The Ebay Inspiration Shop QR codes

Ebay has done it! Teaming with designer Jonathan Adler, they have built a one of a kind store front in New York City that empowers mobile shoppers to buy products on their phones using QR codes. 

The "Inspiration" Shop is located on Park Avenue but doesn't allow visitors inside. The intention is to make products available to buy 24/7 from a shoppable store front using QR codes and mobile landing pages. The massive "always open" windows showcase new, must have merchandise for the Fall season. Of course the products are available instantly to simply purchase from your phone! Check out pics below. Enjoy!

Top 10 Truths of Mobile Tagging with QR Codes

#1 The mobile web is distinctly different than the desktop web.

Great content that is built for mobile tagging and delivered through QR codes is designed with the mobile user experience in mind. Properly formatting content to fit all smartphone screens and browsers seems obvious, but this basic concept has been often overlooked. Slapping a QR code on an ad that links scanners to a pre exiting, non-mobile web page is unacceptable and does not make your brand look “tech savvy” at all. When scanning QR codes, most users are time constrained and thus have a short attention span. Mobile tagging is all about jumping into the palm of consumer's hands, give them content that fits.

Special note: Encourage quick transactions such as coupon signups, geo mapping, and Facebook “likes” within your mobile tagging landing pages. Special consideration should be paid to the context. This is what separates mobile tagging content and QR codes from regular desktop web browsing. Large buttons and simple "touch" navigation are crucial to user experience. Keep pages informal and 2-way by embedding Twitter profiles, commenting, and contest form signups. Also, position the call, email and V-card buttons close by. A typical smartphone screen is 2” x 3”. Make the most of that real estate.

#2 Context is God.

As mentioned above, time plays an important role in a great mobile user experience. But even with mobile optimized content that is quick and takes little time to navigate, a user’s view of efficient time spent cannot be measured without putting the mobile content in context with the experience. It is important to make sure content “fits” the scan event. For example, a scan going directly to a facebook fan page does not fit unless the print message lets the user know that is where they are going. Mobile users expect content that is in context to what the anticipated experience is. If a user thinks they are scanning a code for special discounts or coupons, the content better deliver. Out of context content discourages future scanning and engagement while proper context and a great user experience is the seed for a brand / consumer relationship that fosters a viral message through sharing.

Deliver value anywhere possible. This is all about content and context. What is value and where can it be delivered? This is the million dollar question and the answer is evolving. The mobile environment is a swirling terrain with unlimited possibilities. Value doesn’t need to always come from monetary reward like coupons but rather can be the exclusivity of the information related to the environment. The Yankee Group has coined this as the ‘anywhere’ era of web content because today’s content can be consumed anywhere from a web-enabled mobile device. Create and deliver content and offerings that makes sense to your market and help shoppers make honest buying decisions related to their location. Give customers the feeling of instant education-gratification. If it's a magazine, consider the readers of THAT magazine and offer exclusives to target content around that group of readers. Change mobile tagging content often! A QR code that leads directly to video in a loud atmosphere might not be as powerful as a landing page where users can select a particular form of content they want is much more effective. CNN recently debuted QR codes on T. V. during the Republican Presidential Debate that led users to exclusive content related to the debate including an interactive poll.

#3 Mobile sharing fulfils basic human needs.

Sharing content (photos, links, status updates, opinions, location ect) over the desktop PC web has become ridiculously popular over the last 7-10 years. Sharing content over the mobile web is still pretty new, but shows explosive potential as phones get faster at browsing and scanning QR codes. Research shows that once users use a mobile device for social, it becomes the preferred social site interaction device of choice.

Use sharing as a motivator to scan. We’ve already seen the popularity of text messaging (texting) and Twitter (tweets) status updates which are both mobile born forms of communication and sharing. Your mobile tagging web pages need to be easy to share “on the go”, shopping galleries, product pages, instructions ect. and also easy to share on (e.g. comments, ratings). Encourage mobile tagging users to share your content on Facebook, Twitter or email by giving them the opportunity, today this transaction can take place anywhere! Also, make sure that the mobile content is accessible on a desktop browser; content is often shared from a mobile device but accessed through a desktop web portal. Mobile to desktop sharing is still prominent and needs to be considered.

#4 New Smartphone users are born every day. Literally 100 THOUSAND of them!

It’s easy to be discouraged by low scan numbers in the early stages of your mobile tagging efforts. Don’t be. Mobile marketing is about telling your story thru a series of conversations. Remember that results are cumulative. They start with the first scan, and build to lasting relationships with your users. Every new scanner is a relationship that you wouldn’t have had without mobile tagging and it’s important to remind yourself of that. The growing list of consumer proselytized smartphones like the Iphone 4, Evo 3D, Droid and Nexus S are an obvious indication that the demand for the mobile web is only skyrocketing. Focus on building a dynamic mobile tagging experience and users will come. Every engagement you get by a mobile user scanning one of your QR codes is a connection far beyond any traditional marketing thought to date. This is the first step in a new relationship. Some of your consumers are converting from function phones to smartphones right now!


#5 What’s behind the QR code is most important. 

Focus on user experience over QR code aesthetics. Flashy, custom QR codes can boost your QR code campaign's recognition by building BUZZ and identity, no doubt. However, it’s early in the game and consumer recognition is still relatively low, so don’t spend too much time trying to make your code look cool. Customized designer QR codes can’t be duplicated near as efficiently for robust tracking in different applications. It gets tricky if you run a nationwide magazine campaign with 6 splits and you understand that it is smart to have a separate QR code for each split in each magazine.

#6 QR Codes are here to stay.

No doubt about it. They fascinate people. There has been an ongoing debate between marketers on Twitter and Gizmodo about whether QR codes will hit “mainstream” in the U.S. The answer is a resounding YES. There isn’t a better visual prompt than a QR code to engage mobile users to take action on their phone in the physical world. Technologies that take a healthy long time to develop into mainstream culture (as QR has in the U.S), usually don’t go away quickly. Especially when they’re connected to such an enormous segment like mobile. Scanning QR codes will be popular for years to come. There are several catalysts driving mobile web consumption that will co-exist effectively in the future. Augmented reality and NFC will only fuel QR codes and mobile tagging. Over the next 5 years, QR codes will develop into the most universally recognized prompt for mobile web use in the world. You can bank on it. Ignore this fact at your own peril.


#7 QR codes are the only universal 2-D barcode.

QR codes are the only open and globally used 2-D barcode, therefore friendly to entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide. There are several codes that fall into the "2-D Barcode" family with QR codes, but are NOT actually "QR codes". The QR code is widely known for its three squares in the corners of the code. Microsoft Tag, Scanlife's EZ code and SnapTag are often called QR codes when they are not. Proprietary codes really aren’t cool. The big problem with these proprietary codes is that they can only be read by their propriety app which has fragmented the entire 2-D barcode sector. So "QR code" readers can't scan Microsoft Tags, ect. Last we checked there were over 80 different applications (not including the dozens of retailer apps with QR code readers) that read QR codes, and none of them could read a Microsoft Tag. Do you get it? Yes QR codes are strange looking, but they scream “scan me” and that makes them valuable and internationally recognized.

#8 Instructions are important.

Keep in mind that a majority of users are still "first timers". Make it easy for them to download a QR code reader specifically for their smartphone operating system. This is crucial.

A couple of effective methods are being used to help educate users about how to download an app that can scan QR codes. A lot of marketers use short codes that can be easily texted and responds with a link back to the user that will lead them to where they can download a QR code reader. Another method is to provide a short URL (like Tappinn.mobi) that users can type into their mobile browser and retrieve a reader. The landing page should be set up to visually guide people to the correct app with icons for each OS (Apple, BB, Android, Windows, and Nokia). We see a day where Facebook incorporates a QR code reader into their app, problem solved.

#9 Using a QR code management software platform yields superior results.

A typical QR code mobile tagging campaign can utilize 100’s of unique QR codes to optimize analytic results. Generating QR codes and viewing analytic data from a QR code management software platform is so easy. This is the best way to run efficient and influential QR code advertising campaigns. The advantage to this is having a complete platform making it simple to build, organize, deploy and track 100's of custom mobile landing pages and QR codes all under one platform. Advertising campaigns that are robust in nature can target mobile content to publications, retailers, T.V. and the web. There are several platforms on the web dedicated to QR code advertising management, but there is only one that seamlessly combines page building, QR code management and tracking in one solution. See it here:

#10 Mobile tagging is fun! 

It is the dawn of a new day. Connecting mobile web content and offerings to existing physical print media is an incredible concept. QR codes are bridging stagnant and impotent Medias into virile and viral mobile engagement. The new forms of communication harnessed by the smartphone device equate to new opportunities to connect with your customers. Most marketers get goose bumps just thinking about the possibilities! Get creative and think big.

Tesco Virtual Stores Utilize QR Codes

Wow! This is an amazing video. Tesco creates a virtual store at a subway station in South Korea where shoppers can browse naked displays with pictures of products and purchase them by scanning the QR code on the display.

Fuel Economy QR Codes On Every New Car

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled the most dramatic overhaul to fuel economy labels since they were introduced 35 years ago. When the new labels start to appear in showrooms and online, shoppers will have more information at their fingertips than ever before. Notice the QR Code integrated in the right corner of the label. These labels are mandatory on EVERY new car in the U.S.

The label redesign will provide the public with new information on vehicles’ fuel economy, energy use, fuel costs, and environmental impacts. For the first time, for instance, comparable fuel economy and environmental ratings will be available for all new vehicles, including advanced technology vehicles like electric cars. Consumers will be able to make comparisons – car by car – to ensure they have the best information to help save on fuel costs and reduce emissions. Glad to see QR Codes could take another step forward to becoming the international symbol of the mobile web.

Starbucks & Lady Gaga Team With QR Codes

 

Starbucks is helping Lady Gaga promote her new album by inviting customers to go on a 2-week digital scavenger hunt. "SRCH by Starbucks featuring Lady Gaga", as the initiative is called, will start with an in-store QR code scan on May 18th beginning at 10am PST. Gaga fans can scan QR codes on Starbucks banners and other materials to receive clues about the puzzle. They will then be instructed to decode messages from the SRCH blog and follow the hunt. Starbucks isn't new to using QR codes as they dabbled using them for mobile payments last year. Also, Starbucks has recently updated their myStarbucks app to scan QR codes for iPhone!! This looks like a pretty cool. Below is a short video and the QR Code. 

Dunlop Tennis Using QR Codes as Coupons

Dunlop Tennis is using Tappinn QR Codes to attach a mobile web coupon for a free Black Widow stringing with purchase of a Biometric racket. When the QR code is scanned users are delivered to a Tappinn mobile page containing the Dunlop coupon which can be presented with your phone screen at participating PGA Tour Superstores and Your Serve Tennis. The print ad itself can also be used for the same incentive. It's great to see more QR codes being used as mobile coupons. Nice! This is how it's done...

QR Codes For Trade Shows Are Smart

The Smart Jewelry Show is the smartest jewelry trade show in the industry. Hosted at Chicago's Navy Pier, the event was held from April 2-4th. Attendees were granted exclusive access into the world of QR codes and mobile tagging made possible by Tappinn. The experience highlighted the efficiencies of the mobile web within the trade show environment and how it can augment the buying experience. Trade show exhibitors each had a QR code linking to a mobile show profile with contact links, bio and social info. QR codes were also strategically placed around the convention center linking users to a mobile show guide as well as other helpful information. Trade shows have a lot of potential to exploit the advantages of the mobile web so it was nice to see the Smart Show and Tappinn use QR codes in a meaningful way.

 

Gizmodo Got It Wrong, QR Codes Are Just Getting Started!

The "nerds" at Gizmodo (Adrian Covert) think QR codes are dead. WTF? Because of GOOGLE??  Tappinn BEYOND the CODE is here to set them straight. People have been waiting around for NFC (including us) for years. There is currently ONE device on the US market that is RFID enabled. Google is patenting an NFC app that I’m sure they can make money off of, unlike QR. You will STILL need to open an app and there will still need to be a visual indicator (place phone here) so it’s basically the same process but much harder (costly) to reproduce. Also, the iPhone 5 will NOT incorporate NFC this summer when its released so that will delay this even further. When the time is right we will slide into NFC but that will be awhile and even then there will be applications where barcode are still BEST. Including TV. This is my video response to the Gizmodo post making the same claim. If QR were dead you wouldn’t know it by the scans we are getting

Beyond The QR Code Mobile Tagging

Video of me discussing what we need to do as a community to make QR codes and mobile tagging successful. BEYOND the QR CODE web content!

Tappinn Mobile Buttons For Mobile Tagging

Tappinn, The #1 QR Code Mobile Tagging Platform On The Web, has rolled out a new button gallery for subscribers. Previously, the platform had a limited selection of standard button styles for mobile page building (SmartSites). This addition gives users TON's of fun new design possibilities for BEYOND the CODE mobile tagging websites.

Mobile Tagging Torpedoes and QR Content Defined

QR content is a massive new category of web media tailored for mobile tagging. 

Tappinn defines QR Content as any web content specifically delivered by scanning QR (Quick Response) Codes or any other form of 2D/1D mobile tagging. QR connected content is consumed by mobile web users in a brand new fashion from a variety of unique contexts, most importantly from pre-existing traditional media, making it a relevant new category in marketing moving forward. The mobile web pages directly connected to a QR code scan experience can offer value and efficiency to the consumer that was unheard of just 5 years ago. QR content is transforming static media into engaging mobile web content.

The mobile Web is growing at an astonishing rate, and as telecommunications networks and mobile devices get faster, they offer ridiculous new opportunities for brands to engage with mobile consumers using QR codes as physical hyperlinks. By scanning a QR code with the camera of a Web-enabled smartphone, consumers willingly initiate a conversation with brands like never before and in places never previously imagined.

Like a keyword search on the desktop Internet, the act of a consumer scanning a QR code is a tacit indication of interest and an active request for some sort of brand engagement. On the desktop Internet, advertising, with its annoying banners and popups, is almost always viewed as invasive, but with mobile QR code scans brands can respond to a consumer request with exclusive and unobtrusive Web content delivered instantly.

This massive concept has ignited a wave of mainstream advertising campaigns driven around brands propelling mobile users to action with QR codes. And it’s only the beginning.

To be effective with this new approach, however, marketers must carefully think through every step of their QR code strategy, from code design and placement, delivering a worthwhile user experience and measuring response. It's not enough to just print a code and see what happens. Among the questions to consider are: where will this interaction occur and what sort of value should the brand deliver? The Web content and user experience (UX) should augment the tagged advertisement and the consumer engagement on a mobile site should be tracked across media boundaries.

Examples of trackable interactions from QR code content include: signups, v-card download, shopping, app download, social followers, music/video downloads, comments and ratings. These interactions, with the individual precision of a torpedo, are different from previous Web engagements, which was more like throwing mud against a wall. They happen in the physical world between a publisher or brand and an individual consumer with a smartphone. 

Tappinn presents 12 QR connected mobile tagging torpedoes. Fast hitting QR connected value fired into the mobile galaxy. In no particular order and meant to be teamed for more power.

Shopping: product galleries and product pages related to the printed advertisement. Not as much a hard sell but more about browsing and sharing with easy links to find where to buy related products.

Signup: Contests and sweepstakes. Enticing mobile users to sign up for a chance to win. Mobile signups offer an opportunity to capture information about users. Events and store promotions can encourage signups where never before possible.

Conversation: Tips, voting and ratings. The allure of what other people are saying can be a primary driver to scan a QR code. Also, people love to share thoughts on an open forum. Voicing approval is important to people. Encourage sharing over social media like Facebook and Twitter.

Video: By far the most useful in early phases of mobile tagging. Consider the viewing environment and content first, and fire other torpedoes to augment. Exclusive and relevant wins. Direct video downloads to smart phones are in line to take over. (Keep file sizes and download times to a minimum, however.)

Contact info: vCard. Download personal contact information directly to the phone’s address book. Eliminate typing information into a phone by downloading immediately. Offer a landing page with other links. Don’t let the full intention of the code be a vCard, however. (Test to determine how well various devices populate data.)

Social: Scan to “like” and “follow” us. Pages should be easy to share. Print advertising has an untapped viral comment component when incorporating the mobile Web if the content can be easily shared. On the other hand, collecting followers by directing them to social profiles is also popular and is encouraged. Print with QR codes has an “social” identity.

App downloads. Brands that have invested in an app can use mobile tagging to send downloads. Link the code directly to the app store or a landing page with easy links to download.

Coupons. Display phone screen at checkout. Interjecting coupons via QR codes at the point of purchase has been the most popular practice so far. Exchanging e-mails for coupons should be the target. Apps that scan QR code are also starting to reward consumers with coupons for scanning. Double dip value. Need more apps to encourage QR scanning by offering their own incentive for active usage.

Audio. Sample, buy, download. Taylor Swift, Soulja Boy, P.Diddy and Lupe Fiasco have all used QR codes to let users to sample tracks from their mobile phones. Lots of room for new collaboration between music artists and fashion brands at the point of purchase. Mobile music downloads from traditional print media and products have yet to be exploited.

Commerce. “Scan to buy” music. Unique buying pages for users who scan codes exclusively with discounted pricing. Convenience is the ultimate driver of mobile commerce in the future .

How-to information. Intended to instruct. Mostly used for product guides and user manuals. Video guides can be utilized as well (such as with assembly instructions on boxes from Ikea). Also, QR codes can be used on warranty cards that house info on the mobile Web.

Find us. Google mapping. Brands use this as “find a retailer,” but small businesses can also use this and link to Google maps. This offers users instant directions to find locations where they can make a purchase. Google maps is an awesome tool to incorporate into QR-connected pages.

The mobile tagging landscape is a wild terrain with unlimited possibilities for brands to offer unique value to smartphone users with QR codes. They must first build and deliver custom mobile websites and landing pages that make sense in their market and that helps shoppers complete a product search with a purchase. If it's a magazine ad, build a landing page that considers the readers of that particular magazine and offers exclusives and rewards to only that particular group of readers. Not only mobile, content and offerings are structured around location and medium. Quick transactions can occur in the mobile jungle with the consumer in command. They asked for it, now its time to hit 'em with some mobile tagging torpedoes of QR content!

To be published in the next IPA Bulletin by IDEAlliance. The Bulletin magazine is the voice of IDEAlliance, keeping its members abreast of business challenges and opportunities, assuring workflows are state-of-the-art, speeding information across the end-to-end digital media supply chain — from content creation through delivery, both digitally and in print.   

Tappinn Rolls Out Mobile Video Embedding

Tappinn has added YouTube video embedding into its QR mobile page building platform. This allows subscribers to build customized mobile video landing pages to use with QR codes. Linking video directly to QR codes has been popular in the early phases of mobile tagging but it has been used as the sole function of the code. If a user is in a loud area and the code links directly to video, without other options you might lose the user's attention. This solution encourages action that augments the video by accompanying content and promotions with it. Check out the sneak exclusive screen shot below!

BEYOND the CODE.   

QR Codes Meet Digital Printing at PODi AppForum 2011

I will be speaking with Sharon Buntain, president of Tissot Watches U.S., at PODi AppForum 2011 at The Mirage in Las Vegas Jan 31 - Feb 2nd. Also on the guest list are Hamilton Chan from Paperlinks and Val DiGiacinto of The Ace Group... That sounds like a pretty solid crew to share experiences and insights involving QR codes and digital printing. Scan the HOT QR code above to see the Tappinn mobile site we made for the event! Follow on Twitter #AppForum11. VEGAS baby!

The Grammy Goes To... QR Codes!

The Grammys are using QR Codes to promote the 53rd annual music awards event on CBS. I have to say that I am really impressed with this QR code advertising campaign! Last week I posted, Music Needs QR Codes, but didn't have a great example. THIS is a great example!! Scanners can sample tagged music by participants and read user comments. Check out the video and pics below and the campaign site, Music is Life is Music. Enjoy!

Music Needs QR Codes

Music is ripe for an advertising renaissance. QR codes and mobile tagging are poised to take this industry by storm introducing a plethora of new ways to promote music to smartphone mobile devices. Mobile digital downloads, sharing, and music samples can incentivize and augment advertising in newspapers, magazines, fliers, cards and posters like NEVER before. The opportunities to incorporate music downloads and artist info into traditional "brand advertising" are endless in this new mobile universe of "anywhere" web content. QR codes are the PERFECT vehicle because they "prompt" people with their engaging appearance and perceived value. The invention of the internet devastated the music industry over a decade ago, NOW the emergence of the MOBILE internet might be the BEST thing that ever happened to music culture. 

We  are starting to see some mainstream music artists use QR codes in advertising and packaging but this is only the beginning. The future will involve much more "collaboration" between music and traditional adverting and a model will emerge that brings value to everyone (music artists, brands AND mobile consumers). QR codes will be a fundamental new catalyst transmitting music from the physical world to a mobile digital one.

Here are some examples of Taylor Swift and Soulja Boy using QR codes and an awesome VIDEO example below from Japan.

his QR code marketing campaign from Leo Burnett Hong Kong was designed to promote alternative music label Zoo Records in Hong Kong. By carefully placing visuals of an array of animals, comprised of download codes, people could take cell phone pictures of the animals and stream new music to their mobile devices instantly. This campaign resulted in sold out records, immeasurable street cred for Zoo Records, and the widespread dispersal of an underground sound.

QR Codes In Advertising

Originally posted on QR Codes In Advertising
http://QRcodes-in-advertising.blogspot.com

QR Codes in Advertising (Mobile Tagging)

QR codes have stormed traditional advertising and it will never look the same, literally. Innovation surged this year in mobile marketing with huge breakthroughs coming in the QR code advertising sector. To put it mildly, QR codes are blowin' up! The opportunities to augment and track ‘old’ traditional print media with QR codes and deliver targeted mobile web content to smartphone users are ‘game changing’ for today’s professional advertiser. Successful QR code advertising campaigns go beyond the QR code and offer a unique mobile web experience tailored to the advertisement and media outlet. The early days of generating a QR code for a generic website and slapping it on your advertisement are over. Advertisers must now focus on strategy, design and context to get optimum results and deliver the value that will keep consumers scanning. Whether it’s for mobile shopping, commerce, mapping, apps, mobile vCards, signups, music downloads, social, coupons or rewards, consumers are finding new reasons everyday to scan QR codes on advertisements with their mobile smartphones. Team this with the analytic software available that most QR code management platforms offer and you have a powerful new dynamic evolving in the advertising world.

Today’s 5 fundamentals of using QR codes in Advertising 

(1) This is MOBILE, dude. The #1 mistake made by QR code advertisers is using generic desktop web pages as their ‘QR-connected’ landing page.Web content that’s tagged for a QR code must be mobile and properly formatted for ALL smartphone web browsers (Android, Apple, Blackberry, Windows, ect). Speed is everything so make sure to design content that can be displayed on a mobile device quickly after the scan. Remember, this is a completely different animal than desktop web design and fresh perspectives must be considered. Large buttons and easy "touch" navigation are critical to prompting action on the phone. Easy "contact" function can win with convenience alone. Keep the call, email, map and V-card buttons close by! QR codes are by for the best way to prompt users to action in the physical world. Anybody who says that QR Codes are ugly is right, it's this 'ugliness' that makes them eye catching, recognizable and engaging to mobile consumers!

(2) Mainstream QR code adoption in advertising is a numbers game, smartphone numbers. There has been an ongoing debate between tech nerds on Twitter about whether QR code usage will hit mainstream status in the U.S. To bet against this is like betting against smartphone growth altogether.  The consumer demand for web-enabled smartphones is ridiculous right now with Android boasting over 300,000 activations daily! These phones are all capable of scanning QR codes quickly and surfing promotional mobile advertising for coupons and rewards within seconds. The number of NEW mobile web users will increase by over 100 MILLION devices in 2011 and advertisers who have been using QR codes as early as 2008 have seen scans increase by 400% over the past two years. The future is bright for smartphones AND QR codes.

(3) If mobile CONTENT is king, CONTEXT is GOD.

The Yankee Group has coined this as the ‘anywhere’ era of web content because today’s content can be consumed anywhere from a web-enabled mobile device. We already live in an on-demand digital culture where one-way advertising is mostly ignored but authentic, exclusive CONTENT is craved and searched for. QR codes offer advertisers the fastest and most recognizable outlet to deliver ‘context aware’ mobile content to the real world in an on-demand nature. The mobile advertising environment is a wild terrain with unlimited possibilities for marketers to deliver unique value to smartphone users. Advertisers must build and deliver custom mobile websites and landing pages that make sense to their market and helps shoppers complete buying decisions. If it's a magazine ad, build a landing page considering the readers of THAT magazine and offer exclusives and rewards to only that particular group of readers. A QR code that leads directly to video on the same ad in multiple publications isn't very powerful but a custom landing page where users can scroll from a catalog of mobile media is much more effective. QR codes that lead users straight to video are mostly ineffective and overused in general
  
(4) Stick with QR codes. Don’t be fooled by imposter (Proprietary) 2-D Codes. The 2-D barcode advertising world is complex due the closed, indirect proprietary codes on the market. This has contributed to the early adoption problems that have faced the technology often confusing the end user. The QR code is the only open format (direct) code that anybody can generate for free. The data stored in the QR code is a universal (direct) link as opposed to data stored in proprietary codes which only makes sense to the particular app that’s decoding. Make sense? Not only that, there are over 100 different apps that read QR codes due to their openness as opposed to the closed proprietary market where codes can only be read with app specific to the code (ex. The only app that reads Microsoft Tag is Microsoft Tag). This is why I believe that the QR code makes the most sense for advertisers in the long run. App creators are starting to think differently about what apps to build QR code reading function into. Now, large retailers like Best Buy and social networks are building QR code scanning function into their apps. We’ve seen this movie before and OPEN wins.

(5) Use a QR code management platform. Generate QR codes and view analytic data from a QR code management platform. This is the best way to run efficient and influential QR code advertising campaigns. A typical QR code advertising campaign will utilize 100’s of unique QR codes to optimize analytic results. The advantage to this is having a complete platform making it simple to build, organize, deploy and track 100's of custom mobile landing pages and QR codes all under one platform. Advertising campaigns are robust in nature and mobile content needs to be targeted at publications, retailers, T.V. and the web with a variety of intentions in mind. There are several platforms on the web dedicated to QR code advertising management but I have only found one that combines page building, code management and tracking all in one solution.

The Tappinn QR code advertising solution.

Mobile site and 'QR-connected' landing page building on Tappinn

-Upload images on pages and link them anywhere on the web

-Create links that will prompt the phone to call or email a specific contact

-Build mobile user submission forms (email, name, age, address, ect.) within pages to collect user info (enter to win or signup)

-Create links to social profiles and blogs

-Virtual address cards (vCards) that can be downloaded directly your phone with one touch

-Customize button and background colors for a unique combination

-Tappinn pages automatically include share links to FB, Twitter, email and "like" button

-Pages can be turned into QR codes to share  

-Update and change page content in real time  

-Alias URL's for targeted branding

QR Code management and tracking platform on Tappinn

-Name and categorize QR codes for every application

-QR codes are stored on the platform under the pages that they generated for.

-Easily generate QR codes use them immediately in your advertising.

-Unlimited QR code generation and scans are allowed for no additional cost

-View top hit codes and pages, recent scans and pages landed on from the dashboard

-Track everything (page views, landing code, scans, geo locations, devices) and run CSV reports instantly

The question to use QR codes in your advertising has been answered. Now it becomes a matter of HOW. Remember, think BEYOND the CODE.

Nick Ford is Captain of The QR Code Galaxy

Below is my interview with French blogger Vandy Khamsay.

Introducing your company. Tappinn is your own words.

Tappinn is a web platform that easily enables subscribers to build unique, "QR-connected" mobile pages and sites (Smart Sites) that are compatible with ALL smartphone web browsers. Generate and manage unlimited QR codes for these pages while tracking them all using the Tappinn analytic suite. QR codes are only as valuable as the content behind them. Tappinn believes that successful QR code campaigns start BEYOND the CODE.

The Tappinn Solution

**Mobile Page building (Smart Site) **

 -Upload images and link them anywhere on the web

-Create links that will prompt the phone to call or email a specific contact

-Build mobile user submission forms within pages to collect user info (enter to win or signup)

-Create links to social profiles and blogs

-Virtual address cards (vCards) that can be downloaded directly your phone with one touch

-Customize button and background colors for a unique combination

-Tappinn pages automatically include share links to FB, Twitter, email and "like" button.

-Pages can be turned into QR codes to share  

-Update and change page content in real time  

-Alias URL's for targeted branding

**QR code creation, tracking and management**

 -Name and categorize QR codes for every application

-QR codes are stored on the platform under the pages that they generated for.

-Easily generate codes use them immediately.

-Unlimited QR code generation and scans are allowed for no additional cost

-View top hit codes and pages, recent scans and pages landed on from the dashboard

-Track everything (page views, landing code, scans, geo locations, devices) and run CSV reports

What are the difference between QR codes and other 2D codes?

The 2-D barcode world is complex due the closed (indirect) proprietary codes on the market. This has contributed to the early adoption problems that have faced the technology often confusing the end user. The QR code is the only open format (direct) code that anybody can generate for free. Not only that, there are over 100 different apps that read QR codes due to their openness as opposed to the closed proprietary market where codes can only be read with app specific to the code. (ex. The only app that reads Microsoft Tag is Microsoft Tag) This is why I believe that the QR code makes the most sense in the long run. App creators are starting to think differently about what apps to build QR code reading function into. We are now seeing large retailers like Best Buy and social networks building QR code scanning function into their apps.

Who are your competitors and what makes you preferable over other companies offering comparable solutions?

There are lots of startups who are offering QR code or proprietary technology to communicate from print to mobile devices. The concept of scanning a code with your phone to instantly retrieve web content is FIRE but a majority of these companies are too caught up on the code itself and not focused enough BEYOND the CODE. This is far different than most QR code management platforms because of the tools and attention dedicated to the “QR-connected” page building process. The advantage to this is having a complete platform making it simple to build, deploy and track 100's of custom pages and QR codes all under one platform. Also, Tappinn QR codes are friendly to all QR code readers and we are currently working with some of those apps to offer rewards for scanning Tappinn Codes.

How do you earn money? Describe your business model?

Unlimited access to the Tappinn platform is a $49.95/mo subscription.  The membership includes unlimited QR code scanning, tracking and management within the platform. Companies and agencies can build 100's of unique "QR-connected" mobile pages which are all hosted on Tappinn's secure servers. This offers a complete package of page building, QR code creation and analytics that can't be found anywhere else on the web. Agencies can set up separate companies underneath them which will include an additional $49.95/mo subscription per company. This enables them to segregate client analytics and content within Tappinn. Agencies can also create username and passwords for clients and allow them to view only their analytics on Tappinn. Development options for the Tappinn team to build your site based on hourly design fees are available as well.                   

What are the best uses of QR codes that you have seen?

The TAG Heuer campaign powered by Tappinn is by far one of the most efficient, context sensitive QR code campaigns on record. The luxury watch brand built mobile product pages and galleries on Tappinn centered around their watch collections and celebrity ambassadors to use with Tappinn QR codes in their national print advertising. The difference is this "QR-connected" mobile site can be cloned and customized on Tappinn for ANY of their retailers. A customized TAG Heuer-Retailer site overlays store logo on every page, contact info, social links and a "find us" mapping function specific to the retailer location. This is brilliant because of the high demand for QR codes and MOBILE content. TAG retailers can sign up on Tappinn and instantly plug in to their own customized TAG Heuer mobile site that they can generate and track unlimited QR codes for. Retailers that have signed up already include Macy's, Jared the Galleria and Tourneau among others.

Why do your QR codes have a red square in the upper left corner? Is it a way to identify and recognize Tappinn’s QR codes?

The red square is not only our trademark but also symbolizes our dedication to delivering rich, secure, targeted mobile web content. We believe that in order for QR codes to carry weight in the physical world there must be value built in beyond the code. This is a philosophy that sets us apart from competitors and the red square allows users to recognize a great experience BEFORE they scan. EVERY code generated on Tappinn will include this red mark as an additional benefit to subscribers.

I’ve recently been asked about how QR codes will survive in the long term with RFID coming, what are your thoughts?

Wasn’t RFID supposed to be coming 4 years ago? Lol. RFID will be huge, NO doubt, but only for certain applications. The most efficient use will be in the form of secure mobile payments and mobile wallet function. Anybody who thinks QR codes took a long time to catch on will suffer the same anxiety waiting for this tech to go mainstream. There is currently one device on the U.S market (Nexus S) that's RFID enabled, not to mention the access to RFID chips are limited and costly. Also, it will be extremely difficult to create custom tags offering targeted content for unique contexts, unlike QR codes. I personally think there will be niches for a few different technologies in the mobile space converting the physical to mobile-digital.

What does Tappinn need or is looking for?

Tappinn is looking for brands and agencies that are hungry to connect with and deliver value to consumers via the mobile device in the form of QR code engagement. "QR connected" mobile content will become its own segment in the market and early adapters can be experts. 

  

What is your ultimate ambition for QR codes and Tappinn?

My dream/goal/ambition is the day that all consumers subconsciously perceive QR codes as valuable, especially the codes with the red square in the top left corner :) People will go out of their way to scan codes in the physical world purely because of the value and exclusiveness that lies BEYOND them. I can clearly visualize this world and I am captain of it.

Tappinn BEYOND the CODE                                     

The Ultimate QR Code For Business Cards by Tappinn

QR codes on business cards is not a new concept. Codes have been randomly popping up on the business cards of computer geeks and "techies" for over 2 years. Used in a variety of ways, QR codes on business cards are usually linked to a company website OR contain contact information (vCard) which can be downloaded instantly to the phone. This makes tons of sense given that the ultimate objective of TODAY's business card should be to land in someones digital contact manager (Outlook) or be bookmarked, followed, friended or mapped. The FASTEST way to allow this from a 2inch by 3inch piece of paper is to use a QR code, NO DOUBT! This can only be true if done correctly though. Let's look at all of the ways QR codes are being used on business cards  to understand the landscape.     

Common functions of QR codes used on business cards. 

-QR Code links to companies website (mobile or non mobile) 
-QR Code links to a Facebook profile 
-QR code links to Twitter page 
-QR code links to a blog 
-QR Code links to Linkedin profile 
-QR code links to Google Maps coordinates 
-QR code contains contact info (vCard)

This list is meant to give a snapshot of how QR codes are being used on business cards and the thought behind it. Tappinn has recognized that ALL of these QR code functions are important but much too static and inefficient by themselves.

Introducing the "Code Card", the ultimate QR code for professional business cards that includes all of the above and much more. Code Cards are created on the Tappinn platform and include a suite of analytics and custom design options that make them special to each Code Card holder. In essence, Code Cards team QR codes with a trackable, custom mobile "landing page" that includes your contact info, website, social profile links, phone prompts, logo, photos, map, Vcard and easy sharing function including a Facebook "like" button. This QR code solution ensures that your business card can be used as viable new tool for connecting with contacts in 2011.

Build "Code Cards" with an unlimited subscription to Tappinn BEYOND the CODE

QR Codes Are Old, Yup, So Is The Internet

“QR Codes are an OLD technology”… WTF? I keep hearing this from the tech-snob QR haters on Twitter or in the blogosphere as part of the famous “QR codes will never go mainstream” argument. While the QR code itself does in fact date back to 1994 when it was invented by Denso Wave as a quick way to track auto parts in Toyota factories, it has taken on a completely new identity when teamed with TODAY’s web-enables mobile device. Make NO mistake about it, 15 years AFTER the QR code was born, it is augmenting our lives in NEW ways every day! We are an instant gratification culture who already craves decoding celebrity gossip from the pages of US Weekly. QR codes could easily be the new form of content crack rock that U.S. consumers get hooked on as mobile continues to emerge into a behemoth. There will be MILLIONS of new mobile web users born into the world in 2011 btw. #Fact

Big in Japan. YES, Japan started using QR codes well before the U.S…. WE KNOW THIS. That does NOT mean they are that far ahead of us from user experience perspective. The devices over there simply aren’t web friendly enough to allow it. I’m also not sure the Japanese were using HTML 5 four years ago. Were they?  Americans have become so accustomed to hearing “Japan is light years ahead of the U.S. in mobile technology”. While this may be true for some unique applications, we still see the Japanese line the streets of Tokyo for the iPhone release. Hmmm. If they are so far ahead of us then why do we see a record demand for an American mobile device?

Ralph Lauren debuted the first QR code advertisement in the U.S. almost 3 years ago! Again, the devices were NOT in people hands yet for campaign to be as effective as it would be, say, today. To give you an idea, Android didn't exist. Part of the criticism about QR codes is that they have been around for awhile but have NOT caught on to the masses. If you exclude Blackberry (QR experience sucks) from the equation, REAL web-enabled smartphones are only about 15% of the market. The potential is ridiculous, no wonder QR codes don’t have mass adoption. It’s simply a numbers game. To bet against QR codes as a legitimate medium for mobile web content delivery, at this point, is like betting against smartphone growth! 

It’s all about the web, baby. Apple was first to bring real internet experience to the palm of our hands and now we are hooked. Each day a new Smartphone user is born wondering how they ever lived in the land of flip phones and limited data plans. NOW, freshly equipped with the web in the palm of their hands, these consumers are open to an entirely new world. The ability to access content from anywhere on our phones via the web is evolving at lightning speeds. For another example, take a look at 1D UPC barcode scanning. Same principles apply. The 1D barcode has been a staple of our society for decades yet they have only recently become useful to everyday consumers when scanned with particular app to open up a world of information that can be valuable to the buying process. This is a completely NEW model revolved around an OLD technology (1D barcodes).

SO the question is....Should QR codes even be considered "technology" at all OR are they just an ingredient to a larger "quick response mobile web technology" landscape? 

Who Framed QR Codes?

Tappinn has introduced a concept called "Framing" into the QR code marketing world. This is NOT to be confused with "Designer QR codes" or actual QR code manipulation. These easy tools that Tappinn subscribers can use in their advertisements to enhance engagement and curiosity while separating the code from the ad's artwork. QR code "Frames" could be a big step forward in the evolution of QR (Quick Response) communication because they expose the creative possibilities of code usage in print advertising.