QR codes are dead

The concept of using a smartphones cream to seamlessly connect the digital world with the print world was a good one. But QR codes have had a hard time catching on in the United states and it looks like there is little chance of them catching on in the USA.

Some of the main issue that have impacted the failure of QR codes is poor implementation by marketers. Many of the first QR codes were implemented in ares with poor internet service, like subway cars or sport stadiums. Many link lead to broken pages or pages that aren’t optimized for the mobile devices they were scanned by.

Most smartphones require a 3rd party app to be downloaded so the QR code can be scanned an direct people to the appropriate website. Since these apps take up space and are really used by consumer most people don’t keep them arraigns very long in an effort to keep there phones running fast. 

In most instances QR codes have been dumped in favor of short memorable URL. That can be accessed without the addition of a 3rd party app, and that also can me remember until the passerby is in a state where they are apt to look up the information that they seek. 

QR codes aren’t an entirely flawed idea though. They are thriving in asian countries where they have been implemented properly. Chinese people are also more used to using the internet on a mobile device than they are typing a web address. There are also entire price comparison apps built around QR codes giving them much more utility. 

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/qr-codes-dead

http://adage.com/article/global-news/qr-codes-alive-living-china/291026/