Are websites going the way of hi-fi?
Photo by Winnond
Hi-fi was the in thing. People were caught up in a competition to out-do their friends to own and set up the most perfect quality of stereo sound in their living rooms. We were all used to the terminology and technology of turntables to play our vinyl – the diamond stylus; the cartridge; belt drive or direct drive . Then there were speakers – woofers and tweeters.
Similarly we are experiencing a shift on the web. There is a change of focus from highly engineered and designed business websites to business Facebook pages with elements of branding. The main function has shifted from one of informing to one of engagement. Why bother with the expense of bespoke design when you can have a branded Facebook page set up which includes a very familiar feedback and engagement platform built in for free. There are adverts and your corporate colour is not blue – this does not matter anymore, in fact, users are starting to feel more comfortable using something within the Facebook skin than having to understand someone else’s UX designed bespoke navigation on a website. We want to do stuff and engage, being less bothered about pixel-perfect design.
Business is dashing to get out there onto Facebook. The vast majority of corporate advertising makes reference to their Facebook pages. Return on Investment (ROI) has been usurped by Return on Relationship (ROR).
Technology has taken that most powerful of marketing facets – word of mouth – and made it possible to “tell all your friends” at once. ”Tell the world” is becoming less powerful and trusted (recent press re. Tripadvisor) it is the ability to narrow this to a focus on who you know that is driving the business Facebook (and other startups such as Trustmico) trend.
QR codes – Big in Japan…
…takes me back to a sun drenched beach on the Greek island of Agistri.
The Island of Agistri
It must have been 1984 and Alphaville’s Big in Japan was being played all over a very hot Europe. Four of us had flown out to Greece after leaving Polytechnic, (don’t think they have these anymore), for a holiday of sunshine and retsina. The Island then was a step back in time. Today the place looks much more civilised – which is a shame [Tourism - Blessing or Blight. Discuss]
Just over 25 years later QR codes (2d barcodes) are big in Japan and they are coming our way. You scan the codes using a smartphone app., the code is “decoded” and instigates some sort of call to action.
My meCard contact details
Let me give some tangible examples of their use & benefits.
meCard / vCard – Instead of having to key in someone’s contact details to your address book a QR code enables you to just scan and save……done!
URL – Any assistance you can give someone to get to a URL has got to be worth it – (especially for those with my eyesight). Just scan the QR code and it resolves directly to the website without any re-keying.
SMS – a QR code can instigate an SMS to a designated number.
Voicecall - A QR code can instigate a telephone call just from the scan.
Event ticketing – Either printed or virtual. Services are appearing which will administer ticket sales, ticket generation, reminders and event check-in. The “ticket” is in the form of a QR code which is scanned on entry to the event. The information held within the code can flag VIPs, inform seat numbers etc.
Share who’s arriving with your guests by displaying a live check-in board inside the venue.
Agistri geolocation QR code
Geolocation – A QR code can resolve to a map location. Scan the Agistri code on the right to see where the island is. Imagine the different twist you can add to a treasure hunt using these.
There’s an app for that - There are many apps to choose from for QR code scanning. iPhone, Android and Blackberry all have many at their disposal. Checkout i-nigma, QuickMark, QRdeCode for a start.
I’ll write more about this topic as we move into 2011. 2011 is mooted to be the year of the QR code, (so was 2010), but with organisations like Waitrose* and M&S** getting in on the act for Christmas 2010 QR codes could well be on the verge of being big in the UK.
*Waitrose offer Delia And Heston Blumenthal recipes via QR Code App.
**M&S uses barcode to attract female shoppers
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