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Why Use QR Codes? A Destination Marketer’s Dream

By Joe Pulizzi | Published: June 23, 2011

In seemingly every content marketing presentation I do, someone asks about QR Codes and why to use them.

The Content Marketing Institute has some great resources for QR code implementation, including:

Orange QR Code Example

Specifically for destinations, there are some great ideas where you can use QR codes to extend your customer’s specific experience.  Here are three.  What can you think of?

IDEA: Tell the Story

Have you ever done a walking tour at a museum where they handed you a listening device for your self-guided tour?  Sometimes that is just not possible if you are Yosemite National Park.

What do all your visitors have on them at all times?  Yes, a smartphone.

For particular parts of the park, small signage with a QR code can take visitors to a video, blog post or additional experience that details what happened at that particular portion of the park. It’s like a walking History Channel tour.

Just think if you were at the Battle of Gettysburg.  You could have QR codes that take visitors to in-depth videos or interviews or more.

IDEA: End of the Email Signup Form

You’ve seen it a hundred times, right?  An email signup form at an event or store location.  Problem for merchants is that someone then has to take that information and put that into the database.  Have you ever tried to make out someone else’s handwriting on those forms?

Instead, have them scan the QR code which takes them to a form and a special offer. Done and done.

IDEA: Bringing Print Alive

USA Today and the Wall Street Journal do this all the time…a story in print is made of words and images.  But what if there are more pictures and some compelling video?  Just place the QR code within the copy of the story and take them to the specialized content.

Here’s the point: the best reason for using QR code is to extend the content experience and engagement with your brand.  How can you leverage them for your business?

Need more?  Below is a full presentation with more ideas specifically for DMOs and CVBs.

Content Marketing for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)

View more presentations from Joe Pulizzi

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  • http://blog.getreachcast.com Tiffany Monhollon

    Hey, Joe,
    Love some of these ideas. I think that QR codes offer a great opportunity for businesses to connect the offline with the online and to start thinking about how mobile-friendly their web presence is. I love the idea of using QR to help take people deeper into the story of an experience, event, business, product, etc. Thanks for sharing these tips!

  • Jenny Hertzig

    I am testing out putting them on the back of my business cards and having it direct people to our corporate anniversary video.

  • Sonya Bradley

    Several destinations are adding QR codes to their visitor guides and other collateral. That’s definitely our next step. I love the idea of adding QR codes around a city for people to download and either hear a podcast, see a video presentation or just get some quick facts.

    • http://blog.junta42.com Joe Pulizzi

      Great minds think alike!

  • http://www.bseen.be/nl/meer-bezoekers/zoekmachine- Dries (SEO bSeen.be)

    Since mobile is really getting more traffic, you should focus on really short forms and even video instead of text to explain your product. It makes just more sense when you’re aiming on mobile users.

  • http://www.jetsetmma.com Aj The Fighting Gear

    I was having a bit of trouble understanding how these codes could be used effectively for a business. These are great examples.

  • http://www.2014-olympics.com Jerry Maestro

    I got a QR code on my blog and it has been very useful for readers, especially those who own smartphones. The user just have to download a code reader on his/her smartphone and capture the code with the cam, then the information that goes with the qr code can be read through that capture.

  • http://www.mobilemarketingblasters.com albert zoll

    We are just beginning to see the uses of qr codes here in the US. My wife does sublimation as a hobby (prints photos on mugs, m pads t shirts and so on) Her supplier has dog tags so I created a qr code for our dogs. It leads to a mobile website and has click to call and directions to our home. I also put info for our Vet. and neighbor. On the front side of the tag it has our phone number the qr code is on the back as I realize not everyone has a smartphone or knows what a qr code is. This technology is so cool!