Of QR Codes, Tags and SMS

[Michael Inks]

Looking into mobile based systems to allow guests in the queue line to access "backstory" information. Anyone have any real world experience with any of these systems or recommendations on them? I'm leaning toward SMS for the broadest accessibility, but QR and Microsoft Tag looks interesting as well. I've seen a thread or two on the topic, but hoping someone has some broad scope experience. Thanks!

[freak 'n' stein]

Clear Cut has a really decent free QR creator. To be honest, a lot of sites have free QR Code generators but I ran across theirs & I love it cause you can add Youtube Videos, Google Maps Location or add your Facebook & Foursquare ------> http://www.clearcuthaunt.com/html/qrcode.htm

HauntChick has written our story this season and we plan on using her service to create more scripts for us. This will be our first year using QR Codes in our Marketing & Queue.

On the flyers & such we'll put our Google Location QR & in the lines we'll put links to story tid bits & youtube videos that are also tied into this years theme. At the ticket booth I'll be adding the "four square" check in QR and we'll offer a discount to guests who check-in via 4sq and FB.

[Michael Inks]

Thanks O'Shawn! Clear Cut... that's a cool find.

[Michael Inks]

After exploring a little, I think that QR codes are cool and would be a great add-on, but maybe are a little cumbersome for the average joe, which has me leaning a little toward SMS as a more universal access point. HHN Orlando used an SMS system and was a really cool way to expand on back story. What information I'm finding on such a system, though, seems fairly pricey. Anybody have info on that?

[MovieRelics]

I wouldn't get to heavily invested in QR Codes. They are a pain to use for endusers and they don't have a lot of support. In fact, Google has started pulling all their support for QR codes when it comes to the Places in favor of NFC. (http://gizmodo.com/#!5787427/qr-code...-good-riddance).

If your looking for reach your customers via smart phones, may I suggest you provide them with your haunts own custom branded mobile app? You can offer them news, event information, ticketing information, backstories, a photo gallery, youtube videos, coupons, and so much more directly from inside the app. Plus, if it's installed on their phone, you now are able to reach them for year round marketing and advertising. We can create your app and have it on your iPhone / iPod within 24 hours of signup ready for testing. Android and Windows Mobile Apps coming soon! Check it out at http://www.hauntapps.com. Get yours today before your competition does.

[Michael Inks]

Love the Haunt App direction, and very affordable too. Any thoughts on when Android support will be rolling out? (Android, such a pain for developers, but so wide spread.) Still... for the tech challenged crowd in my neck of the woods... I search for a good SMS system.

[jakprintsHAUNT]

In response to QR Codes...if you find them inconvenient to use....I think you have fallen ill to the technology begetting laziness syndrome...What more can you ask for to be able to scan a code with your phone and be able to do anything from get contacts, web links, messages (up to 5000 character), etc... etc... at one, maybe two button presses of your phone. Yes people are still learning what they are, but they are spreading like wildfire. The QR Code generators are almost all free and super easy to use also. Being in marketing and print, I honestly dont see them going anywhere for a long while. I would say a good 15% of stuff we print from companies of all sizes all across the country contain QR codes in one form or another...and that's honestly a LOT of stuff, as well as grown exponentially from more like 1% last year. They have really taken off with suggested usage on our new product Favicards (little square shaped business/contact/networking cards). I am also starting to see them everywhere from TV to print ads, to in store displays etc... The only place I have even seen even mention of the Microsoft ones are on threads comparing them to QR codes or someone trying to bash QR codes. The NFS is cool, but it requires additional technology to emit, and thats the last thing this planet needs is that many more radio waves floating around....lol

The QR codes are simple, easy to use, and you can even destroy 30% of the image and it still be readable. Yes you need a smart phone to read em, but I think that is a bigger majority than people without. I personally love em and have started using them every chance I get.

Mike "Pogo" Hach

[MovieRelics]

Pogo
I don't think it's a matter of laziness. I think it's more of annoyance due to a lack of standards, it sometimes not working correctly causing frustration, and the fact you have to do the app switching game. You would have to find a QR scanning app, load it up and snap the image, hope it scans correctly the first time, then it would try to load the webpage (if it was correctly read or encoded) or whatever app it called (assuming it was the correct app call on the device). I prefer the simplicity of finding everything from inside a single app without having to load multiple apps to get the same information. Which is why I recommend haunts just get their own custom branded app vs messing with QR codes that make users leave their app or could be misread causing user frustration. With their own app, they can deliver the same information and more instantly without messing with other peoples Apps to use a QR code. I see people messing with QR codes not loading correctly and getting frustrated, eventually just moving on. Now the marketer has lost a potential customer. Maybe I'm just jaded because my Google apps would never read correct on my Droid X either, but apparently I'm not the only one welcoming an end to them as seen by that article. While I agree they will be around for a little while longer, but with Google and other large companies abandoning them for superior alternatives, they will go the way of all the other quirky little tech gimmicks of silicon past. I believe that NFC and other tech is a better option. Just swipe the phone and you instantly got all the data on your device. As more devices with the chipsets roll out within the next year and people will be using it to pay for everything with their phone, this will be one of those secondary uses they will end up using to get information. Hell, within five years, I see Haunts using NFC tech to instantly sell tickets with their ticketing vendors.

Michael Inks
Hey Michael, as for the Android App, we are super close. Like a few weeks away. We are just trying to make sure that it's solid before releasing. And as for the SMS, if you get your own app, we are working on a system that will allow you to deliver "Push" notifications to all your customers that have the App installed. This way, say for example someone famous like Rob Zombie showed up at your Haunt. You could send a Push letting everyone know about him being there that would display on a users phone within minutes as a SMS message. Even if you App is closed, the message is delivered.

[freak 'n' stein]

Pogo
I don't think it's a matter of laziness. I think it's more of annoyance due to a lack of standards, it sometimes not working correctly causing frustration, and the fact you have to do the app switching game. You would have to find a QR scanning app, load it up and snap the image, hope it scans correctly the first time, then it would try to load the webpage (if it was correctly read or encoded) or whatever app it called (assuming it was the correct app call on the device). I prefer the simplicity of finding everything from inside a single app without having to load multiple apps to get the same information. Which is why I recommend haunts just get their own custom branded app vs messing with QR codes that make users leave their app or could be misread causing user frustration. With their own app, they can deliver the same information and more instantly without messing with other peoples Apps to use a QR code. I see people messing with QR codes not loading correctly and getting frustrated, eventually just moving on. Now the marketer has lost a potential customer. Maybe I'm just jaded because my Google apps would never read correct on my Droid X either, but apparently I'm not the only one welcoming an end to them as seen by that article. While I agree they will be around for a little while longer, but with Google and other large companies abandoning them for superior alternatives, they will go the way of all the other quirky little tech gimmicks of silicon past. I believe that NFC and other tech is a better option. Just swipe the phone and you instantly got all the data on your device. As more devices with the chipsets roll out within the next year and people will be using it to pay for everything with their phone, this will be one of those secondary uses they will end up using to get information. Hell, within five years, I see Haunts using NFC tech to instantly sell tickets with their ticketing vendors.

I can see both sides of the argument clearly. I personally own a BB Torch and love the thing to death. I use the free "QR Code Scanner Pro" and have never had a single issue from it. It opens every QR I've scanned, including those at the Transworld show back in March as well as QR Codes I have created using those free creators. My haunt partner has the exact same phone as I do and he experienced a few SNAFUs at the show but I'm sure it was a case of "operator error" seeing as he hasn't had any problems as of recent.

You listed a lot of "tedious steps" that in fact aren't steps at all! "...find a QR scanning app...load it up...snap the image...hope it scans correctly the first time...then it would try to load the webpage (if it was correctly read or encoded) or whatever app it called (assuming it was the correct app call on the device)."

The QR app would have already been on your phone, a one time deal. So in MY case I click the app, hold the phone to code, get info. SIMPLE

I'm not knocking your app MovieRelics , nor am I knocking NFCs but QR codes are beneficial as well. I just think it's something that has to catch on and gain mass appeal. Introducing them to our show this season will do two things. Guests who HAVE QR readers will take advantage of their benefits, and those who don't may learn about QR Codes and begin using them.

[Michael Inks]

My feeling on QR's is that I wouldn't use them exclusively or in a way that was critical to the enjoyment of the haunt. However, they are a free and rather nifty little tech "hidden-gem" that can be available for those who choose to employ the technology. Just another layer. But SMS, just about everyone can text and it's a simple way for people to interact with the story. Just gotta find the right system.