have launched msTags. They have bypassed those typical black & white tags which are not too appealing. You can now come up with some very appealing codes using photo's & clever designs in eye catching colors. One problem is folks have to upload the scanner, if these smartphones came with the scanners ready to use like the cameras that would help. And finally all it takes is some hot rapper to say scan to get the latest trk. Or the only way for some gamer to get a cheat code is to find the code in their city somewhere & scan or someone like DYNK toughting the ladies with a coupon only available via these codes. It's a risky endeavor & investment for these companies. But if it work it would be away around their competition so I'm laying in the cut because somethings gonna give eventually... lookup (tag-dot-microsoft-dot com)

I use it on my business card!

The QR Code Pub Crawl seems like a really FUN idea . . . but where's the money for me???? There are approximately 30 pubs and clubs in my small provincial town (it IS Ireland, after all!). I'm just not sure how to turn this into money.

Any ideas, anyone?

When QR codes are integrated with other marketing, they are a great addition to make a lot of different "static" ads interactive.

My problem with using them as a "standalone" tool is that they cannot capture a phone number or email address on their own. With real estate as an example, sure, you can put a QR code on a sign that can go to a mobile site with pics and video. But if you use or add to the mix an SMS auto-repsonder, you can accomplish the same thing AND the agent gets the interested person's phone number sent to them while the buyer is still sitting in front of the house.

I'm not against QR codes in any sense, but if you're thinking of using them somewhere, also think about if/how/why you may also want to build a list from the people who may be scanning them.

Don's idea with the hotels is a good standalone use for QR codes since its doubtful that a list of tourists who are only in town for a short time will have much value to the restaurants.

Another use in a restaurant is have a QR code embedded with a link to the restaurants Google Places or Yelp page and ask customers to scan it to leave a review.

I LOVE the pub crawl scavenger hunt idea. However, this would be a great opportunity to somehow combine the QR code with list building. Used in conjunction with SMS marketing, you could use this idea to build an SMS list for each participating pub and charge them for providing the SMS service. You could hide a keyword in the QR code, then have them text the keyword to the short code. The return message could then have the coupon for that location, and instructions or a clue to the next location on the crawl.

QR code now become a trend which it like a add on value that they can scan QR code can get freebies or certain discount from us.
Sometime it no what big promo but yet people like to enjoy the process of getting discount with scanning QR code and make purchase.

John, I find them useful for catching the eye and for prompting people to take a specific action like opting in to an SMS program, when accompanied by plain-language instructions, like "Scan here or text KEYWORD to 12345" to sign up.

Placing them without instructions, like Rorshach tests, renders them almost useless. Over-styling them with logos makes them look like just another logo, and that's another reason why people ignore them.

The last thing I would ever do, as in post #19 above, is to camouflage mine with a pumpkin graphic when there are millions of competing pumpkin graphics about, say during Halloween.

Not picking on that guy, who's also trying to help. Just pointing out a very common mistake.