A QR code or quick response code is a scannable image designed to deliver requested information to a user. The technology is frequently used in marketing and advertising to communicate with potential customers. The technology has some distinct advantages over more traditional marketing methods, but it is not without its drawbacks. Read on to learn some of the pros and cons of QR code use.

Pros

QR codes can be added to virtually any printed media. From a billboard, to a poster, to a handbill, QR codes can be printed at almost any scale. So long as the smartphones scanner can view the entire image, the code can be read and information can be returned.

QR codes are easy to use. They require the user to do nothing more than scan the image and customizable content is sent directly to their mobile device.

QR codes picque the users curiosity. There is value in not providing all of the information at once. By presenting users with a task or challenge, it makes the information they receive in return feel more valuable than it otherwise might.

QR codes are trackable and can deliver custom content. It is possible to have an Austin printing service place slightly different codes on different pieces of content. This way, you can track which content is more engaging to users and which locations. You’ll know not to invest more money in that billboard, but rather to spend it on posters in the mall. Having that sort of specific feedback can prove invaluable in marketing your business.

Cons

While it’s true that scanning a QR code is simple and returns information quickly, very few phones have a scanner included natively in the operating system. It is far more likely that a user will have to download a scanner before scanning a code. If this is the case, the rates for engagement can be disappointingly low.

Younger demographics are far more likely to use smartphones and more likely to have code scanner apps downloaded to those phones. This means that the code may prove ineffective for large cross-sections of your desired demographics.

Another major problem faced by QR codes is that many people simply are unfamiliar with the technology and don’t know how to use them. For them, a QR code is just a strange symbol that looks a little bit like a barcode. If the code and its technology are unfamiliar to the user, it is very unlikely that they will engage with the codes.

There are also other scanning technologies available that may be more appealing to unfamiliar users. Phone and image recognition technologies have advanced to the stage that it is now possible to simply scan an entire image and receive information based on that image rather than getting the Austin printing service to add an additional QR code.

While QR codes can be a cheap and effective way to reach some users, it is important to understand the technology’s shortcomings as well as its strengths so you can understand the circumstances in which a QR code can be a useful addition to your marketing strategy.