Hospital makes a persuasive pitch with a QR code
A hospital’s full-page ad in a monthly women’s magazine in Louisville, KY, caught my eye. A local health care group is using both a QR code and text messaging to promote its emergency care services.
You can scan the QR code in the ad and you get a link to the Emergency Care home page where you find that you’ll wait much longer at the downtown hospital than the one in the East End.
Texting the number quickly gives you the same info, and means you have the number in your phone for future reference.
The idea of having ER wait times at your fingertips might be strong enough to motivate consumers to figure out how to use QR codes. It’s a high hurdle to get over intitially: download the scanner, scan the code, then get the payoff. Jewish hospital may be doing marketers in all industries by teaching consumers how to read QR codes.
Another good use of the code would be ads in public places where accidents often happen: parks, pools, outdoor festivals. An ad on a bus stop or public restroom could be simple but powerful, “Need help fast? Scan for ER wait times at our hospital.”
Other health care providers are using QR codes to deliver health information On The Buzz Bin, Jenn Riggle describes how other hospitals around the country are using QR codes. Realtors are using the codes in marketing materials as well. From the consumer’s perspective, “Get more information that you want” is a much stronger hook than “Sign up for our marketing offer with questionable benefits.”
Mobio Identity Systems, the company that makes an identity-management app (for iPhones and Android phones), reports that use of these codes increased by 1,200% in the last half of 2010 (there is only one direction to go if you’re starting from 0%).
According to a recap of the Mobio report from The Next Web blog, women and consumers ages 35-44 are the most active code scanners. Mobio also says it has seen steady adoption across the board with people between the ages of 18 and 54. Full disclosure, the information in the report is taken directly from the Mobio servers, not a third-party source. You can find Mobio’s full report on usage of QR codes here .
If you’re interested in exploring QR codes for your business, this Quora conversation has a great list of the best business uses for the codes that includes examples from BestBuy and Starbucks.
You could certainly see your expertise within the paintings you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
@ Carmen I understand what your mean. In todays economy its hard to find a career that pays good and is consistent. I have found that should you just strive and are consistent you are able to go places . Look at the author of the article, they are clearly a hard worker and have been consistent over time and therefore are now enjoying a minimum of an amount appear as somewhat of successful. I would encourage everyone to simply keep hustling and continuing to move forward.