Scan a QR Code, Get a Free Beer in NYC!

Heartland Brewery, a restaurant and brewery with locations in Manhattan, is running a mobile web coupon promotion with Tappinn QR codes to entice New Yorkers to come in and cool off with a free mug of Summertime Apricot Ale. The artwork below will be posted on gigantic kiosks in New York City's famed Union Square district and the QR code coupon will be valid through June 15th. Users who scan the QR code can present their screen to the Heartland Brewery wait staff at the Union Square location and receive a free Apricot Ale. This is an example of a QR code campaign that every restaurant and brew house should be running with their print advertising. Tappinn.com makes is simple, trackable and fun! Cheers!

Diddy Talks New Album and QR Codes

My boy Sean Combs (aka Diddy) will apparently be using QR codes to promote his new album coming in December. At about the 1:02 mark of the video he gives the plug. I'm surprised that we haven't seen more out of the music biz when it comes to pioneering mobile QR campaigns. We'll see, maybe Puff Daddy will get it right! Holler at me, Diddy, you need to be using Tappinn.

Apples and QR Codes

I have been playing abound with overlaying QR codes with images. Fruit works great! The vivid colors give enough contrast to do some awesome stuff. Here is a QR code and an apple! This is yet another example of why QR codes are better to work with for designers than other 2D barcodes. The versatility and room for freestyle allows designers have more fun!

Hot Bavarian Girls for QR Codes

Here's a pic of a HOT Bavarian girl wearing a QR code at the World Cup with some nerd. God bless.

Microsoft Tag in Details Magazine is Nothing Special

Microsoft Tags are being used on a Kenneth Cole watch ad in Details Magazine this month June/July 2010. We are a QR code blog and haven't spent much time observing MS Tags in action. It's time to find out what they are all about BEYOND the CODE. Watch the video for more.

Tappinn QR Codes. It's ALL About SHARING. {Video}

Me showing off a sick new feature added to the Tappinn platform. Every page can now turn itself into a QR code by touching the Tappinn icon on the share bar. Enjoy

First Designer QR Code Makes TV History!!

During ABC's final episode of LOST, you may have caught an ad for the upcoming season of True Blood. This was no ordinary promo. The 30 second spot featured a flash of a custom QR code at the end. Fans can use DVR devices like TIVO to freeze the commercial and scan the code from their television.

I LOVE it. This is TV history!!

Although most probably missed this opportunity because the concept in still unknow, I see an extremely bright future for designer QR codes on TV.

Warbasee Design created the True Blood designer QR code and the mobile user experience. They have a track record for creating cutting edge mobile campaigns with QR codes for Hollywood. most recently the Iron Man 2 promo with QR.

"The goal behind this strategy is to extend the conversation," said Philip Warbasse -CEO Warbasse Design. "If you take a 30 second commercial and add a 2D barcode to it, you are effectively you are effectively extending your time with the audience. For now, it's a clever way to make the commercial last longer, " continues Warbasse, "but, soon QR codes will become the preferred method for television advertisers to deliver extras to interested viewers."

Amen to that, Philip! Here is the clip, oh and by the way, custom QR codes rock!

The Kings of QR Codes

Patrick Donnelly (QRarts.com) and Nick Ford (Tappinn.com).

On a gorgeous Spring day in Manhattan I had the privilege of trading ideas with the KING of the "Designer QR Code", Patrick Donnelly. It was hard for me to contain my excitement about the future while I was sitting with him. When you get together with someone who shares your dreams and insights it's always difficult to stay grounded. Lol, especially ME.

"SIR Patrick" has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of QR code design. His designs and experiments will unlock doors to what's possible in the future as well as give him the title of "pioneer" once QR codes become mainstream. My bet is that you will see Partick's work on a billboard in Times Square someday soon.

QR Codes in New York's Central Park

The World Park was an Arbor Day event that gave participants an interactive tour of New York's Central Park. QR codes (Parkodes) were placed along the path route, each one offering a chance to interact with a trivia question. The questions were broken up into categories and separated by color. The "Parkcodes" let users discover things about Central Park that they never knew. A map and scorecard were handed out before entry.

"Parkode" Categories

Arts & Music (red) - See the vision of the park's original designers, enjoy it;s historic tunes and learn anout the influences that shaped the park

History (blue) - Unlock history, scroll through viewsfrom the 1800's, and see how it has evolved over the past 140 years.

Pop Culture (Pink) - Discover scenes from movies, tv shows and concerts that have been filmed or performed on along the park path. 

Science and Geology (Green) - Nerd out to a variety of facts, factors and facets that are sure to tickle your scientific curiosity.

Droid Does QR Codes in People Magazine

Verizon is running Motorola Droid ads in People Magazine using QR codes. The codes link Android users directly to the marketplace page for the apps, Qik and Slacker Radio. Users who scan the codes that aren't on an Android device get kicked to a mobile page with links to popular Android apps and a Verizon store finder. Below are pictures from the May 3rd issue including a screen shot of the non-Android landing page that I was directed to from an Iphone. 

Norma Kamali Using Mobile EZ Codes To Enhance Shopping (Photos)

Norma Kamali is a New York fashion designer, famous for a variety of innovative designs over the past 30 years including the "sleeping bag" coat, a collection of style created from actual silk parachutes. 

Her store, located at 11 West 56th in New York City, has been the topic of conversation lately about something other than fashion, and was the real reason for my visit. Check out the segment on The Early Show about QR codes where they are featured #

The boutique is loaded with 2-barcodes. (EZcode by Scanlife) Shoppers can scan the EZcode with a Scanlife app and be directed to action, either to buy, or enter and win. When I scanned the codes I was directed to an Ebay mobile page for the item where I could buy it.

What struck me is how UN-noticeable the EZ code is, as opposed to real QR codes. EZ codes look more like a design than an actual source of mobile information. You decide. One thing is for certain, Norma Kamali can be credited as the FIRST retailer to implement 2-D code signage throughout a store in the United States. I like it.

More Unique QR Codes, Made of QR Code Readers!

Partick Donnelly of QRarts.com has created a masterpiece. Using a collection of QR code reader app icons, he formed a QR code. Well done! QRarts specializes in the "designer QR codes". The site is filled with fun, unique QR code ideas! Also, check out their "QR reader rankings"

The Anatomy Of Web Conent (Sunday Scribble)

Web content is like blood. Your brand's BLOOD. Flowing in rhythm through an organization. Like the human body, brands depend on content as if it were blood. Cut off blood to particular area of a company and it will loose those departments or products. Without healthy web content your brand will wither and die.

How can I get dynamic web content flowing from every body of my organization? How do we publish our "authentic expertise" to the web?

Like blood, CONTENT comes from the heart. My belief is that only people from within can truly contribute valuable content because they are the true "experts". This means that you don't need a fancy, overpriced agency. It's already in your HEART, it's authentic. Agencies can add polish to your content but shouldnt be relied on to create it. They can't be the experts that the brands are. How can an agency answer real buying questions pertaining to your niche? They can't.

Content can be anything in the realm of documented "expertise" or data/images relating to your industry and products. Think about the areas and departments within your organization, each one with a story to tell. This information should be published in several forms including blog text, videos, podcasts (audio), images and website material so it can be found by buyers. No matter which medium you choose to focus on (preferably all), make sure that you are continually updating and adding. This isn't rocket science, it's your market. The market that you are an EXPERT in. Remember?

The importance to publishing your expert content to the web. Search rules, no doubt about it. This will get you found! When the questions is asked in a search, you've got the best answer. Consistently publishing content about your industry and products will keep you relevant in the conversation, and with Google. Answer questions! To WIN in the store you must win the conversation. That's cheesy

Popular places to publish content - Blogger, Wordpress, YouTube, Flickr, Website, Social.

Popular ways to lead people to this content - Facebook, Twitter, Search, Search, Search

Social media for brands = "Conversation Content" (I just coined that!) This just means that the public is allowed to openly discuss and interact with your content in the form of comments, update follows, questions. That's the definition of social media.

Brands have been afraid to open up this is the type of transparency. Why?

What makes Amazon a winner?

User-generated content. This is where it's at on the web today. Sites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter all carry enormous amounts of user-generated content. Also, Sites like Amazon use consumer ratings and comments to spur sales. This is a great example of an online brand (Amazon) harnessing user-generated content to sell their products. Other social networks are allowing users to connect by sharing content (video,blog,podcast,tweeting) related to a specific category. We live in a network of networks, niches galore. The popularity of this content lies in how authentic it is. 

Employee-generated content.  We should take note from the success of "user generated" content to influence buying. If employees can freely publish ideas, insights and opinions that are authentic, why shouldn't they be doing it? It's already proven that people like to express themselves with content. While others, complete strangers, enjoy consuming it. With this in mind let's think about a company. Our consumer now craves this "user generated" authentic content from brands as well.

Everybody is an expert at something. Let employees contribute content on to the web in their areas of expertise.

Why do people believe ratings over advertising? The same reason you will succeed with "Conersational Content" i.e. Social Media.

I'm out.

Colorful QR Codes Are Fresh

There are lots of ways to give some color to QR codes without losing data storage! As long as the code contrast can still be detected by the reader, you can customize the color combination all day. These are lookin funky FRESH. I will be posting more to get some feedback. Although I like to focus my efforts "beyond the code," color QR codes can add some freshness to your mobile QR code campaign.