Monday, March 28, 2011

Benefits of Barcodes

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I was on the road when Earth Hour happened and was curious to see how dark it would get around me but unfortunately nothing happened. Granted turning off your car headlights would not have been a good idea!

Last month we had written a post titled, Love and the 2D Barcode. It was about those little bar codes we see on advertisements.

Well these 2D bar codes (also called QR codes) are gaining more momentum. In a recent article from Advertising Age, QR codes are being pushed to the forefront by some large companies. Companies like Target, Best Buy, Macy's, and Post cereal are doing large marketing campaigns not only by using these bar codes but emphasizing how to use these bar codes.

Macy's has a nationally running video that "shows shoppers how to use codes and explains what they'll get access to when they scan one with their phone." They have "in-store signs and employees that are armed with more than 100,000 lanyards containing instructions on how to use the codes."

I think educating the public is the most important thing. If people know how to use it and why they should use it, it allows people to embrace the technology more.

This type of marketing can be used as part of a direct marketing campaign as well. Creating a buzz about your company or organization in multiple channels is vital in making your overall direct marketing campaign successful.

Has anyone tried scanning any of these 2-D bar codes? What do you think about this type of marketing? If you knew more about it, would you be more willing to try it?

--L

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