#2-d barcodes

#Bitcoin change the world in less time. If you haven't created your account you could be missing something great!

Most don’t know I have been following bitcoin from the very beginning.  When I first heard about it I felt that it was revolutionary and would change the world, but now… (more…)

How To Choose The Right Barcode For Your Application

With so many different types of barcodes available, understanding which one to use for your specific application can be daunting. In this post, we’ll walk you through the most popular 1D and 2D barcode types, the common applications for each, and the characters they support. The barcode types covered: Code 39, Code 128, UPC, EAN, Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, QR code, Data Matrix, and PDF417.

See…

from the Business of Fashion: The online fashion media universe is about to take a most interesting twist. After several months of planning (and more than a little industry speculation), Style.com will unveil its first ever physical magazine at the end of October

In a a promotional tie-in with Dreamworks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 2," Sun-Maid raisin six-packs and 24-ounce canisters are carrying QR codes, which when snapped (and a little data collected), they can view trailers from the movie, learn more about its characters, download computer wallpaper or enter a sweepstakes

MediaPost has more on the sweeps itself, which is actually kinda cool and a nice high-value prize. The article goes on to explain how the brand will be using a few more of its channels to help drive up awareness of the campaing:

According to the Internet Retailer, March was the biggest month for Microsoft's Tag bar code scanning program since launch.

 “Brand adoption and consumer engagement continue to build, with March being our strongest month to date, due to several high-profile, well-executed campaigns,” says Aaron Getz, general manager of Microsoft Tag. “We continue to have tremendous success within publishing and also see increasing usage by retailers, consumer packaged goods companies and movie studios.”

Three billion Tags were printed during the past six months, and five billion Tags have been printed since Microsoft Tag’s launch, Microsoft says.  Publishing is the industry making the greatest use of Tags. Advertisers place Tag bar codes in advertisements and publishers place the codes within stories to link to supplemental content. Just behind publishing comes retail, followed by entertainment, Microsoft says.

We are increasingly fielding client questions around 2-D bar codes and thinking through the right campaigns and implementation sets to explore. There are a few questions we always ask, as planners, before going down the 2-D road:

Will the consumers recognize and understand what to do with a code on-pack?

Is the content on the other end of that code going to load and look right on their device?

Is the reward substantial enough to warrant the effort involved in pulling out their phone, opening a reader app, scanning the code...

How will we measure views, clicks, interaction rates?

Brands and retailers have been playing with QR codes in print campaigns and they're increasingly exploring their use on POP displays and in-store signage. 

Bumble Bee Foods' flagship brand used a QR code that linked shoppers to its website to find recipes. FSIs distributed through SmartSource's co-op network also carried the code. (See "FSI Report: March 13, 2011" in Related Articles.)

H.J. Heinz's Smart Ones positioned signs in the frozen-food aisle encouraging shoppers to send a text message to access information about partner Weight Watchers' new program, along with relevant offers.

Procter & Gamble's Herbal Essences employed a Microsoft Tag 2D code to direct shoppers to the brand's website for help in choosing the right SKUs for their specific hair-care needs.

More brands also are directing shoppers online either through their phones or home computers. General Mills' Yoplait last month plugged a "2 week tune up" diet plan on its website, while also encouraging shoppers to engage with the brand on Facebook and Twitter. Similarly, Campbell Soup Co. deployed signs presenting recipe suggestions, but also directing shoppers online for more ideas.

Macy’s shoppers are now able to attend personal audiences with designers such as Rachel Roy—if they use their smart phones.

The retail giant unveiled the Macy’s Backstage Pass program for shoppers with phones with video capabilities at 670 of the company’s full-line stores. In a Macy’s store, the shopper can scan a quick-response (QR) tag at various places in the store or send a text message, and a 30-second video of Roy, Martha Stewart or Sean “Diddy” Combs will appear on the phone and the designers will offer the finer points on their products, as well as style tips and advice. If consumers want to scan QR tags with their phones, they must download a QR app.

The Home Depot has launched a QR Code campaign, which features the codes on in-store signage and in print ads. When snapped, the codes provide shoppers with how-to videos and product demos, buying guides, project guides and clicks to purchase online.