7 Famous Brands That Use QR Codes For Marketing and Brand Awareness

Recently   I am coming  across very often with many tweets, comments, blog and forum posts about how  QR codes suck and how ineffective they are in terms of marketing and brand awareness. These tweets especially come from so called “social media guys” and “marketing gurus” which makes me to chuckle a bit and shake my head! So you’ve probably heard of them or have seen them as well: that  little squares made up of various black and white boxes. The first QR code was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994. Back then nobody could imagine that as soon as in around 15 years this invention will cause a real marketing boom all over the world. The use cases of QR Codes are a lot and every day new and new companies are involving them in their marketing  strategies. Below are presented 7 internationally  famous brands which also use QR Codes as their smart business marketing tools:

1) International betting exchange company, Betfair, used the opportunity to strategically place their QR Code on players'… uniforms at the Test London 2012 beach volleyball tournament! That part of the uniform commands attention and the audience could capture the codes on their smartphones and be directed to the Betfair website.

2) Back in 2010, Calvin Klein replaced three of its billboards — two in downtown New York and one on Sunset Boulevard in LA — not with another racy montage of scantily clad models, but with a bright red QR code under the words “Get It Uncensored.” If you scanned the Calvin Klein QR Code it would take you to a Calvin Klein “racy” movie.

3) 2011 Ford Explorer magazine used QR Code with Kevin Hart.

4) Tissot Models Wearing QR Code Shirts at MotoGP Race

5) American Heart Association QR Code Kroger sign! After you scan the QR Code you’re sent to the American Heart Association local information mobile site.

6) Starbucks thinks seriously to increase coffee sales via QR code campaign. The company has placed the QR codes in its locations all over the U.S. Users can also find the mobile bar codes in magazines such as People, in newspapers and on outdoor ads in major U.S. cities. When consumers scan the QR codes, they are redirected to a mobile landing page where they can watch a video on Starbucks’ Caffe Verona blend.

7) Luxury Travelers Scan Porsche’s QR Codes Printed On Airplane Tickets

Porsche has teamed up with various airlines to print QR codes on the back of boarding passes. Passengers who scan the 2-D barcodes via their mobile devices will be directed to a customized page promoting the latest Porsche models featuring videos and other information about the luxury cars.

Conclusion

When creating a QR code strategy and generating your own QR Code, be sure to consider each customer touch point. Identify where your target market exists and the best way to communicate with them. Placement is key, so understand your audience’s mindset when they scan your code and how you can tailor your message to meet them where they already are.