Cinnabon Utilizes QR Codes in Breast Cancer Fundraiser

Caitlyn Foster    Cool Stuff, Mobile Websites, QR Codes, Uncategorized     mobile websites, QR Codes

On Friday, May 17, Cinnabon, a nationwide bakery with over 800 locations, launched a mobile-based campaign entitled “Sweet Support.” The campaign uses the company’s mobile website and specialized QR codes to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.  When in the bakery, customers are encouraged to donate using their smartphones by visiting the mobile URL, give.mobi/cinnabon, or by scanning one of the QR codes featured throughout the stores. Cinnabon is planning on matching the first $10,000 in donations.

Cinnabon’s QR codes that customers can scan to donate.

Customers can also visit Cinnabon’s mobile website to donate.

Kristen Hartman, the Vice-President of Marketing for Cinnabon, attributed the mobile marketing-focused campaign on the easy-accessibility and user-friendly aspects of the QR code and the mobile site for customers. She stated, “Consumers are increasingly accessing more and more information through their mobile phones. Knowing that our Cinnabon guests are often toting their phones and our delicious treats around the mall, we sought a donation process that was easy and user friendly.”

Cinnabon’s use of a custom QR code, instead of a traditional black and white QR code, was a smart move for the company. Custom QR codes have a 2.3x greater response rate than the ordinary black and white QR codes. In addition to a higher scan rate, the custom QR codes catch the attention of customers and provide another platform for Cinnabon to further brand the company. Overall, utilizing custom QR codes was a win-win for Cinnabon.

QR codes are a powerful tool for inviting customers to interact with your brand. There is great potential in the future of the QR code system. Currently, only 40% of the QR code is being used in scans, which allows for future expansion in the QR code system. For more information on custom QR codes and how to create a custom QR code for your brand, visit Advanced Telecom Services.

Scan a QR Code, Drink Bud, Make Friends

Bob Bentz    QR Codes, Social Media     Budwesiers, cup, Facebook, friends, QR Code

For years, Budweiser has been making friends.  Now, however, it is helping to make Facebook friends.  Check it out to see how scanning a QR Code can help you make Facebook friends, compliments of Budweiser.

QR Code Scans by Age Group

Bob Bentz    QR Codes     age, code, qr, scan

I must admit, I’m a little skeptical when I see statistics that are created by companies that are in the business rather than independent research companies.  That being said, here’s Scan Life’s analysis of QR Code scanners that shows that older people are getting involved in QR Code scanning.

Americans also tend to scan QR Codes at a greater rate than Europeans do, according to this study.

QR Code scans by age group.

VIDEO: Easy Mobile Marketing for Restaurants

Bob Bentz    Mobile Apps, Mobile Marketing, QR Codes, Text Message Marketing     custom QR codes, marketing, mobile, restaurants, Text Marketing

Restaurants To Go is a special vertical offering of ATS Mobile.  It is a suite of mobile marketing services designed exclusively for the restaurant industry.

To read more about why restaurants need mobile marketing, read Bob Bentz’s article here.  You can also visit our website page for restaurants.  You can also watch our webinar “Hungry for Profits” here.

QR Code Scan Rates by Country

Bob Bentz    Cell Phone, Technology, Cell Phones, QR Codes     code, qr, rate, scan, South Korea, Turkey, usa

This study from Nielsen shows that 24% of Americans with smartphones had scanned a QR code within the past 30 days. Smartphone users in South Korea and Turkey were most likely to be QR Code scanners at 38%.

Want to see the largest gallery of Custom QR Codes in the world? Check it out here.

Mobile Marketing Promotions for Nightclubs

Bob Bentz    QR Codes, Text Message Marketing     marketing, Philadelphia, QR Codes, text message

Brownie’s in suburban Philadelphia uses a QR Code that students and other patrons can scan to go to its mobile website.

If you are looking for a way to reach young adults, email is so yesterday.  Young adults live on their mobile phones, but I don’t really need to tell you that.

One great way for nightclubs to promote is to use a Custom QR code that leads to a mobile site.  We took over the mobile marketing promotions for Brownie’s, a college nightclub in Ardmore, PA, a few years ago.  One of the first things that we did was took their black & white QR code and made it into a Custom QR Code with the nightclub’s logo inside of it.  We also customized it with colors.  This simple change resulted in an improved scan rate of 2.3 times.

The QR code scan takes the customer to a mobile website.  The student/customers are also encouraged to Text Brownies to 84444 to opt-in its text message marketing club.

To see the largest gallery of custom QR Codes on the web, click here.

QR Code Program Offers Athletes Innovative Way to Get Recruited

Bob Bentz    Mobile Websites, QR Codes     college, QR Codes, recruiting, reqruitme

One of our favorite customers is a unique mobile website called ReQRuitME.  With

ReQRuitme uses a QR Code as an integral part of getting athletic scholarships.

ReQRuitME, aspiring college athletes are able to promote themselves to coaches via a QR Code.

Coaches can scan the athlete’s QR code and be taken to their unique mobile web page.

At a recent lacrosse convention, ReQRuitME was there promoting its product to high school lacrosse stars.  We got one of these nifty mugs with the QR code on it.

Click here to LIKE ReQRuitME’s Facebook page.

STUDY: 19% of Americans Have Scanned a QR Code

Bob Bentz    QR Codes     france, germany, QR Codes, scan rate, UK, usa

A new study by Pitney Bowes shows that 19% of Americans have scanned a QR Code.

QR Code scans are most common in the USA vs other European countries.

Pitney Bowes also studied other countries: UK – 15%; Germany – 14%; France – 12%.

Of course, like most new technologies, the younger you are, the more likely that you are a QR Code scanner.  Of 18-24-year-olds in the United States, 39% have scanned a QR Code.  Of 25-34′s, 36% have scanned.

Magazines lead the way when asked where the QR Code scans are taking place with 15% having scanned there.

In a previous post from a late 2011 study, we showed that slightly more than 20% of Americans had scanned a qr code at that point.  And, a more recent study of QR Codes from January, 2013 showed why consumers scanned QR Codes.

Download the pdf story here.