A growing trend in public relations strategies is the use of QR codes.  What are QR codes?  They look like the samples included in this post.  Leave it to the Japanese to once again export technology, ubiquitous in Japan, to us across the sea.

QR is short for Quick Response  - the codes - up to 7,089 characters of numeric code - can be read quickly by a smartphone, for example.  They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it into your smartphone.

These little digital artworks really began to show up in 2010, but my guess is that 2011 will be the "Year of QR".  The complicated pattern of black and white dots are on the cover of magazines and print ads.  You can find them on buildboards and  business cards. Even websites and  t-shirts showcase these!   If you don't have QR then you are not OK!  QR codes can show a URL which you can click to see a movie trailer or you might be able to get a coupon which you can use in a local outlet.

In my view, we are just scratching the surface in public relations of how QR codes will be used. Today, few of you may use them, but those who do will certainly generate conversation and likely business.  At some point search engines will recognize QR codes and possibly index the content.

The reason they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, including url links, geo coordinates and text.  The other great feature of QR codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand-held scanner to scan them, many smart phones can scan them.

Here are some ways to use QR codes:   Read more

Branding

Starbucks "Brief Encounter"        

  

 We have talked before in this newsletter about branding.  Here are several of my past posts on this important topic.

Is It Time For A PR Checkup?

A logo:  Is It Who You Are?

 PR: What's In A Name?

Elevate Your Attitude: New Woodland Park, CO Brand and Marketing Strategy

This article in the May issue of Computer Arts details the trials and tribulations of Starbucks brand. This is the 4th brand refresh that Starbucks had had since it was founded in 1971. To mark its 40th anniversary, the coffee chain went back to its roots.  Read more below. Move your mouse over the page click onto the article.


 

 
Perini & Associates announces Commercial 1, a new series of video spots.  "The purpose of these spots is to showcase the power of video in engaging in conversation," said Michael Perini, owner.

According to recent research of people who surf the internet, 83% of the time video is the medium most searched.  "When individuals are looking to how to do something, or how to support something, or buy something seeing a video often is the reason for making a decision," Perini said.

"There is an art in matching visuals, music and drama to create excitement and draw viewers into taking action," Perini said.

 

pclips is already a popular section on the website and company Facebook page.  "Adding a series of interesting commercials that can be viewed on Youtube and on television was the right step in leading by example  for current clients and potential ones," Perini said.

 

Elevate Films was chosen to mark all videos produced by Perini & Associates and reflects the branding campaign in Woodland Park, Colorado, heaquarters of the company.

 

"We would like to hear your comments about this commercial.  And, any ideas you might have for others," Perini said.

Perini Associates -- Taking Public Relations To New Levels (HD Version)

We take the time to find information that will support you 

News Reading on iPad Eating Away at Print:  Many thought that the iPad would save journalism, but a survey by the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri found that the iPad could have a deleterious effect on print news-papers, with many iPad users likely to axe their print subscriptions in favor of consuming news on their tablets.

The survey talked to more than 1600 iPad users: 84.4 percent of them said that following current events was one of the main tasks they used the iPad for, with almost half of those surveyed saying they spent an hour or more reading news on a typical day. While the regular consumers of news tended to read in both digital and print forms, the more they used the iPad, the less they tended to read printed newspapers: 58 percent of respondents who subscribe to print newspapers and spend more than an hour a day reading news on their iPad said that they were very likely to cancel those print subscriptions in the next six months; 10 percent said that they had already canceled.

What drives this shift? Many users rated the experience of reading on the iPad either slightly better or roughly the same as reading print media. When asked what would drive users to digital news over print, the most often-mentioned factor was "a price lower than the price of a print subscription." This seems to get to the nub of the issue: One of the factors favoring digital news consumption over print media consumption is the fact that, by and large, digital news is available for cheap or free.

So, is print media's goose cooked? Naturally, one survey does not a future reveal, but it's clear that the industry has some challenges ahead of it. -- -- Dan Moren

"When you want to show videos, images or anything on the internet too a solid wall look no further then the 3M PocketProjector MP180.

The MP180 costs $449.00 but the possibilities of getting work to school projects done will be easier then ever. The best thing about this projector is the fact its the only one around with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. After you have Wi-Fi set up, you can project the Internet live but only in Internet Explorer 6 which means no YouTube and hulu vids. It has 2-hours of battery life and can produce images up to 80 inches and 32 lumens with its 4 GB of internal memory."    Source: http://www.besttechnology.org

We are a great group of creative experts who will take your public relations to new levels! 

Perini & Associates, LLC
PO BOX 616
Woodland Park, Colorado 80866