Do You See QR Codes In Your Future? 

These days, being a communications professional in philanthropy probably requires more experimentation than ever before in how you do your work.  With so many different ways to reach audiences, and as many challenges at succeeding, there’s both a constant search for the “new new thing” and a willingness to try innovative approaches.

That drive to be innovative also has many practitioners looking for ideas and inspiration wherever they can find them.

Take, for instance, Rebecca Noricks, communications manger for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  As she describes in the featured video below, one day while reading a home decorating magazine she noticed “QR” codes peppered throughout the publication.  According to Noricks, when the barcode-like graphics are are scanned using a smartphone equipped with a special app, the phone’s brower or video player will open, providing access to additional online content related to what’s in the print publication.

After conferring with her colleagues, Noricks said Kellogg decided to include QR codes in the foundation’s printed annual report this year “so that the video-related content we created on the grantee profiles/highlights could also be viewed by smart phone users as they paged through the book.”

Based on her foundation’s one experiment using QR codes, Noricks said she expects “this technology and tool should be something all of us in philanthropy will start seeing more.” She adds that “it’s something we should think about using.”

What do you think? Do you see QR codes in your future?  View the video and let us know.  Also, if you want to check out Kellogg’s QR “code-filled” annual report, click here for a pdf.

Finally, if you’ve done something different, innovative, or got your idea from an unlikely source, email us and we’ll feature it on the blog.

–Bruce Trachtenberg