4 ms·
Mashable is kind of shameless with the "advertorials" lately aren't they? I said about QR codes on Twitter a while ago: "QR codes: like using a megaphone to s
by ethank 15y ago
Mashable is kind of shameless with the "advertorials" lately aren't they?
I said about QR codes on Twitter a while ago:
"QR codes: like using a megaphone to seduce someone. The ugliest, stupidest, most useless (and used less) tech in a while."
Background:
I worked in the music business for a while, and we always tried to be at the forefront of trends. Because of the position we were in, where we were able to market through technology with built-in lead generation that didn't cost us anything (radio, television, PR, movies, etc), it was a good way to test a technology with a lot of people early on.
QR codes were a flop. We tried them a lot (http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/mobile-marketing-qr-codes-finally-close-reality/138154/ http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/mobile-marketing-qr-cod...) and they never caught on. We'd have been better off putting a short URL up.
They are inelegant, ugly, and scream of self-justification from people more infatuated by technology they understand (badly) rather than use.
Reminds me of other "mobile marketing" trends, i.e.: ringback tones, ringtones, video ringtones, and anything RIM tries with the music business (i.e., thumbplay). And the Motorola Rokr.
- artursapek 15y agoYou think they're ugly? They've always reminded me of abstract expressionism, I enjoy seeing them. But I agree with you that they haven't seemed catch on, I think they're about as enticing as a TV ad flashing a Facebook Page URL for its product or marketing campaign during its last 3 seconds.
- ethank 15y agoWould you rather compromise your design aesthetic with a URL (typeset even) or a massive graphic? http://whatever.com http://whatever.com or http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=qr&chs=300x300&chl=http%3A//whatever.com&chld=H|0 http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=qr&chs=300x300... Your conversion will be crap regardless. You'll get more through organic search.
- artursapek 15y agoI think they each have their strenghts. A QR code allows immediacy and loudness, it's more spontaneous and fun. There's a mystery to it because it can't be read by humans. A URL can be understood and remembered. It depends on what you're trying to do with the design. I wouldn't say a QR code is a substitute for a URL, it's more of an alternative. And it can be more than a URL.
- icebraining 15y agoThanks to error correction, you can embed your logo in a QR Code: http://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/how-to-put-your-logo-in-a-qr-code/ http://hackaday.com/2011/08/11/how-to-put-your-logo-in-a-qr-...
- regularfry 15y agoUnlike your other examples, QR codes actually have a utility beyond "mobile marketing".