QR Codes. A Fad or the Future?

The first time I ever noticed a QR code was at SXSW this year. This is the first QR code I ever thought scan-worthy.

Unfortunately, it must not have been that great, because I can’t remember now what happened on the other side of pulling out my phone, launching the app, and scanning the code. That’s the challenge when it comes to QR codes. The benefit (or at least the possibility of a benefit) must be worth at least the amount of time it takes to scan the QR code.
Or it has to make something easier. As long as it takes to scan a QR code, it can take longer to launch a smart phone web browser, type in a URL, and then navigate to an area within that website. This is why I suggested QR codes for the April street guerilla campaign for Goodwill Industries of San Antonio. BradfordLawton sent out almost a dozen drivers to drive around high traffic areas around the city with these boxes on top of their cars…

When helpful citizens tried to flag down the driver, they received a gift card to Goodwill and a t-shirt. But I wanted to find a way to take this campaign from the street to online community engagement. So, here’s what I suggested to the agency.
Spot us on the street. Snap a photo. Upload it to Goodwill’s Facebook page and you might win a new iPad. To help people get the photo from their phone to our Facebook page, I suggested we use QR codes on the t-shirts we handed out. Take a look.

Kid not included. She’s my greatest work so far. 😉
Not only did this strategy increase fans by a couple hundred within a week, but it also increased engagement. The QR code was not only helpful during the campaign, but now there are hundreds of San Antonians who will wear this shirt, and continue to promote not only the brand, but also their presence online.
The usefulness and longevity of QR codes doesn’t rely on the technology, rather on how we are using it. So, what’s the coolest QR code you’ve seen? I would love to hear what motivated you to scan.

Tweeting is a Lot Like Praying

So, I’m sitting in church on Sunday. The room is packed with people of all ages, eager to get filled up. The band plays and we greet each other. Pastor Jeff comes on stage and starts the sermon. Everyone sits down and pulls out their bibles phones. This got me to thinking about how technology has played such a fundamental role in shaping not only our communications and connections with each other, but also with Him.

I realized, Tweeting is a lot like praying.

1. The first message is the hardest. 

Do you remember your first tweet? Let me rephrase that question. Do you remember how long it took to post your first tweet? I remember how overwhelming it was to construct that first message in 140 characters. What could I have to contribute to an already superfluous flow of information that was worth anybody’s attention?

We work really hard to make sure every word is perfectly constructed. We over-analyze to the point of missing the point sometimes. However, this challenge is not exclusive to twitter. It’s something we have to overcome when commuting not only with each other, but also with Him. In the beginning, I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. I over-analyzed and criticized every thought. But it didn’t matter. I did it. And continued to do it. Until something changed. I started focusing more on the communication, and the outcome of that communication, than on myself. I gained confidence. I got into a rhythm.

2. It takes commitment. 

God likes to hear from you. Praying sporadically doesn’t do it. Tweeting once a month doesn’t do it either. Both take a full commitment. And not commitment from the “good” version of you. Both audiences like to see the real, authentic you. Flaws and all. You get what you give in both relationships.  And both have a great ROI. Eternal life. Great friends.

3. Results Vary.

God isn’t going to pay your bills, buy you a new car, or fix all your problems. But He will change your life. Twitter isn’t going guarantee you a social life. But it can connect you to people in your area you never would have met otherwise, or help you find a friend half a world away with the same interest. With both forms of communication, distance no longer matters.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think!

Are we there yet?

We all have “those” friends on Facebook that we can’t stand. Shoot, sometimes it’s our own family members. The distant cousin who can’t post without dropping the F-bomb. An Aunt who decides Facebook is her soap box to tell everyone how horrible President Obama is. Which makes me wonder, are we experiencing a saturation of social experiences that negate the very reason for connecting with each other? I read a couple different posts this week that lead me to believe we are starting to shift from mass consumption & mass networks, to targeted and selective consumption with meaningful & useful relationship.

Amber Naslund (@ambercadabra), VP of Social Strategy for Radian6, writes in her latest blog post at brasstackthinking.com, “It can be easy to get swept up in wanting more connections, more nodes, more superficial touches that make you feel surrounded and supported and even liked or heard.” In her blog, she opens up about things she wants her friends to know. And she asks others to join in as well. Some of the most interesting and rewarding relationships have come from my connections on twitter.

While showing vulnerability, this novel idea demonstrates how we are truly longing to make authentic connections in our online communications. What we are looking for in social communication is evolving. We realize the difference between an acquaintance and an authentic connection. And we no longer want to waste our time on weak connections. We’re ready to cut through the superfluous to get to the meat of what our online relationships are all about.

This goes for both the relationships we make and the tools we use online. Colleen Pence (@colleenpence) of Social Media Mentoring tweets “…realizing that the technology that used to inspire & thrill me is dragging me down & making me sad/disoriented/worn out.”

Enter Google+. In an article on CNN, a recent Harvard grad who has been invited to use Google+ during its trial stage, says “I saw Facebook and twitter as marketing tools, not social networks for my benefit. But I joined Google+ immediately because I trust that Google makes its products for the benefit of the Internet consumers…makes being on the Internet more efficient and specific to the kind of information I’m consuming.” Another student says, “Now that we have all learned what a social network really is, and realized that it doesn’t really help to have 1,000+ friends, I look forward to starting afresh with Google+ by only adding the people that I regularly keep in contact with.”

We are ready to cut through the superficial social clutter and devote our time and energy towards the select relationships that mean the most to us, and the tools that allow us to do it more efficiently.

So, on this roller coaster ride to the destination of fulfilling the human need for full, rewarding relationships, I have to ask, are we there yet? Are you on superficial relationship overdrive & technology overload? Are you into micro-communities or do you prefer having a large group of casual “friends”?

Let me know what you think!

These are a few of my favorite links.

I won’t attempt to sing Julie Andrew’s iconic song, but you get the point. Over the past year or so, I have searched  for some of the best websites for driving social media, branding, and advertising creativity. Here are some of my favorites.

1.) Mashable

Yeah, this one is on everyone’s top list these days. But I have to mention it. If you only have time to visit one website, go here. They are constantly updating the site with fresh content, information and news on your favorite sites like Facebook, twitter, YouTube, etc.

2.) BrandflakesForBreakfast

One blog, not a lot of back pages to search through, great content. For creative branding ideas, this is where you go to get the scoop (I’m so punny!).

3.) Social Media Examiner

This is a great site for those who are on the front end of their social media research. They break it down in simple terms, with posts like “How to Build a Free Social Media Monitoring Dashboard” and “Getting Started with Social Media: A Resource Guide“. Great resource for newbies when they start to feel overwhelmed by all the platforms out there.

4.) AdWeek

Specifically, their advertising & branding blog, AdFreak. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like them on Facebook. It’s easy to forget this is “work” when you are toying around here. They find the most entertaining, creative, unique, funny, different, weird, freaky, or occult advertising campaigns and put them all in one place to spur your creativity.

5.) Ad Age

This is a great resource for ad agencies that are incorporating SM into their client services. They do a great job of giving an overall picture of how agencies should seamlessly fold in online social media platforms into their advertising strategy, AND why it matters. A little dry, but very informative.

Hope this helps! I would love to know which websites you find most helpful. Feel free to comment or e-mail me at Taylor Henson Online at Gmail dot-com.