The Top QR Code Fails of 2011

January 2, 2012 by Kevin Michael Gray

QR Codes have been an interesting sight to see in the tech world. I will admit, when they first came on the scene I was a huge believer that they become the future of advertising; however, as time wore on and hundreds of QR campaigns inundated my peripheral I have come to realize the barrier of entry in which the entire QR concept owns. Today's featured article offers some of the QR Code 'Fails' of 2011. What are your thoughts? Can you think of any other QR Code 'Fails' that were not mentioned? Tweet about them @seedingideas.  Read more below:

 

This past year was a big one for the QR code as the mobile call-to-action surfaced in campaigns for The Home Depot, Taco Bell and other mainstream brands. In some cases, however, brands are adopting QR codes without thoroughly thinking through their application.
 
Looking back over 2011′s QR code campaigns, Mike McGuinness, VP of sales for QRblaster.com, a firm that generates QR codes, has identified five of the top QR Code fails of 2011. If you’re a marketer eager to hop on the QR code trend, you might want to learn from these negative examples:
 

1. Red Bull

Red Bull ran a campaign featuring subway ads with QR Codes. Sounds like a great idea until you consider that most subways don't offer mobile phone connectivity, making the codes inaccessible.



2. Continental Airlines

Continental also didn't fully think through the user experience. The airline made a QR code for its in-flight magazine, linking air miles without having to log-on to online accounts. When passengers scanned the codes (during takeoff or landing), they were directed to a page with two buttons and a pop-up window that was mostly off screen, ensuring that passengers wouldn't be able to click through.  



3. The Washington Redskins

This fail, which actually took place in 2010, featured a QR code on the team's Facebook Page. Unfortunately, you needed a proprietary scanner to actually activate the code.

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