Almost everyone these days has seen those funny looking digitally-dotted squares printed in magazines, on ads and just about everywhere else. And while most people don't know what they're called [they're called QR codes], they know how to use them. In fact half of all smartphone users have scanned one before. How does this benefit you?
These boxes give you the ability to quickly pass along important information to your attendees. Here are five tips on bringing QR codes to your next event [Source: Expo)
- Put it somewhere simple: Stick with the basics and put it somewhere that people will actually scan it. It's more important to be visible when the goal is to get the user to interact with the code. So while putting it on the ceiling may look cool, you won't reach your end goal.
- Make it the right size: It's important that your code is the correct size for where it will be placed. General rule: if it's far away from your audience make it big; if it's close, make it small. Generally, include 10 units of distance for each unit of size. For example if the code if 10 feet away from your audience, make the code one food in diameter
- Link to mobile content: Since QR codes are scanned on mobile devices, they should lead to mobile friendly content. Don't frustrate your audience by leading them to a site where they'll have to pinch and zoom to find what you think is important.
- Incentivize your code: Make people want to scan your code. They aren't going to scan it just because it's there and it's free. Give them information about what they get from scanning the code.
- Give instructions: While most people know what a QR code is, not everyone does. Tell a potential scanner what the code is, what they need to scan it, how to scan it and what will happen if they do.
QR codes are a free and easy way to engage your attendees. And with the increasing rise of smartphones there's no better time to connect the real world to the Internet world at your next event.