What the future holds for QR codes

Imagine a world where real-life objects behave in the same way as they do on a computer: if you want to know more about something, you just click it. QR codes are bridging the gap between how we interact with our online and physical worlds and making the possibility of turning everything into a hyperlink a reality.

Essentially, that’s all a QR code is – a hyperlink. Only instead of clicking, you use your smartphone to scan the object and retrieve the information. Theoretically, a QR code can appear on anything and serve as the means by which people get information when they are curious about something. With such integration between the tangible and the virtual, the dependency on the desktop computer will gradually decrease, which begs the question: is your business still operating solely in a desktop environment or have you embraced the mobile revolution?

Will QR Codes Really Become Mainstream?

Of course, it’s never easy to get people to change their behavior. It will take a while for consumers to adjust to simply pointing their phone at a code as opposed to picking up a flyer, typing in URL, or making a mental note to look up something when they get home. However, marketers are helping to drive the change by being among the first groups to start actively using QR codes.

And why wouldn’t advertisers want to embrace this technology? The codes are free to generate, they’re open-source, and can be seamlessly integrated into other aspects of a campaign (signs, websites, commercials, t-shirts, etc.). Not to mention, they make easy work of measuring quick-through rates and gathering demographic or geographic data.

Although QR codes are not entirely mainstream among all demographics, it’s rare to come across an individual who has never seen one (even if they weren’t sure what it was). The little black and white symbols are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and as more and more people buy smartphones, they will naturally experiment with QR codes.

How to Make them Mainstream?

The experimentation process is when marketers can hook consumers on the technology or discourage them indefinitely. When someone takes the time to use a QR code and they find it doesn’t work properly or offers little reward, it may take quite a bit of coercing to get them to make the effort again. Businesses can help themselves and boost the overall interest in QR codes by utilizing these guidelines:

1. Make the Content Mobile Friendly

No matter where your code directs users, make sure it is optimized for a mobile device. Take into account that on-the-go people are operating under shorter attention spans and expect all messages to have a quick, efficient delivery. Also consider the functionality of the viewing device. For example, an iPhone is much more interactive than a desktop; use that to your advantage.

2. Offer an Incentive

Why should anyone take the time to bother with your code? Just to see an ad or go to your website – not likely. To get users’ interest you have to reward them with something. It can be a coupon, deal, exclusive content, or anything else of interest to your audience. Once they see you offer a real reward or convenience, they will come back for more.

3. Stick with It!

Don’t get discouraged if not as many people as you would like are taking advantage of your fantastic QR codes right from the get-go. Remember, it will take some time to familiarize consumers with the technology. However, you can take comfort in the fact that they are already well-known among the tech savvy and those in the 18-35 year-old demographic. And if Japan is any indication, the codes will soon become massively popular.

In the Meantime…

Instead of waiting to jump on the QR code bandwagon after everyone is doing it, you can put your business on the cutting edge by adopting the technology now. This will allow you to reach out to consumers who are already using the codes and will make your business an expert at this advertising medium before it becomes mainstream.