QR Codes: So easy... what's the catch?

Scan to the left, scan to the right, criss cross...

QR codes are ubiquitous these days. It's funny, I often miss the initial wave of these trends because I find myself too busy yelling at the clouds like an old man lol. These once-niche digital gateways have become a mainstream tool for connecting consumers with online content. The widespread acceptance of QR codes is in stark contrast to the unsuccessful attempts to integrate them into marketing strategies, such as my own experience experimenting with them at Lord & Taylor. Boy that was a hoot! (Reminder: Don't pollute)

The QR code was invented in 1994 by a guy named Masahiro Hara. He was an engineer at a Japanese company Denso Wave. The name QR stands for "quick response". The design was influenced by the board game Go which featured black and white counters on the game board. The company needed a faster and more accurate way to track parts and vehicles during manufacturing. QR codes could store more information than barcodes and could be read at a higher speed. And the rest is history.

Want to create your own QR codes? It's surprisingly simple! Just Google "QR code generator" and you'll find tons of free websites that walk you through the process. You can paste in your website address, tweak the design a bit, and even slap your logo on there. Afterwards just download it and apply it to your marketing materials and watch as the page views go skyward.

A word of caution about dynamic QR codes: while they offer the flexibility to change the linked URL and track campaign metrics, the free versions often come with limitations. Many services deactivate free dynamic QR codes after a trial period, typically around 14 days. This can be problematic if you've already printed marketing materials featuring the now-defunct code (raises hand with shame). Unfortunately, this means either reprinting materials or subscribing to a paid plan to reactivate the dynamic QR code. Don't learn the hard way, read and understand the terms of service.

I appreciate the way QR codes enhance the user experience. They provide a convenient way for people to access detailed information after being drawn in by broader marketing campaigns. The marketing gets the people going, and then the details gets the ideas flowing.