Episode 6 - How to create a QR Code Marketing Campaign that really works

You're tuning in to this Take Here's Podcast. Presented by QRTiger, the most advanced QR Code Generator. In this episode, Ben and Kristal take a look back at the most innovative QR Code campaigns of 2022. They'll be breaking down how each one became successful so you can use them in your own campaigns. Get ready to learn from the best only here on State Curious. You're tied to all things QR Code. Welcome to State Curious where we talk about the latest and QR Code trends. I'm Kristal and we're here right now with QR Code Expert Benjamin Clive and we'll give you a recap of the best QR Code marketing campaigns for 2022. So hi Ben in the last episode we talked about what to expect with QR Code's this 2023 and now we're diving in and will help marketers get even more inspired by showing them our rundown of the best QR Code marketing campaigns from the past year. But before that, I want you to explain to them and tell them when you say marketers can add a digital dimension to their offline campaigns using QR Code's what do you mean by that exactly? And when we say offline ad or traditional ad, this means posters, of course, and not on any online ad. So these are traditional ad we're talking about. Right. So what we say in QR Dagger give digital dimension to your product and services. So it's much more than just offline things. Right now we have seen QR Code's been used also online offline everywhere, right? It has been in television series. It's been offline on posters. It has been in so many different places that they can be used. And that's I think also one of the interesting thing with QR Code's that it can engage any kind of content to a different level. So we say give a digital dimension to your products and services, not just, you know, only, you know, your offline things. It's a multi channel approach. Yeah. And then I think is the the rich thing about a QR Code that it can be used through different channels and, you know, interlink all those different channels in a very simple way. And that I think is the power when we say give a digital dimension to your products and services. So also you're advertising it, of course. And you're right. It actually bridges the gap between offline and online ads. And it's more interactive that way because it's very personal for someone who scans it and then visits the website or the certain landing page that the QR Code leads to. And so for before we get started, let's just get this out of the way, Ben, because people always compare QR codes with similar code and code technology, such as bar code, NFC tags, RFID, and data matrix codes. We actually have in depth blogs about it, if our marketers will learn more about it. But here in this podcast, we want you to tell them how do they differ? How does QR Code differ from these technology? And what do you think makes QR code stand out? Right. So all these technologies have a certain purpose that is similar in some way and different in a total other way, right? So this is really important to understand. They're not necessarily competitors from each other, right? So when I take RFID out of things that's something, you know, where there's near field communication, similar dark and NFC depth, right? These are things where you want to connect to something like a payment quick or, you know, you want to open the door to a subway gate. This is a very easy simple way to work with these kind of things. A QR code can also be used for that. You cannot show a scan and also a subway gate goes open, right? This is also possible. I mean scan, you just show your QR code, it scans automatically that the gate and you go in. So these kind of things all can work together. It's not that one, you know, excludes the other. But of course, what are the benefits, for example, of QR codes in such kind of thing? A QR code can be quickly printed. It doesn't need any electricity, technology, where an NFC deck, it's something you need to still stick to something right. You need to make people aware that they need to put their phone near to it or what. So it comes with a very different logic. QR codes people already in their head when they see a QR code, they already have the reflex to understand that they need to scan something. RFID, it depends. If you didn't aggregate it to users, then people still need to understand that, okay, I can put my phone close to something and I can pay for example, right? Or something will happen, a gate will open or something like that. So it comes all a little bit with the irrigation part also comes with the effectiveness of being able to print something, right? And of course, the QR codes, you can store more data, you can open web site links if you have a barcode. So a QR code was invented to take all the negative things of a barcode away, right? Because a barcode is single, single dimension code, right? 1D. And if one is scratched, then it will not work anymore. A QR code, when it's scratched, it will still work. So this kind of things made that QR codes had some benefits and I think that these benefits are, like I say, you can use it online, you can use it offline. So every technology has their specific field where they are better in I think. And I think QR codes are very versatile and have a very wide field where they can be beneficial for companies. So again, this is not one technology against another. This is something where everything can be complementary. And that's really important to understand between NFC, RFID, single barcode, QR codes, you know, any of these technologies. Important to understand they're not competitors. And that's something that most people still know 100% understand always. Right, they can totally coexist. And it's just that QR codes are very straightforward with their use and people have become very familiar with that technology already, especially with the last three years. And so before we begin with the rundown of the best 2022 QR code campaign, I have to ask you Ben, I'm really curious, what's the best 2022 QR code campaign you've ever seen? And I know there's been a lot of innovative QR code uses in the past year, but what stands out to you the most? I personally liked the one of Burger King when it was on the television where the QR code was flipping around and you need to scan it. I think that was fun. And then comb based kind of did that also on the on the on the Super Bowl, right? I mean, similar logic, you know, just QR codes flips around to the scan. It's engaging. That was definitely one of those campaigns that I did like. There are many more, right? I mean, there has been many campaigns that I think had different edges. But I like the fact that when a QR code becomes engaging where it has something fun where people can, you know, have a little engagement with it. And that's I think what is the beneficial thing when it's in marketing, right? Where how can it be engaging? How can we actually do something more with people? How did any QR code become a gate to a whole new world? Yeah, the one for Coinbase totally stood out with me as well because it's a bit nostalgic as well because it reminds you of that DVD stand by screen before where you just but instead of a DVD of logo, of course, you change it with a QR code and it's very engaging, like you said, and very interactive. And that's why I heard that there once I crashed right after that ad and it's very, very effective. So now we'll show you the best QR code campaigns from 2022. And you will rate each one of them then from one to 10 with 10 being the highest. And so let us know what makes it work and how it can still be improved if you think that applies. So let's get started. Alright, the first one is the Sundial QR code from E-Mart in South Korea. These are positioned and located so they can be between the hours of 12 noon and 1 p.m. So these are three dimensional QR codes. And thanks to Shadow's cast by the midnight sun, anyone who scanned it was given a special 25% discount code in store. So what do you think about this? Yeah, for me, I will rate it even at 10 on 10. Why I find it's an extremely innovative idea. I think it's great that people are being brought within a store under when there is a, you know, down hours. And, you know, that people can scan on certain hours of the day. This I think is extremely innovative also to build such a QR code. I don't think was was easy, right? So it's I'm sure the marketing went way beyond the QR code itself. I'm sure many people have been talking about this. So that I think was was was, it was such a great idea. It reminds me of our multilateral QR code. Our multilateral QR code is also a QR code. We're based on time. You can give different discounts on different time slots that you decide. And I think this as in my eyes is extremely innovative to play with the sun, the shadow, the QR code at time and actually combining it with discount for retail behind. I think that's super innovative. Right. And it also creates the fear of missing out for people who are not available during these times. So that word of mouth is very, very effective for people to catch it and make sure that they're already there to scan the code between these available times, which is 12 PM to 1 PM only. And let's go to the second one. How about this recycling QR code by recycle now, which is a huge QR code filled with materials that people often forget to put in the recycling bins. This has been installed outside Birmingham New Street Station. So how would your I'm gonna give it an 8 on 10. I think it's also very innovative to make brand awareness with the car codes and by giving a dimension to it by all the material that people throw on the street, right? And, you know, let people be curious to scan this car code. So I think it's a great concept. I think it's also not so easy. I think to build this car code, I must have gone a lot of trial and error to make it work. And again, this is not just only about people scanning this car code. It's also coming in the news, being newsworthy, letting people know about the recycling of, you know, the things that you throw and that you actually don't need to throw it on the ground, but you should throw it in a garbage bin, right? So this is again a very innovative, engaging campaign that allows people to be aware of, you know, the thing that they want to promote within the car code. And it's not even just about their promotion because the QR code and its materials are already a statement within itself. So it will totally stay with the people who have seen it. And onto the next one would be the Easter egg hunt QR code by Harry Boah, the gummy bear company. And this is the Harry Boah Easter weekend virtual egg hunt where they got people to scan these QR codes to get hunting on their website. So how would you rate this one? I think this is also a very interesting concept. I would rate it probably also around like, I'm gonna give it a seven. So this is a little bit a campaign that works with AR, right, where people need to scan, they need to go in their own garden, and they need to find those eggs within a phone. So this is where charcotts and AR go hand in hand. I like the concept. I think it's a good one. It's also again, engaging people. It's engaging children, right, which is also, of course, target audience of Harry Boah. And I think it also reminds me a little bit of Pokemon world, right, where people need to go to certain things and certain doing certain things, all certain locations, right. So this has a little bit of that, although that this is not linked to a location specific, but most people's garden where they can do the egg hunt. I like the concept. I think it's, it's again, something where, and I think we'll see more of that as well, AR and QR codes going hand in hand. I mentioned in the previous podcast that we will see more of augmented reality and QR code marketing campaigns this year. And this is just like a beta version, if you think about it, really. And I know that more marketers out there will be create more imaginative and innovative augmented reality campaigns for this year and beyond. And to the next one, this would be the firework packaging QR code and a firework shop owner Ryan Nelson put this video QR codes on his product packaging, and it shows how the fireworks looks like when they're live. It's actually very innovative for me and customers can then customize their firework shows, according to the ones they like based on the videos. So what do you think about this then? How would you rate this? I'm going to give it also 7 on 10. I think this is an and very good example of giving it digital dimension to your products and services fireworks, right. How does it look? You scan, you see YouTube video, how it looks would be good if that would be called for action a little bit more on the QR code that I think is something that I miss is on the packaging. That I like the concept of, you know, how many people go to buy something where you don't know the effect or what you're going to get and with this QR code in a very simple way, you scan it in the store, you understand what it's going to do. And that I think is the great benefits of adding a QR code and fireworks sure, this is again something that can be perfectly working with a QR code and doing something more. And it's offering that more that that I'm sure that will make that that fireworks sold much more than if it wouldn't have a QR code. Right, because you already said the expectations to the customers and at least they would know exactly what they're buying, especially as something as short lived as QR codes. So they would know exactly how it differs from its competitors. So this is a really good one. And for this next campaign, it's more recent actually it's QR to Qatar by Adidas for as the official partner of the FIFA World Cup 2022, this QR code revealed a short film ad featuring Wallywood superstar Ranveer Singh. The film displayed a QR code that once scanned allowed sports fanatics to join the raffle and get a chance to win an all expanse for a paid trip to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. So how innovative is this? How would you read this, Ben? I'm gonna give it a six on 10 or even a seven something there in between six and a half. Why? I don't think it's that innovative, but it's again it it bridges the you know an online campaign and doing something where people can enter a raffle. So yeah, a QR code in this case have just been like a door where people enter the raffle, right. So that level, I think the QR codes with all the flags that was fun. I think that's again something doing something more. So that's the thing that I do like where they try to customize it where they try to do something more. I think that could have done something more. But again, this is not a bad campaign. This is something that did work on a huge event, right? I guess on such huge events you don't want to take too many risks. You want to do something that has approval record and a raffle is approval record of something that works people still like it today and will still love it. Probably we need a hundred years from now. So yeah, not a bad campaign for such huge event. And I think yeah, so right. But you're right. Something a big brand as added as could have come up with a more innovative campaign. But yes, this will do. And in terms of environmentally sensitive QR code campaigns, then we're going to this next one, which is very interesting for me. This is the world's largest QR code. This is from brewing company you England partner up with child fund family farms to create the world's largest QR code in a field. So it's made from live crops. The QR code leads to their stars and strikes campaign where they honor veterans. So what do you think about event? How will you read this? I'm going to give it a 7 on 10. I do like of course to build this was a big big job and a small job, right? I can imagine took a lot of preparation to really understand how to build this on that scale, right? I do like that it has a social dimension. So it honors veterans, right? I think that's nice as well. So it brings different things together. And you know, of course building a huge car code like this, the largest car could in the world right now ever been built that definitely going to create eyeballs, right? So that to that level, I think that was was was not bad. They could have told something more. I guess maybe with it so that people actually could visit it. I don't know, maybe have a like a big balloon going up so you could actually see that QR code from up in the sky. I don't I don't think they did that, but I think it is again showing that you know a QR code is a great way to grab attention and they did it right. So on that level great. Well, don't I think it's it's a nice campaign. Yeah, especially if it probably made to the Guinness book of world record and you'll get more people talking about it, but you're right, they could have made a maze out of it or I don't know because it's very sensitive for your code. So maybe they also had like a limited resource for it. And onto the next one, this would be the NBA 2K 22 mobile QR codes. And this was released for the foundation east and foundation west that by putting up posters with QR codes across the USA. There were six unique QR codes of this one located in six different cities, and it requires fans to work together both offline and online. So when a player contains all six QR codes, they will be rewarded with exclusive collectible cards. So what do you think? Then how would you rate this? I'm going to give it an 8 on 10. I like the concept that fans need to work together that it's you know all over the USA that it's something that you need to collect. It has all the good ingredients in it of a good campaign in my eyes. And I think it's it's definitely again a campaign that created quite a bit of brand awareness. If you scan it, you will see of course more information. So I think it's it's something that I did like and I'm sure it was successful. Right, so such kind of campaigns again, we will see more as well. This is a QR code where there is a social dimension behind it. And the social dimension, I think, was the power of its success. Right. So it's not really just about the product, but also building communities, which just just goes beyond what the campaign is all about. It touches different people and gets the gets more people talking about it. So that's really just very innovative and beautiful for that campaign. And for this next one, this is the FIFA World Cup QR codes. And this is from Budweiser as they release a QR code with the action fact video featuring football superstars, messy name are and sterling. So they also had QR codes on billboard, other video ads and other product packaging and the lucky fans that can it will get a chance to win sign memorabilia from these idols and a ticket to the World Cup. How would you rate this man? This I think is again, a great example of an only channel campaign, where they not just put QR code on the product packaging, but also on posters on different places. So and this I think is also the success of this campaign that it was not just on one thing, but on many things. And of course, working with superstars as name are messy, definitely will attract people to scan it right. And a company as Budweiser did that on that level, of course, when it comes to the FIFA World Cup. Good campaign. I, like I say, I give it a seven on 10, or because I think it could still be more original, but you know, it did, but it needed to do and it was functioning a little bit similar. Adelaide in Sino-Sahar. some way, but still different. Yeah, right. And yeah, it could be, it could be more. And there has to be something like there, they can even use a social media QR code for that as well, Ben, for these, for these football stars. But then I think they wanted to be, to be safe as well, because there's a lot of people watching FIFA and they want to accommodate everyone. And so for the next campaign would be Fashion Show QR code. And this is made by Krispy Lau. This actually made around around social media as a BA Fashion Student Central at St. Martin presented her designs through QR code QR codes. So the three QR codes were worn by models when they walked down the runway during the school's fashion show. And when scanned, the QR codes lead to Instagram where the filters with her designs were found, people actually criticized it. And they said that this fashion show should just have been an email because they just featured QR codes. And that people should have just gone to her Instagram to check it. But what do you think about this Ben? I still like it. I'm gonna give it an 8 on 10. Why? Because on fashion shows, everybody's sitting there with their smartphone. Anyway, in front of their eyes, right to record whatever is happening, there's very few people that look at a fashion show with all the smartphone in front of their eyes. So QR code was the ideal media for people to connect with it. It gave it social dimension. I'm sure it's getting a little bit of attention in the news by doing this. St. Martin is a place that comes with innovation and tries to cross different things. And sure, this is a great concept. Of course, this is not the usual fashion show that people are used to. But I think that's also part of fashion. Fashion is about crossing bridges between clothing, technology, and definitely in today's time and day people, you know, technology, fashion, everything goes in handy hand anyway. So read that she did something that she tried something. Yeah, I like it. Actually, like the boldness of this project as well, Ben, because this is actually the first time that a QR code has been literally worn on the catwalk. So it's really beautiful that people have been talking about it. It's actually very divisive, which is actually what you want when people want to discuss and go if you want to go viral with your design as a fashion designer on the internet. And so we'll go on to the next one with a Super Bowl QR code. This actually went viral during the Super Bowl ads because of course, it's a very nostalgic ad showing that like a DVD screen favor style of the coin basis QR code, which led people to actually scan the QR code and get a $15 discount on their website. So what do you think about this innovative QR code campaign? I think that was totally awesome. I think it was great that people could engage in a Super Bowl with a QR code. I've also found it pretty bold, right? So I'm going to give it an atel then. It was simple, it was bold, and it did what it needed to do. Even the service of Coinbase crashed because people scanned so many times within a very short period of time. It was not the first time that we saw a moving QR code over a screen, but you can do that as well on the television ad, but I did like the concept very much. I think it was something that, you know, and that's what the Super Bowl is about. You know, people remembering you, and I'm sure they get lots of people signing up because, you know, they get $15 discount, so they reach their goal. Well done. Yeah, I learned that Coinbase actually paid nearly $14 million for this ad, so it was totally worth it. And then it even surpassed the record for the number of average scans in a minute. So they totally made full use of the people's attention during the Super Bowl. That's totally genius. And maybe some people can take some workers can even take inspiration from that on how to make full use of an ad, even if it's super expensive. This one is one of the best examples of that on how to make full use of a QR code in an online ad. So for this one as well, for the next one would be Love Death and Robots QR code from Netflix. So this one would use QR codes to engage viewers and gift them with three artworks that can be downloaded as an image or minted as an NFT. It's like a reward for those who watch the show, but what do you think about this QR code campaign? I'm going to give you the tenon ten. I do like that it has a QR code not only offline, but online as well, right? So it really gives a digital dimension to the online, from online to online and offline to online. It's great to reward users. So it makes them when they watch the series, it makes more engaging. And it also makes people build a community around it, right? People are talking about it. It creates a whole different level of watching a series. It's not just your watch a series, but you actually focus. You want to get something it becomes, it gamifies the whole series a little bit. And then I do like, I think it's, it's great, great concept for doing an ad, but also to engage the viewer. Yeah, exactly. It gets people talking about it long after the series, the hype of the series is over. So this is totally a new concept word. It's like you reward your audience with a really nice NFT or something like that. So marketers can also get some inspiration from that. And onto the next one would be the Jersey QR codes from the University of Central Florida. So they actually got their athletes to wear the QR codes on their jerseys and it led to their bio on the University of Central Florida's website. And also their social media pages to get their followers to be more inspired with their stories and to follow them on social media as well. So what do you think about this campaign, man? I'm going to give it a 10 on 10. I do like the concept that the players become interactive. So it's not just a player, you can scan them, you can see follow them on social media, you can engage with them. It gives the whole game also a different level again, right? So instead of watching a game, and it's actually a really good example of our codes really are used to its maximum. How can a sport event become something more? How can we make these players part of the marketing part of the engagement part of the fan base, right? So this is how I think is something that is we will see more in the future seeing that a player is number 13 that's great. But having a jacket where you can scan and maybe, you know, give a comment or whatever, it makes it just way more fun, right? Well done, I think that's definitely one something that we will see more and more in the future as well. Yeah, it's a nice concept because it gets more people are rooting for them because now they know their back stories and it gets people inspired. And also I can see like how not even just athletes can do this, like wearing their cure codes, even some influencers can do that or some companies can actually hire people to be like walking ads and provide like a cure code on their shirts. The limit is really their imagination. It's fun, it's engaging, it's very humanizing for the people with a cure, bearing cure codes as well. And to the next one, this is the drone cure code made by the popular game Halo. And this one was seen floating above the skies of Austin, Texas. And people got curious and those scatters were led to the trailer of the new show. So what do you think about this man? I'm going to give it an eight all ten. I do like and that the drones are used in the sky that there is an advertisement in the sky, a light show, you could you could call it. And they use different technologies together, right? They use cure codes within it. So people can actually engage with it. It's not just a show that you watch like a fireworks, but it's actually something that you can have a message engage with on your phone. I like the concept very much. It's also not the first time that it's been dull. We saw it in his eye as well. But yeah, great concept. Definitely something that stands out makes the whole, you know, surroundings and far beyond talking about such kind of event, right? So well, one, this is definitely something that I believe we will see more and more in the future. And also, as more advanced, those drones will become the more spectacular these light shows will be. So this will be definitely something we're going to see in the future. Yeah, it's totally worth it because even people who are not fans of Halo will ask like, what is that? Because it's out in the open and more people will be talking about it, even for like the whole year like us because it really went viral and it's a totally innovative for QR code drones. And to the next one, Ben and the last one that we have here will be the Marvel TV show QR code. This one shown Moon Knight, Miss Marvel and Shehawk, Torney Upload QR codes, where the audience were rewarded with three digital copies of some Marvel comics. What do you think about this man? I'm going to give it a nine on ten. I do like that. This gives a digital dimension to the series as well. So people can it's not only offline to online, but here is QR codes online to online. And it's, you know, even giving people it make them feel that they can win something. It makes them feel like there is something more. And it's again, that's what QR codes can offer. It's a gate to something more. And that's exactly what we are living in. We're living in a time where people not just want to be somebody who watched, but we want people want to engage with something. They want to know more. They want to get more. And these are actually again, a great example of that. I like it very much. This is actually a really good style of like an Easter egg hunt for the audience. It's very, very interactive. And I wish like more people would actually do this on their TV series and even music videos. Because last year there was this Korean pop idol, Joe Cook, and partnered with Charlie Putt. They made a music video. And it went viral. People really we got to talking about it in the end. of the video. We have this QR code that led to the website where they sell their albums, so it was very, very effective and I just hope that more people will make full use of QR codes this way for TV series or ads or music videos as well, just limited your imagination. It's really up to you and to hit two words with one stone for that interactive campaign. And so I hope that our marketers were able to get inspired and take something from this discussion right now. And if you have any questions about how to create a really effective QR code marketing campaign for 2023, let us know in the comments below and let us know your feedback as well. And thank you for tuning in to Stay Curious. This has been Crystal and Ben. Thanks for listening you guys. Bye. Thank you so much. See you. Bye. The Stay Curious Podcast is brought to you by QR Tiger, the most advanced QR code generator. 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