Here is a great infographic from queaar.com showing the growth of QR codes. They seem to be a pretty hot topic right now but, until QR code reader apps are added as standard with every mobile, there is still a huge debate around if they accessible enough?
Here are a few highlights from this infographic:
- QR code uptake has increased 4589% from early 2010 to early 2011
- 56% of QR codes appear on product packaging
- The majority of users expect to receive a coupon or deal from scanning a QR code
- 11 out of 50 Fortune companies are incorporating QR codes into their marketing strategy
- 68% of QR codes are scanned via an iPhone
What are your thoughts on the future of QR codes?
The Rise of QR Codes
Related Digital Buzz Posts:
September 1st, 2011 at 10:25 pm
I disagree about QR codes. They never work when I’ve tried to scan on my phone. Also, when they are on billboards it’s awkward to take out my phone and scan. I think there are better more proven mediums then a QR code. They should stick to being used to tell the price at the grocery store.
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:54 am
I respectfully disagree. For the generation growing up with smartphones, writing down product an/or business information is a non-starter. I (albeit much older), find it significantly more convenient to scan something with my phone because I then have a permanent record of it – and I can look at the information at my leisure without trying to remember it _right_now_
MOST IMPORTANTLY – QR codes are not very useful if you do not have a great mobile-optimized website behind them. Until recently it took a long time and cost significant $$$ to have a mobile site built for you. It was even more difficult to actually track and manage a mobile QR code campaign.
(advertising alert – for the same of full disclosure I am associated with one of the companies I will mention below)
THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE – companies like http://www.scannation.com/ and http://www.productscape.com are offering template-driven instant mobile websites for Car sales, Real Estate, General Business, Restaurants, Yard Sales, Personal Business Cards, etc. etc. – with comprehensive analytics and campaign management built-in.
THE BEST PART is that today an end-to-end QR-Code + Mobile site setup takes only a few minutes to setup and the cost is so low that it is accessible to both small businesses and individuals (comparable to a cup of drip coffee per month)
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:05 am
QR codes are the new wave which is trending here in Singapore. Even the President uses QR code for election campaign. Results? He won the election. Of course we can always use the same old method which is boring but i prefer a new way for engaging the community.
September 2nd, 2011 at 3:52 am
This is from a very limited survey based on a platform that only came to market in 2010, therefore, the growth rate is pure hype and meaningless.
The reality is that QR codes, even in successful campaigns, receive less than 0.5% scan through rate based on exposure. People don’t use them. Period.
September 2nd, 2011 at 8:08 am
Ah yes. QR codes. Our ‘new’ advertising friend.
I see the benefits to using them (easy to produce, not hard to print and a cute way to interact), but my experiences with them so far have been far from exciting. I actively scanned one on a poster this week, bent down (and looked like an idiot doing so) and it just sent me to a homepage not optimised for mobile. Fail.
Sometimes a URL is just as effective. If you are going to use them, reward the consumer for their interaction. Simple.
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:15 am
I agree, my personal experience with them has been terrible.
Until they publish numbers of how many people actually use QR codes stats like these above only highlight how dumb some companies are, not understanding their customers.
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:24 am
http://blog.abitcloser.com/post/868762715/why-qr-codes-arent-a-clever-idea-for-your-campaign
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Thanks Katie for publishing our Infographic. I see mixed comments posted above.
I think QR Codes are going through the same evolutionary phase as any other medium would have gone in the past. I am sure when first TV ads came, they weren’t able to capture attention of the viewers.
Mere putting up a website is certainly not a great idea. There are tons of Do’s and Don’t on QR code usage. Don’t want to repeat the information.
Take a look at another nifty idea which comes out of our thought leadership. I am sure you will like it.
http://blog.queaar.com/post/9210055342/how-qr-codes-can-solve-parking-troubles
September 2nd, 2011 at 4:41 pm
This is a misleading infographic – only in the small print do you see that it is for the US market. Having the world map and highlighing the US gives the impression that it is looking internationally.
QR codes – been seeing, hearing and using them for a while now, but its been slower uptake (at least in Europe) than I expected. Think they are here to stay – or develop into something else anyway.
September 2nd, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Some interesting comments here. I agree that the user experience behind the QR code needs to be carefully considered – a simple link to a homepage is not adding any value. It’ll be interesting to see what developments we see this year!
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 pm
“Most QR Codes are scanned in United States after Japan” (USA Highlighted on the map) – this made me laugh, haha! So most QR codes are scanned in Japan, then United States. Do you americans always have to word things so that US is always the best?
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Without discounting the benefit of a deeper, post exposure brand interaction, surely the QR code/Microsoft tag technology has already been surpassed. The Japanese mobile market is seeing strong growth in NFC enabled handsets and advertisers are leveraging this with a simple ‘tap and go’ for more information. As NFC handsets continue to hit the Western markets and penetration grows (If its included in iPhone 5 this will change in a week) then its only a matter of time before QR codes are ditched in favor of a much less cumbersome technology.
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Personally, I don’t think the QR code experience is bad. It’s the brands and agencies who don’t get how to utilise them correctly causing the angst…
The biggest barrier, particularly in Australia, is that iPhone’s completely dominate the smart phone market, and don’t come with a reader. When that changes, so will the power (and uptake) of QR codes.
Along with that will come innovation and creative applications of QR codes that will create great experiences.
A QR code screams scan me now… but unless you can deliver a fantastic experience from there in, it’s useless… But at the same time, it seriously isn’t hard to create a fantastic experience with them, we just need to see real uptake stats to justify building campaigns around them.
Ps. @Simon – sorry the mobile comments still aren’t working… I bought the paid-premium wordpress plugin too!!!
September 7th, 2011 at 12:46 am
There will always be the detractors, but in time they will come around. If they don’t who cares?
Like most new technology innovations significant lead time is required to iron out the bugs, make the UX worthwhile and get some publicity happening.
One major drawback with QR codes is that a lot of marketers, particularly small businesses still don’t know how to use them to their advantage. Dumping a QR code on a brochure won’t work … just yet. The purpose of that weird little image (ugly to some), needs to be explained.
Interaction with the QR code needs to be considered too. What is the purpose of someone scanning your QR code? Just so people can like you on Facebook? Ha, get over yourself. What’s in it for the person scanning? Coupons, instructions and recipes are useful.
I use them on my client’s contact us pages. If they get scanned, great, if they don’t no harm done. Let’s wait and see what lies ahead. I read that QR codes are now being used on tombstones!
Happy scanning!
Cheers,
Paul Thomas
September 10th, 2011 at 8:28 am
I have incorporated QR codes into the marketing plan of most local offline client sites. As your infographic clearly show, it’s increasing… And with the rise of the need for websites to be mobile friendly, QR codes being incorporated into phones makes it a must for your marketing plan.
September 13th, 2011 at 11:45 am
QR codes are here to stay and can be generated in color which brings the code to life. Scanning apps are free for each smartphone os. I personally use QRDroid to generate in color, with or without labels, store and decode.
October 10th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
I am not understanding the statistics in this article. How come that 56% from clicks originate from product packaging and 46% comes from magazines while television contributes additional 17%. To sum only these number we get 119% not mentioning other non connected categories that contributes even more.
Where from was this data derived? It seems like there is a confusion here with the numbers.
February 1st, 2012 at 8:16 pm
I agree QR codes have a place in marketing; however they should be used as a bridge for offline to online media.
I feel QR hype is getting out of control. I have seen them in email campaigns; when scanned all they do is simply load up a URL. Seems like a retrograde step on simply clicking a link.
A large property portal in the UK includes QR codes on their public facing website. What does scanning the QR code do? it loads the exact same page you were looking at. Bearing in mind the QR code on the screen is taking up realesate for advertising I have to ask what’s the point.
I have seen a steady increase in bill board advertising with just a QR code and no web address. Alienating those people who dont have a smart phone or a QR reader.
I appreciate value in having some offline channel that when scanned loads bonus content or something or worth. Yet don’t rely on QR as your sole route to the information and make the content worth the scan. After all I feel a bit of a pillock trying to scan a billboard in public.
Seems businesses are jumping onto anything for the simple reason of appearing innovative. Which often leads to poor use of the material and a dispointed user.
April 24th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Hi. someone mentioned that more than 90% of people don’t even know what QR codes are, what they do, what the benefit is etc. can anyone share a good marketing activation that has actaully driven ROI (i.e. has generated traffic, conversion, sales at a retail location? Most QR codes link to a website that is often not “mobile-optimized” and therefore, for me, it is not a successful campaign to have “one more click” on a website. Despite, I think eventually once people see the benefit of QR codes, word of mouth will spread and people will start using them more often. further, if cell phone manufacturers pre-install a QR code reader on phones, rather than having to download them through an app store, it will help as well to get “familar” with them. thanks!