QR code engages [updated - August 15, 2011]

You’ve seen them around probably….the 2D QR codes. If you’ve seen them, but wondered what they are all about? Well, that’s easy: through your smartphone camera and app you take a picture of the QR code.  This picture gives you access to more and information….marketeers discover new opportunities, and note that these QR code engage people to connect to the product of service.

USA Today had a good article on this lately, giving some really good examples on how QR tags can be used into everyday business, engaging consumers.

• Real estate agents are placing them on for-sale signs. This way interested buyers step up to the signs/house, scan the tag and receive extra information (including pictures, ….). This way people can make a better informed decision on how to proceed further.
• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is offering special, exclusive video of its models from QR codes placed throughout the magazine.
• Tim McGraw and Dave Matthews use these 2D QR codes that give access to free music videos and chances to sign up for their mobile fan clubs. A visit to Tim McGraw’s digital environment shows that they are definitely leading the way.
• AXA bank invites you into their televion add and lets you discover a new app.
  
• Pizza Express uses the QR codes together with a payment app: multichannel QR
  

Again this new and handy tool  is becoming very successful.  The use of the mobile code boosted with 700% in one year time…..watch out and engage!

PSFK on the future of mobile tagging – QR codes and how to use them in a mobile world

Pro’s and Con’s of the QR codes

Pro’s:

• Easy to use
• QR codes are trackable and can give some great information on the use
• Easy connection between online and mobile
• QR codes are cost effective

Con’s:

• It’s not augmented reality like Blippar or Layar
• You need a QR reader (although most of them are free of charge)
• Scanning a QR code can take a long time/process (that’s why most people use QR codes at home – see research)

Current research

[Update - April 4, 2011]
eMarketer has posted some research on QR Codes. Nearly 2/3 of smartphone users have seen QR codes and 1/3 has used them…QR is becomming bigger and bigger. Enticing and engaging through these QR codes is finally taking off

[Update - August 12, 2011]
Trough comScore datamine a set of new interesting figures on QR codes is ready for use! EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) see increased QR code use. 9,8%  of the smartphone users admit to have scanned a QR code in June 2011. All together 10,7 mio EU5 people have used a QR code (US: 14 million – which means the total EU use of the QR code will be bigger then the US).
Remarkebly  57,4% of those users are scanning the QR codes at home! This is interesting to know, which means they are scanned through newspapers, magazines, even television….and not on the street (20%), in stores (17,8%) or supermarkets (17,2%). Althuogh the study doesn’t reveal insights on why people merely scan at home, I can guess why! (The availability of a good internetconnection through Wi-Fi, and the time to digg deeper into a topic will probably score high pionts!)

What’s the demographic profile of the QR code user?

• Between 18 and 44 years old
• mostly male (60%)
• higher income

Use of QR codes

[Update - June 14, 2011]
How to get the most out of QR codes!?

• Make it smartphone friendly, since most QR codes are scanned through smartphone you better make shure the content is smartphone friendly!
• Educate your customers on how to use teh QR code…let them feel the added value (you can work with a temporary promotion through the QR code)
• Show the free apps….QR app, Optiscan, NeoReader, … so people can scan your QR codes
• Create a VIP feeling when people use teh QR code (VIP access, discounts, ….)

[Update - March 4, 2011: I'm adding the cool infograph Mashable posted today....]
This infograph gives a good overview on how, who and when QR codes are being used.  It’s time we get into 2nd gear….a keep track with Japan. But then again, Japan is already ahaed when it comes to mobile thinking and consuming!]

Social Media and #Job hunting

We’re hiring new staff….woohoo! This means I’m in business for checking out all those fresh candidates online!
How does your online life match with your curriculum vitae? I found it very important to make shure that the on-line matches the off-line. This way I get a complete 360°view on the candidate.

So where do you/we start?
Off course the curriculum vitae (CV)…where a fresh candidate shows his life, status, education, experience, ….
Next up checking the online versions….are they corresponding? Depending on the job opening I found it very interesting to see how the candidates interact and present themselves online.  If you’re hiring a social media manager (f.i.), he can present you a great resume, but when his own private social media plan is the opposite of what your company wants, you might want to think again about hiring this guy! A conversation manager should be about open, positive and professional communication…So when the candidate’s profile is completely sealed with the highest privacy levels, I don’t think he’s matching the profile. He isn’t able of being a social media manager for is own account, let alone for a business account!

So huge tip: make shure your online profile is matching your off-line, and use social media to your advantage.
LinkedIn and Facebook are cool tools to build an online CV. Use the correct privacy settings on Facebook, to show you can manage a Facebook profile professionally. Make shure to show and hide the right pictures to your future employe. If you claim to be sportive, make shure your Facebook profile shows a few pictures. Education, working experience need to be shared not hidden…show it, build references through those channels!

Second tip: add online content to your off-line CV. Please exist online, don’t play dead in the flat world!
Use Slideshare uploads, YouTube movies, own website, blog, QR codes to pimp your off-line CV! It’s important to share knowledge these days, so why not share your knowledge…creative commons, you know?! Add more content and insights to your 4 page resume! Make shure your future employer gets to know you!

When I’m hiring, I’m looking for an online profile which matches the off-line CV and has knowledge to share, and doesn’t hold back on information. If you’re hiding information, or falsely pimping your CV, we’ll probably track it down through the on-line channels…always awkard when this happens!
Hopefully I inspired you to build a viral on/off-line CV for your next job!