Print Meets Interactive — QR Codes, Microsoft Tags, and JAGTAGs
If you’ve picked up any magazine over the last few months, you’ve noticed a growing number of square bar code-type images. By scanning them or taking a picture of them, a reader can be directed to a website, a Facebook page, a blog or a YouTube video. It’s an amazing new technology that links print and interactive media seamlessly.
Let’s look at an example with Hopkins Ag, a great friend of ours and local San Diego gourmet almond company. With the help of Moo.com, Hopkins Ag and Bex Brands were able to showcase six different types of almonds on the back of regular business cards with QR codes on the top right of each card. Once scanned, the codes send you to a website describing information on each individual flavor of almonds. It creates an alternative, fun and interactive way to go to your website, no typing needed! It appears as though this is the way of the future, so if you’re unfamiliar with this new technology, here’s a run-down of some different types of QR codes:
QR Codes
QR codes are matrix barcodes, or two dimensional barcodes that are placed in advertisements. The designs of the codes are commonly seen as black modules placed on a white background in a small square shaped box.
Once you see a QR code, you scan them by using a smartphone’s QR barcode reader app, which can be found in any smartphone’s app store. Once scanned, the QR code redirects you to more information about the advertisement it was placed in, whether it be their website, videos, pictures, or Facebook page. You can try creating your own QR code for free at http://feedly.com/k/jfaaqz, to try and promote your business in a fun and new way!
QR codes have already been used to replace coupons, gift cards, movie tickets and we even found people using QR code temporary tattoos!
Microsoft Tag
Microsoft Tags are similar to QR codes, but have taken the concept and tried to expand on it. They allow customizability of the codes themselves, to put color and make them designed to your personal liking or brand identity. Microsoft Tags also have the ability to frequently update the URL’s associated with your 2D code, unlike QR codes which have one permanent URL. The code can also be created in a much smaller size, be read faster, and read under a much wider range of lighting conditions. The final characteristic is that Microsoft Tags can be read with any form of tag reader, which older formats couldn’t do, or as Microsoft says, “tags just work”. You can download them and try it out for free on Microsofts website,http://ow.ly/4SwI3.
JAGTAG
JAGTAG’s are another form of 2D code similar to QR codes and Microsoft TAGs, but Unlike QR codes or Microsoft Tags, in which you need a smartphone with a QR reader app, with JAGTAG’s, all you do is take a picture of the JAGTAG and text it to 524824. Once received, the server will send you back all of the information a regular QR code would have sent you. Therefore, with JAGTAG’s, you are able to reach all prospective consumers, rather than just the 26% of mobile phone users with smartphones. To use the JAGTAG service itself is free, but to create your own JAGTAG’s is not. You need to go on their main website at www.jagtag.com and contact them to be set up as a customer.
The potential for codes like this is enormous, giving the audience a virtually full brand experience. The future is dependent upon the ability to continue to create broader consumer awareness and education on how to use the codes. If fully achieved, We won’t be surprised to see QR type codes in every form of advertisement available.
There's just no way around it: great branding takes time and investment. Although there's no guarantee of success, there are some ways to increase your chances. Whether you're a marketing director of a large corporation or a startup entrepreneur, the following simple tips can help you get the most from any branding or design firm:
