Google Print Ads Include Japanese QR Codes

“QR Codes are coming! QR Codes are coming!” Or so the modern day US Paul Revere tech geek may herald. Those funny little blocky scan codes on Japanese McDonald’s hamburger wrappers have started to appear in American daily newspapers via Google Print Ads.

Last week Google announced as part of their AdWords campaign they would offer Print Ads placed in US daily newspapers. While this might normally be ho-hum, the exciting part is the addition of the curious little Japanese QR code as part of the ad. Google is giving it an American spin by calling it a “2D Barcode” and has already used it in ads including Blue Nile Jewelers in the San Jose Mercury.

Think about it. This could make a huge inroad for the standard on American soil.

Consumer scanning is not new. In the late 90s Radio Shack made an attempt at making the practice mainstream by giving away a quirky little product called a “cuecat” which plugged into your computer and theoretically would scan a printed code and show the product on your computer screen (not quite to the mobile side of things yet). The initiative turned into a fiasco when consumers discovered personal information was being tracked with each scan. The product was scrapped, catalogs and publications dumped the idea, and people tried to come up with “creative” things to do with their cuecat.

The QR code just hasn’t had the same bad history, especially in Japan. Consumers have their “equipment” already installed on most phones so no need for a computer. Most vendors so far have stayed away from gathering ANY information. The codes are strictly perceived as a means to bring a mobile device to a page to provide information - not grab as much information from the consumer as possible and give as little as they can. I would say this is the one of the most important pieces most American companies seem to miss when trying out this type of technology.

The most essential part in all of this, which I mentioned in my last post about QR codes is the hardware. How many consumers in the San Jose area have a mobile phone equipped with a QR reader? It’s truly amazing Google would take this initiative. It’s almost like putting up a YouTube or Flickr site BEFORE anyone has a digital camera.

I’m hopeful more American companies will allow the codes to appear in their ads and have more consumers ask what it’s all about. The system works extremely well and, if properly deployed, a huge asset to any advertising campaign.

Hat tip to David J. Hinson and Roger.

By the way, here is the code for THIS article:

Tags: blognation, Japan, blognation Japan, QR Code, QR Codes, QR, Code, Codes, barcode, 2Dbarcode, 2D Barcode, 2D, Google, AdWord, Adwords, Print, print ads, newspaper, blue nile, placement, cuecat