The poster is an advertisement for a cosmetic brand called TILT.
Credit: DH Photo
"Rakesh, I know you are cheating on me with Shreya," read a poster with a QR code pasted on several pillars in Bengaluru. Below the code was an appeal to scan the QR and a warning which read "I have the proof! The picture don't lie."
You would never guess what you will get when you actually scan the QR code.
The poster is an advertisement for a cosmetic brand called TILT. Scanning the QR leads you to a Google form where you can register yourself to avail a 50 per cent discount offered by the brand.
"To not make this a reality take care of your skin," read the Google form of the brand whose unique ad campaigning has made it a talk of the town.
The LinkedIn page of TILT cosmetics says it is a Bengaluru-based firm and "aims to revolutionize skincare with premium, multi-functional products crafted for the discerning skintellectual."
Such distinctive ads have been an integral part of the marketing strategy of brands as they help grab the attention of the regular customers as well as new shoppers.
Credit: DH Photo
One of the iconic ads was McDonald's which gave a whole new meaning to fast food. In a print ad, the brand featured an array of the fast food chain's iconic burgers rendered at high speed, and despite the design being as simplistic as a set of horizontal lines, the products remain distinguishable.
The marketing strategies of the brands have now started incorporating new digital era elements like QR codes, AI and creative notifications.
However, these branding techniques sometimes land companies in trouble as well.
Recently, a seemingly harmless notification from Zepto landed the Bengaluru-based quick commerce firm in trouble and subjected it to online scrutiny.
Pallavi Pareek, a customer, received an unwelcome notification from Zepto reading, "I miss you, Pallavi. Says i-Pill emergency contraceptive pill," along with three teary-eyed emoticons.
Pareek found the message 'insensitive' and posted a screenshot of it on her LinkedIn profile accompanied by a post penning down her concern. The company later issued an apology.