Pros
Ease of use
QR codes can be added to just about anything, from cereal packets to adverts on the Underground, and this versatility can be very useful for marketers.
Range of uses
There are hundreds of potential uses of QR codes. Here are just ten suggestions for marketers, but they can be used to extend the user experience in restaurants, museums and more.
QR codes are trackable
Using web analytics, and by using unique codes for different placements, marketers can gain some valuable information about how well campaigns are going, and what works and what doesn't.
Easy way to send mobile users to online content
The QR code offers, as the name suggests, a quick response mechanism which saves users the effort of typing in a URL or an SMS shortcode.
Used well, and in conjunction with a mobile optimised landing page, it can grab consumers at the exact point where they have shown interest in an ad or video, and get them signed up for an email, tempt them into making a purchase etc.
They appeal to mobile users' curiosity
Perhaps this will change once the novelty wears off, and codes become ubiquitous, but on seeing a QR code, I have the urge to scan it, just to find out where it leads.
QR codes can be cost effective
Creating the QR code itself doesn't have to cost anything.
Cons
Other options are available
There are alternatives to QR codes which claim to offer a better user experience. For example, Blippar uses the creative itself, whether this is a logo, product image etc, and makes that the trigger for interaction.
Users need to download a QR code reader
This is the big drawback for many. Mobile users have to download a (normally free) QR reader app before they can even begin to use them, which limits the audience.
There are ways around this though. Some retailers, such as Best Buy in the US, have QR readers in their apps, while we my find that smartphone manufacturers will start to build this in to future devices.
Scanning can be a long process
As Tim Dunn outlined in his recent article on QR, the actual process of scanning a code can be a pain. Users have to get their phone out, fire up the code reader, before scanning and waiting for the landing page.
With a fast internet connection this may work fine, but on a variable 3G signal, many users may lose patience.
Lack of awareness
I'm seeing more and more QR codes being used (I saw one on the BBC's Good Cook programme for instance), but only a minority of people are using them.
For example, while comScore's figure of 14m US consumers scanning QR codes sounds a lot, it represents just 6.2% of US mobile users, and also mixes up barcode and QR scanning.
People scan barcodes for different reasons (most obviously in store price comparison) than QR codes, which makes the figures a little misleading.
Best practice examples
There have been some excellent, creative uses of QR codes, and these generally have a number of common factors:
Give customers a reason to scan.
Curiosity alone may be enough, but if you can provide a more compelling reason, then users will reach into their pockets and scan the code. This AXA TV ad is one great example, but more obvious tactics like discount vouchers and games can also work well.