QR Codes Go Up in Smoke!

Even though QR (Quick Read) codes have been around for a while, this is the year that I’ve personally really enjoyed them.  It started at Christmas When my friend Charles gave me a New York Times and it had a HUGE really colorful QR code on it and I sat at lunch trying to take a picture of it, which of course did not work.  From a Blog earlier, I mentioned that you would need a QR Code reader or scanner on your iPhone to get it to work. Since December, I have made QR code business cards, stuck QR Code Stickers up all over the world and made QR codes for many friends including Non Stop Travel, Power 104.3, and Oceanic Cable. 

Now, check out this video, I know it’s in Croatian, but even in Croatian it shows you how simple and easy it is to use a QR Code.  And as I’ve been studying the usage of QR codes in Advertising, I noticed that many take the customer to a website, which is cool and all. That’s what most of my QR codes do, but as we continue to use them, I love all of the really awesome things we can do with them!

For example this QR code is on the back of a Ronhill cigarette package and it takes you to a regional mobile website that gives the smoker current locations of where smoking is allowed.  And similar to Foursquare-users can also update the list of places themselves.  Thanks to Springwise.com for the tip and for more information on TDR click here.

On the subject of cool things to do with QR codes.  Feel free to use any of these ideas or use them as a springboard to your own QR code Fun,  Advertising, and Marketing!  (These arent real or if they are it’s a total coincidence because I just made them all up today 9/15/11)

1. Red Bull/Energy Drink/Soda Company:  The QR code could click to a site that shows all the cool places Red Bull events are being held this year and you’d be entered to win VIP access. Or even more fun, the QR code would lead you to Travis Pastrana’s backyard-where he could teach us some new tricks on Moto X or Subaru. 

2.Clearthesmoke.org/Lung Association: Since we did an article on cool things you can do with smoking, I figured I’d better add in some PSA type info on quiting smoking.    So,  instead of taking you their websites homepage, the QR code can take you to an entry form to enter the “Quit Smoking Today” art contest.  Here you would upload your art and then the next time you scan the QR code it would take you to the Clear the Smoke dot org Art Gallery where you could see all of the great works of art and vote on your favorites. Winner received a smoking HOT trip to the Bahamas.

3.  Broke2.com/Clothing Company:  Click on the QR code and it takes you to a fun interactive video game where you get to dress up Celebrities in some fun destination appropriate clothes to go on a road trip race all over the world. Changing clothes as you go to each destination. Racing against all sorts of people all around the world.  Fun to do, fun to race and fun to meet new people from around the World. You could get badges, points or money coupons each time you get to a new country and use them to purchase a special limited edition line of clothing designed for the game. 

4.  G-Shock/Watches in general:  Put the QR code underneath the crown or on the band. Wearers of the brand get the exclusive code to be in the VIP Watch Club.  Along with the usual cool VIP things brands like to give you. This Club would check the time and show you a video of the coolest thing happening at that moment in time.  Like an all night party in Ibiza, backstage at Fashion Week, a sneak peek at a celebrity partying in Maui, behind the scenes at a Victoria Secret’s Fashion show, on the set of Hawaii Five-0, Carnivale in Rio, St. Pats Day in Dublin etc. Whatever, wherever is HOT at this TIME, they will take you there!

Oh-What fun to be had with QR codes and just think I couldn’t even download one of these things 8 months ago. The World sure is moving fast!  Best way to get a hold of me this week and weekend is by text at 808 479-9928. Cheers and Aloha! SM

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I Pads in Movie Theatres-Soon?

On June 16th one of my favorite E-Newsletters Springwise LMK that “Tours by I Pad” are available now at the “Eiffel Tower”.  How Cool is that?  You just stop by the store on the Eiffel Tower’s Second Floor and for 7EUR per hour pick up your pre-loaded iPad complete with the official multilingual Eiffel Tower Guide, a historical look at the Eiffel Tower and its biggest milestones, along with a 360% panoramic view of Paris, highlighting the coolest things the city of lights, wine, street crepes, Le finale de la Tour De France and a pretty happening city for art has to offer! For more information on this clever marketing tool click here.

With this addition to the Eiffel Tower’s forward thinking, what else has people done with and what else can we do with the Ipad to make a customers experience escalated, thus increasing your sales and street talk within the city, state or world!  Here’s just a few I’ve been thinking about today:

HOTELS

Have hip, happening dressed slick-looking check in clerks all around the lobby which actually isn’t even a lobby but a big party room with cocktails and free finger foods. these Hip and happening clerks would check you in and out on the fly-no need for lines or cash registers. Your key card would automatically generate via another high-tech gadget hooked up wirelessly to the hip and happening clerks pocket.  And you’re good to go!

In Room Pads-Probably secured down or not-you could always offer to sell the slightly used Ipads to the guests when they leave or when they have too many drinks at the pool.  anyways these would be in  your room awaiting your arrival, meaning you no longer need to lug your macbook pro through the air port stuck amongst your shoes.  Most everything you need will be on the in room Pad provided.

iPads provided at the front desk, this is the most obvious and easiest. have them pre loaded with “insider tips” on what to do around town. Include your hotels own insider tips with discounts from your concierge’s favorite Hot spots. Include the I pad deal of the day for hotel services such as two for one massages or free breakfasts on the tweet up deck.

MOVIE THEATRES- This is my favorite idea of the day.  Even if you just did it once a month – “Oh what fun it would be!”  Give everyone in the theatre their own iPad prior to the movie, let them use them throughout, tweeting with each other on what they like and don’t like about the movie.  Good way to meet some new friends, maybe make a few enemies-might want to hire a security guard or two, and awesome way to get tons of good and probably some bad publicity on your movie that is showing at said theatre.  Actually, this would be cool for movie studios to do when they preview a movie prior to it going out to the public-would be a lot more fun then the usual post premiere questionnaire or boring interview questions they ask you to answer.   Of course at the end of either of these movie events, you would return your iPad to the theatre, but only after getting a few phone numbers from the cool people you met at the movie.

TRADE SHOWS-Why oh Why do we still use pieces of paper and pens that don’t work and pencils that barely write to get our trade show leads.   When you do your next trade show and have an enter to win, do it on an iPad, much more fun for the attendee and I bet you get a lot more people to “opt in” for your permission marketing emails/newsletters/future contests.

THE GAP or SIMILIAR CLOTHES STORE-When I grew up my mom never let me buy any clothes without trying them on.  And when my daughter grew up she also could not buy any clothes unless she tried them on. Me, I always liked trying thing on because I like to shop, although my daughter totally dislikes trying things on.  Thus, have customer service agents in the store with iPads, someone like my daughter likes something. The agent comes over takes her picture, then shows her what all the thing she likes look like on her. Then she can either buy them all or as I would do, I would then, just try on the things that look good-just to make sure they fit. And for me at least, feel good to walk around in.

ADVERTISING IN HAWAII-(free plug..LOL) Give Pre loaded iPads to tourists as they arrive in Honolulu.  HTA could have them filled with all the cool beaches, HOT clubs, tips on  sun tanning etc with ads to support the complimentary iPads.  Or the Fancy Boutiques like Chanel, Tiffany, Coach etc on Kalakaua could all hui together and give out iPads to select or upgraded passengers showing them all of the latest styles and of course..this is really important-offer them a special Limited Edition item or two that you can ONLY purchase with your special customized iPad given to you at the airport or at your upscale hotel. 

Before I go tonight to twitter on my iPad:

Here’s a bit of iPad or as AdAge likes to call it-“Tablet” information, showing the growing trend of users:

From AdvertisingAge June 22, 2011:  “Some 28 million US web users between 8 and 64 years old own or use tablets-12% of the US internet population in that age range-according to the study from the Online Publishers Association and Frank N Magid Associates.

And their ranks will grow to 54 million!  23% of the US internet population from 8-64, by earl next year, the study found.”  That is 12% this year to 23% next year!

On average, those who have downloaded apps on tablets have spent $53 on apps in the last year.  93% of tablet users have ever downloaded apps.  26% of all apps downloaded are paid. 46% of respondents said they found advertising within newspaper and magazine tablet apps relevant, unique and interesting, 43% of tablet users have a household income above $50,000, and tablet users skew male-60% and are mostly 18-34 years old(48%).  Here’s a picture of a fun street sign I took in Brussels, Belgium-not exactly Paris, but pretty close!       Scott.mackenzie@coxradio.com 

Which Way to the Apple Store? S’il Vous Plait?
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