Author Archives: Sarah Harris

As I look around the world around me, whether that world is real or part of a wide web, I find myself seeing QR codes. It’s kind of like when you hear a word for the first time and find out its meaning. Suddenly that word is everywhere, used by everyone, and you were late to the party (I’m looking at you anthropomorphic). While most of the time the QR codes are in the places you might expect them, like menus and catalogues, every once in a while I see one that sticks out if not because I wouldn’t have thought to put one there, because of the targeted traffic you can get as a result of using QR codes in this way. Here are some of the best examples:

1. Resume

This might not be the most groundbreaking idea, but when I saw this at work, I thought “What a great idea!” We didn’t hire the kid who put it on his resume, but he did get an interview despite some reservations. Even though all this took was looking up a custom QR code generator, the thought process was that this candidate for the position was at the very least up-to-date on technology, and it can’t hurt to have someone like that. The code linked to a gallery of his previous work, and it got me thinking of all the ways someone could use QR codes to beef up their resume. Any digital media that represents you, whether you made it or not, will add personality to your resume, and make your resume memorable. Trust me, when you’ve already been through 30 resumes, 31 doesn’t have a great shot, so anything you can do to set yourself apart in case your resume is at the bottom of the pile is well worth your time. Knowing how to make a qr code might just get you employed!

2. T-Shirts

Here’s the thing about putting a big ole QR code on a t-shirt… you better not be linking to the contact for your candle wick manufacturing company. I’ve seen online people with t-shirts that feature a big QR code, and in real life I saw a smaller one that was part of more information on the shirt. Either way, you are going after a specific audience here, and that was the first thing that struck me. While I wanted badly to scan this guy’s shirt, I didn’t have the guts to just walk up to him and scan him (not my type) but when I think of people who would have the guts, I think of young people on skateboards. That, combined with the fact that I just realized I could have been arrested for scanning that young man’s shirt if someone took it the wrong way, just made me feel really old.

3. Retail Clothing Stores

I might be one of those suckers born every minute, but I saw pretty much the coolest place to put a QR code. I wish I could say what store did this, but I asked if I could mention their name on my blog and was told no (I guess not everyone likes free publicity). Regardless, I was shopping in their not-so-surprisingly small store when I saw a QR code on many of their clothing displays. Apparently, despite the fact that they were a mom and pop shop, they knew someone who could develop apps because it took me to one that I can’t download any other way, and it blew me away (their developer must have the same marketing instincts as the store owners). What it did was to give you a picture of that article of clothing and allow you to paste it to a picture of yourself. For someone like me who ends up trying on things forever, this was perfect, and it got me out of the store much faster by not letting me waste my time.

This article inspired another one as I wrote it. Next week “5 of the Dumbest QR Code Uses EVER,” but you’ll have to wait for that gem of a QRticle (I’ll be here all week… tip your waitress).