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Smart tourism QR code tour

By Becky McCray

QR codes are everywhere, or so it seems. Most suffer from one or more of the 7 QR code mistakes that can kill your promotions. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, I saw one tourism campaign that actually avoids all those mistakes: The GR Tag Tour.

  Smart tourism tour in Grand Rapids

The signs are posted on existing sign posts, with enough text explanation to make it easy for visitors to figure out what they are for.

The QR code is scannable. An alternate URL is included for visitors who use mobile internet but not QR codes. The website that the QR code links to is mobile friendly, media-rich and actually interesting!

Well done, Grand Rapids!
Smart tourism tour in Grand Rapids


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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

June 12, 2012 Filed Under: Best of, entrepreneurship, marketing, tourism Tagged With: Support

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Comments

  1. IdeaGirlMedia says

    June 12, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    Knowing a tad about Grand Rapids, this looks like a fun and effective tour – Thanks for sharing! :)

    ~Keri

  2. Raul Colon says

    June 13, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    I really think where most QR Code campaigns drop the ball is when it comes to adding a short url for those that do use QR Codes or for when the QR Code fails which can happen.

  3. Becky McCray says

    June 13, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Raul, I agree! A short url really multiplies the effectiveness of a QR code. Ten times as many smartphone owners use their internet service as use QR codes.

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