Many Meeting and Event Planners are using QR Codes. Do you know the origin of QR codes? According to Wikipedia, the “Quick Response Code” is the trademark for the 2 dimensional matrix barcode originally developed for the automotive industry in Japan for a Toyota subsidiary. it certainly has come a long way from then! Just about every industry uses QR codes in some way.
Clearly, the events and meetings industry professionals are using them as part of their marketing efforts and finding this to be successful.
Let’s go a step further. An important aspect of event success in addition to quality content, is the quality of attendee engagement. Therefore, Why not use them as a way to engage attendees and improve their conference experience.
Using QR Codes is more than directing an attendee to the home page of your conference website. If that’s all you want to do, then simply use the URL in your print material or emails. However, used effectively QR codes will work to increase attendee satisfaction and engagement. Following are some ideas from others:
:The top of this list, is a cautionary point, via Liz King:
“The #1 cardinal rule of QR codes is that the link you send them to MUST BE MOBILE FRIENDLY. Ideally, designed for mobile, not just friendly”.
Jason Pinto suggests using printed collateral with QR Codes that point to mobile websites to gather real-time feedback from session attendees
Lara McCulloch, has written, that “the codes are useful for building interactivity after the event as well, such as directing attendees to a survey or a Facebook album of photos from the event.”
From Quick Mobile’s blog : “QR codes transform typical attendee name tags into digital business cards. Instead of exchanging business cards, simply scan the QR code of the person, and the meeting app sends his or her information to the other person’s iPhone, Android, Blackberry or iPad digital directory. The QR code can incorporate a security feature that prevents anyone who is not part of the convention from obtaining that contact information.” “The code can also track session attendance as people scan it on the way in or out of the session. Attendees can scan the code to gain access to electronic documents related to the coursework.”
No doubt this can be a very cost effective way of keeping track of session attendance. . Your staff should be able to use their own Smartphones to scan, rather than purchasing or renting special scanners.
Use QR codes to promote special events within the conference. Try using the codes as part of a contest with the prize being awarded at the closing session.
If you have a learning lounge, the QR Codes can be used here as well.
QR Codes, used with real purpose and thinking of the outcomes can become very useful, rather than just cute and trendy. 
Here are some sites posted by PCMA, where you can find out what QR Code reader is best for your specific phone model:
- iPhone/iPad User Tips – http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/semacode-free-qr-code-
- scanner/id347501083?mt=8
- Droid User Tips – http://www.appbrain.com/app/qr-droid/la.droid.qr
- Blackberry User Tips –
- http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/13962?lang=en
Now that you see some of the possibilities using QR codes to increase engagement, no doubt, you’ll think of many more. If you do, please add your comments.