QR Codes Kill Kittens: How to Alienate Customers, Dishearten Employees, and Drive Your Business into the Ground

Think Before You QR Code

I don t know where this QR code takes me when scanned, I wish I did. I tried to follow the three easy steps but I feel like one important step is missing.

Step 0.5: Don t put QR code behind GIANT BAR

The code is unscannable. It s taking up valuable space, looking fancy and modern, and doing absolutely nothing. This is my main issue with QR codes and so many of the things we try in business - they just don t work. We need to be thinking about functionality for our customers. Did you know that 50% of people who scan a QR code would never scan one again? You know why? Because they didn t work. They didn t bring value. They made people jump through an unnecessary and all to often non-functioning hoop.

Stop it.

Those Poor Kittens

Step 1. Put QR code on door

Step 2. Make the code small enough that people need to get really close to scan it.

Step 3. As they approach, have the door automatically open into the person.

Step 4. Profit...

Where QR Codes Belong

Twenty years ago, QR codes were created for manufacturers. They were better options than bar codes when a lot of information needed to be shared.

They are still used for this purpose in many industries today.

So, if you see a QR code in your toilet, that s exactly where it belongs.