Quick Draw McGraw!

Have you come across something called QR Codes yet? Wikipedia states that the QR “stands for Quick Recognition, (and they are used for) storing addresses and URLs may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or on just about any object that users might need information about. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR Code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the phone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is known as a hardlink or physical world hyperlinks.”

The proliferation of mobile phone sophistication (Android, Apple, Blackberry) suggests to me that the tipping point on this one is close and therefore could be an opportunity to be ahead of the curve in targeting Gen Y (and younger) as well as Gen X tech-savvy people in a variety of different ways. See this link for how Google is using this in an interesting way in the US.

If you use an iPhone, go to the App Store and search for Bakodo. It is a free download and scans QR code. You will need it (or similar) to view the examples below.

Obviously there are thousands of ways in which this new code can be used; ranging from advertising products, increasing the information available regarding products as they pass through process checkpoints, even quick and easy data links on business cards. On the left is a QR code linking to my LinkedIn profile.

So how else could it be used other than just linking in to a basic URL. Well, how about HR using it to advertise a new service or new website to employees via posters or message boards? What about using it when running guerilla recruitment campaigns and targeting Gen Y candidates?

Take a look at the examples below to see how others have used it out and about.