Nellymoser investigates the use of QR codes in the magazine industry
Nellymoser, a mobile computing and research company, has released the results of an analysis of the top 100 magazine publications in the U.S. The analysis covered the first quarter of 2012 and shows that, during this period, QR codes became wildly popular throughout the magazine industry in the U.S. QR codes have been gaining a great deal of attention from the print industry for their ability to engage consumers. Publishers are beginning to consider the codes to be a tool that can revitalize the print industry.
Virtually all U.S. magazines utilized QR codes in Q1 of 2012
According to the Nellymoser report, 99% of the top 100 U.S. magazines utilized QR codes in the first quarter of 2012. QR code use in this sector is up 288% over the same period in 2011, showing that publishers are beginning to take the codes more seriously. The report notes that these magazines used at least one QR code, which could be associated with advertising, service promotions, or exclusive digital content that is a companion to the magazine itself.
QR codes may have found their place in the print industry
The report shows that, for the first time, QR code use by magazine exceeded 8%. The majority of these codes were used for advertising, with more than 450 brands launching mobile marketing campaigns that were features in these magazines. Nellymoser believes that the fact that virtually all major magazines in the U.S. have adopted QR codes in some way is a good sign that the barcodes have found a foothold within the print industry.
Print turns to mobile technology to regain favor of consumers
The print industry has struggled to maintain consumer interest in the advent of technology. Mobile technology, in particular, has succeeded in peeling consumers away from print media. Publishers have been looking for ways to provide more dynamic and interesting content for consumers and have, ironically, turned to mobile technology to accomplish this aim. QR codes and augmented reality have recently become the two major tools in the industry’s fight to regain favor with consumers.
