The Instant Consumer: Tag You’re It!
There are now 1.9 Billion mobile phone users worldwide, according to a study by Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) and Mobile Marketing Association (MMA),. This staggering statistic has not been lost on marketers who are now offering their version of info-on-the-go. No longer satisfied having you walk past their latest 4 color printed master piece, advertisers are attempting to entice passerby’s to stop and interact.
These corporate taggers are now decorating what once were ordinary signs and billboards with mobile phone readable tags, also known by such names as ‘shotcodes’, ‘SMS codes’ and ‘UPCODES’. The hope is that when a consumer notices the tag, he will simply aim his camera phone and shoot. The encrypted tag is quickly decoded through intervening software and secret message revealed. This often result is more information about the product or service: Possible discounts or prizes hidden from the otherwise unsuspecting, camera phone-less public.
These little info-packets are showing up on more than just billboards. Magazines, websites and, yes, even t-shirts are sporting these curious tags. If you haven’t heard about this previously, you will soon. It’s a global phenomenon that is just now heading to the states, as our mobile technology races to catch up with the rest of the world. If you’re retailer, terms like QRcodes (vertical and horizontal barcode), paperclick codes may already be in your vocabulary. But don’t think it’s isolated to big business alone. Kool Tag offers consumers with their own codes, ideal for shirts and… well… whatever else a consumer would need a code attached to. Singapore based Tagit, are attempting to appeal to the DYI crowd by offering their visitors the ability to create their own tags. What information can you embed in some of the info-rich tags? Why not embed your URL or address to your MySpace profile? Of course, if you’re a business owner, there likely is a more practical application.
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