Business Cards – recipient scans the code to import your contact info. [Download the free ScanLife Smart Phone scanning software and try it on my business card.]
Logo Jet – scan code on the exterior of a jet: be first and watch it go viral. Unexpected = traditional media coverage
Big Box Retailer – Manufacturers provide how to install videos via scan codes. Place scan codes on all their product boxes. If the manufacturer is not already doing so.
Magazine/Newspaper Editorial Coverage – scanning the code launches digital content such as video coverage or updates for news by topic or story. Car and Driver magazine includes a code with each car pictured for additional information.
Name Tags – create and add your scan code to your name badge to make it easy for conference and exhibit attendees to get your contact info. Print your scan code on Avery labels and you are done. (Avery: it would be great to have a 3/4″ square Avery label for scan scan codes! While the initial interest may be small, you’ll get media coverage for being innovative. I’d like to buy the first box of these Avery Easy Peel labels for EZcode scan codes please.) Conference event organizers can automatically generate scan codes for name badges too. Click here for a name tag example reported by Fast Company (3/16/10) at the South by Southwest conference in March 2010.
Books-Books-Books – Text Books – until all text book content is delivered via an iPad, add scan codes to text books to “add” video to the book. Children’s Books – add scan codes to help make learning fun! Novels – add scan codes for sidebar stories about the characters or author commentary. Recipe Book – scan the code to see the “how to” video (cooking technique, how to make this dish, inspiration from the author). Non-Fiction – add scan codes to add content updates since the book was published. Brand Digital book by Alen Adamson includes a scan code on the back cover to take you to the Amazon page to order the book.
Land For Sale Signs – add scan code to get details about the land
Luggage – add your scan code to your luggage
Train – add scan code to get a schedule and route
Train Ads – add scan code to get contact info
Toys – manufacturer includes on each toy for an extended experience. For example, when you scan American Girl, you get an additional story about your American Girl.
Games – scan codes an extra interactive game play dimension that launch a video
Appliances – Can’t find the instructions for the vacuum cleaner you bought two years ago? The scan code launches the appliance manual on the website
Museum – scan the code for audio commentary for this piece of artwork
Airport Signage – passengers on the go get connected to airline’s flight status
College Campus – Case Western Reserve University student organizations use their scan codes to promote their campus events
Google Maps – scan code to get a walking map from here to the Georgia Aquarium. (An extremely long URL – such as a Google Map with directions – can be a simple scan code!)
Calendar Item – scan this code to save the date, time and place for the Big Boi release party
Discount Code – scan this code – now – to get a text message with the promo code to get 25% off your purchase today.
Call Us! – scan this code to call us now to place your order!
Email Us! – scan this code to email us now (from your smart phone)
Movie Ad – scan this code for your choice: watch the movie trailer, find the closest theater or buy tickets now. Every movie ad should let you see the movie trailer – now!
TV Show Print Ad – scan this code calendar entry code to save an event to your smart phone calendar including: date, time and place (TV channel). [CNBC ran a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal (6/22/10) print edition that contained a scan code (Microsoft Tag) to launch a video (on YouTube) promoting the CNBC original, American Greed Special Presentation: Mob Money.]
Tweet This! – scan this code to tweet this story (with suggested text for your tweet)
Concert Venue – guests scan the code when existing the concert venue to tweet: a) they enjoyed the show; and b) promoting the next event at this concert venue. This helps: a) build the concert venue brand; and b) promotes the next event
How To I Get There From Here? – this scan code contains the Google Maps URL for directions from Point A to Point B. For example, If you have been to the Millennium Park you may be surprised to learn that there is a 1,500+ theater underground: the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. How about scan codes located in the Park to help promote the theater?
Craker Jack caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts snack – Free Prize goes digital – these scan codes fulfill digital assets (it’s a surprise until you scan the code; or, your choose of free digital asset)
Chicago Water Taxi – place the scan code of the roof so that tourists crossing over the bridges when the water taxi passes can find out how where/how much/frequency for a water taxi. (You missed a sale!)
Hallmark Greeting Card via SmartPhone – I saw an ad (poster) in the Chicago O’Hare International Airport this month for sending Hallmark Greeting Cards via smart phone. I would have preferred a scan code instead of texting to get further instructions. (It’s easier and faster …)
Media Release – add scan codes to media releases
In Store – add scan codes to all signage. Examples include: Tweet this to a friend; save the date for our fashion show; see a video about this product
Scan2Win – for your chance to win, scan this code. This functionality is built into the ScanLife EZcode scan code service.
Email Signature Block – add a scan code with your contact info or a calendar item for an upcoming event such as the premiere of a new TV series
Teaser Mailing – imagine ’snail mailing’ a potential Client a Scan code (that’s it! It’s a teaser mailing!) that auto-generates a tweet back to you from the recipient to schedule a lunch meeting [For example, I mailed a scan code on Monday, June 7, 2010 to a hard-to-reach senior marketing executive that I would like to meet for lunch to discuss a (GREAT!) idea. Let’s see if he uses the pre-filled in tweet to reply to me to set up lunch!]
Direct Mail – include various scan codes (call us; watch a video, launch website, enter sweepstakes)
Instruction Manual – include scan codes for watching the installation; repair or trouble-shooting videos
Invoice – turn an invoice into a marketing tool with a scan code that launches a video or website
Truck – got one or more trucks that include a phone number or web address? Include a scan code too!
Video Game – add bonus content, clues or links within a video game
There’s An App for That – add a scan code that takes the consumer to the mobile app that you want them to download on an iPhone. For example, The Wall Street Journal ran a 1/4 page house ad (6/9/10) to get their podcasts on-demand from a mobile phone. The ad included a scan code that launched the Apple iTunes App Store on my iPhone and took me directly to the free app (Stitcher) to install. It’s just an easier/faster way to find/install a new app. 325,000+ apps should be using a scan code to launch “Install” the app in the Apple iTunes App Store
Restaurant Guide – include a scan code for each restaurant to launch map/directions
Trade Show Management – your scan code on traditional collateral launches your trade show app
Conference – BMO Capital Markets included a scan code in their print ad to get their conference materials on your mobile
Music – if your audience is music, take ‘em to your music or music video on YouTube.
Tickets – add a scan code to provide advance info for your guests (or help activate word-of-mouth). For example, launch a tweet: “Just got my ticket to BLUE MAN GROUP at THE VENETIAN in Las Vegas. NY Times says, ‘THE SHOW ROCKS!’” (Use the code codes to sell tickets too.)
Vacuum Cleaner – Bissell vacuum cleaner brochure has a scan code that launches their mobile website. I’d like to see the scan code on the vacuum too! For example, launch a video to show how to replace the fan belt.
Temporary Tattoos – if you have ravening fans, let them show it – and share it – with a scan code. For example, the scan code might launch a tweet to the rock star. First one that does this idea (for the right product) will generate huge trade and/or consumer press. Click here for some non-commercial temporary tattoo examples.
Photography Art Exhibit – Imagine an art gallery that has 20 different framed scan codes: that’s it. Each scan code reveals a different photo from the photographer. The photographer can “rotate” the photos daily, weekly or monthly so that the exhibit changes. [This idea is inspired by an exhibit I saw many years ago at the Chicago Art Institute. Each “painting” was a different date in black Helvetica type on a white background. Meaningless? Now image that the date happened to be the day you were married. That’s an image that’s bigger than life that the artist couldn’t possibly capture on canvas, but just did simply by displaying the date. I’d love to link to the Artist’s work …] [They beat me to it!QR Code Show 6/23/10]
Uniforms – if all your employees wear the same t-shirt, adding a scan code on their tee can help create an interactive guest experience. And, the scan codes could lead to different call-to-actions.
YouTube Video – scan the code at the end of the video to take you to a related video
TV Commercial – :30 seconds not enough? Scan this code within the commercial for expanded video content
Display Classified Ad – scan this code for a map showing the destination
Bedtime Story Meets Bedspread-Boy – a dozen scan codes: for different dinosaur stories, photos, videos and more each week for 52 weeks – a mash-up!
Barbie Bedtime Story Meets Bed Spread-Girl – a dozen scan codes for a different Barbie stories, photos, video and more each week for 52 weeks – a mash-up!
Wheaties Cereal Box – scan the code to see video of the athlete on the box
Picture Frames – scan the link to see artwork that changes daily
Board Game Cards – turn that “take a chance card” into a video opportunity. We’ve scene games incorporate TV, CD and DVDs. Now games can include music, video and other multi-media without the expense of a CD or DVD packed in every game box. First game to integrate a mobile phone into the game experience will be rewarded with traditional media coverage and word-of-mouth buzz
Twitter – How about creating a TwitScan(TM) service that creates a scan code and provide a short URL to it!
Webinar – integrate scan codes into your webinar for additional content
Teaser – place scan codes in unexpected places without an explanation to tease (movie, TV show, new product, new service)
PowerPoint (Keynote on a Mac) – engage your audience with bonus content; first and last slide has a scan code with your contact info
Books-Books-Books – Text Books – until all text book content is delivered via an iPad, add scan codes to text books to “add” video to the book. Children’s Books – add scan codes to help make learning fun! Novels – add scan codes for sidebar stories about the characters or author commentary. Recipe Book – scan the code to see the “how to” video (cooking technique, how to make this dish, inspiration from the author). Non-Fiction – add scan codes to add content updates since the book was published. Brand Digital book by Alen Adamson includes a scan code on the back cover to take you to the Amazon page to order the book.