The over-use of QR codes has become something of a running joke around our office. We have seen them on TV commercials (we’re still trying to figure out how anyone has enough time to launch an app and scan a code that only appears on-screen for a few seconds) business cards that have no information other than a logo and a QR code (which give the prospect no incentive or context to encourage them to learn more), mattresses tags with a QR code and no price (which creates a higher barrier to entry for customers), and the best of all – QR codes that do not work at all (which nearly guarantee a prospect will not make a second attempt).

So, I have been asking around: How many times have you scanned a QR code from a TV ad? Do you prefer to receive a business card with a QR code, or does that trendy boxed code become a barrier to sales conversions? Not surprisingly, the results of my survey – mostly conducted on friends over a good glass of wine – indicate that many organizations might be overusing QR codes. Perhaps this happens simply because they are currently “cool” and in-vogue, and businesses want to capitalize on a growing trend.