Abandoned QR code attempts

Funny how social media and other channels of information appear to be 'in the know' and educating and broadcasting information about what is happening and what appears to be the latest truth. My parents taught me at an early age not to believe everything I read and to challenge and question what I didn't trust or beleive at face value.

The incomprehention and misunderstanding is only enhanced by headlines like:

QR Codes: Goodbye and Good Riddance, tweets on twitter like "QR codes a failure..told you so" and also "QR codes R.I.P.".

When it is only about Google stopping the use of QR codes for their 'Places" service. Why? Because it was not used, did not work and cost more than it delivered. Speculation is on NFC (Near Field Communication) for Google Places, which my Samsung already has, but I have yet to see any service make use of this feature today.

Another QR Code attempt dumped (or so it seems) so add this one to the list as well...

See: Monthly Archives = 2008 !? They did not bother to complete their web site and gave up completely leaving the site up and running in a pre 1990 mode, not even putting up a dreaded 'under construction' notice.

Lesson to be learned

QR codes the consumers will determine if they take the trouble to scan 2D codes or not, not marketing departments nor advertising agencies. You can dream up and implement the ultimate QR code driven solution, but if the consumers are not interested, it will fail, at your expence.

Anti QR code articles, as mentioen above, clearly indicate an irritantion factor concerning QR codes. This is probably caused by the poor and incorrect use and implementation of these 2D codes in public media. It is a clear warning that if done incrrectly it will not help you achive what your goal was, but exactly the opposite.

Recommendations

QR codes are like tools used by craftsmen who know how to use it well in their trade. Because this technology is open for use by anyone, it is also open for missuse and abuse. It is always advisable to first do research before using QR codes in public campaigns if their is no prior experience or knowledge of QR codes avaiable. Alternatively if speed to market and success are important, consult QR code specilists, it really is worth every penny at the end of the day. When wanting to use QR codes, ask yourself the following: Is it the right tool? Is it used for the right reason? Is it used at the right time? Is it the right place?

Besides fun with free online designer and social media QR code generators, a bit of general fun with QR codes is not out of place. So we put together a 'sticky-note' QR code generator for you to have fun with.

Use it to leave instructions to order pizza, or a reminder to someone for an appointment, or whatever. We hope you enjoy it and share it with friends. Have any suggestions, tips or comments? Then we would love to hear from you. Enjoy the sticky-note generator and we trust you have as much fun with with QR codes as we do.

Increase customer recognition and loyalty by branding QR codes with a logo.

QR codes can be a great marketing tool and drive sales, specially for mobile marketing actions and campaigns. Placing a logo or embedding a graphic into the QR code increases the visibility and the recognition for the brand, the product or the service being offered.

Branded QR codes are not limited to companies or marketing promotions alone, they can also be used for social media engagements. These QR codes can be seen as physical hyperlinks, extending beyond the "Like" button and the "Follow Me" buttons on the Internet and make these scannable "Like" and "Follow Me" QR codes available anywhere anytime in the real physical world.

Generating your own branded QR codes

Examples of social media branded QR codes

The working examples above we vreated with the free "Branded QR Code Generator". All that is needed is a web address target that the QR code should send the user too and a logo or graphic that needs to be embedded. You can edit the caption of the QR code and also ajust the size of the embedded logo.

Branding QR codes raises awareness, increases scan rates and makes them look unique. Always test branded QR codes thouroughly before putting them to use.

'Making your own branded QR codes', a video with instructions on how you can make your own branded OR codes, based on an online generator in colour from 0D0A.

Personal Twitter Profile in a QR Code

Spread your Twitter presence offline in the real world, and anywhere else for that matter, with this physical mobile hyperlink to your Twitter social media profile in the form of a scanable QR code. It's fun There is also a video on how to use this QR code generator

It does not need Twitter passwords or any other of your private or personal information and can even put your public Twitter profile image into the QR code if you like.

The social media QR code image can be placed on blogs or website pages, printed on stickers or t-shirts and will lead mobile phone users to you and what you have to say on Twitter.

You can make your own personal "Twitter Me!" social media QR code, for use as you please, using the free 'Twitter Profile QR Code Generator', or the Twitter Follow Me Generator.

France adopting and using QR codes at an increasing rate.

This is despite a very good French 2D barcode system based on the Datamatrix called 'flashcode' which has been around for quite a few years.

During a recent visit to Paris I perchance bumped into this QR code embedded in the pavement on a street close to the 'Opera'.

If you scan this QR code with a mobile phone QR reader or an online QR code reader you will get: https//bit.ly/bHwve4. Which leads you to a mobile webpage '09.12.41_PALAIS_BERLITZ' with the most interesting facts and videos about public dissorder at the buildings or places where the QR Codes are located.

An interesting concept by Raspou Team and sure to get QR code hunters scanning the streets of paris for more of these informational QR codes embedded in the pavements of Paris. A map with all the locations of the QR codes as well as how the ceramic QR code tiles were made can be found on their website Paris by RapouTeam