Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
QR Codes for Small Business Marketing
Monday, July 18, 2011 by Michelle Hartley
Quick Response codes, more commonly known as QR codes, are
slowly emerging as a way to digitally market your brand. QR codes
are similar in look to bar codes and can be scanned by consumers
with smartphones, camera phones, or dedicated QR bar code readers.
Where you place your QR code and what you utilize it for is
completely up to you. Once the user decides to utilize your QR
code, their response can come in the form of a text, a picture, a
URL, or a link to become your Facebook friend.
According to Mashable.com's article Who's Really Scanning All of Those QR Codes?
"57% of Facebook and Twitter users said they have scanned a mobile
code at least once in the past year, while as many as 40% had done
so five or more times in the last year." They also report that top
brands like Ford, Audi, Pepsi, Starbucks, Ralph Lauren, Best Buy,
and McDonalds are all utilizing QR codes as part of their digital
marketing plan.
QR codes are not difficult, time-consuming, or costly -- making
them a safe bet for most small businesses to try out.
Consider the following when deciding on a QR code for you small
business.
Placement - The visibility of your QR code is
one of the most important pieces to the puzzle. After all, if
consumers don't see your QR code, how are the supposed to utilize
it? Some of the most common places to put your QR code are your
marketing materials. You utilize your fliers, brochures, and
whitepapers to tell people about your company already, why not add
QR code to gain interest. For a more visible way to reach the
general public, put the QR code in your store front or later on if
you discover QR codes efficiently reach a large target audience,
put it on a billboard. A good way for potential clients or
businesses to view your company right away is to put the QR code on
your business card. The user is able to view your businesses
website from their phone the moment they receive your business
card.
Messaging - A good way to start out your QR
code marketing is to offer something free or entice the potential
consumer enough to want to capture your code simply to see what
your business or offer is all about. QR codes can be unpredictable,
unique, or purely informational. They can offer free trials, send a
funny text, or link the consumer to your site -- the possibilities
are endless. Calvin Klein utilized a QR code to allure consumers.
The normal, racy and often controversial billboards feature
scantily clad models baring a lot of skin. To change it up and get
people talking, they utilized a billboard with a giant QR code that
says "Get it Uncensored." To begin, your QR code might say "Scan
our tag to see what special offer is waiting for you." From there,
have the user directed to your Facebook site, where if they "like"
your Facebook page, they receive a discount off your product or
service.
Another interesting way to use QR codes is to collect more
information about your audience. Use a QR code that asks consumers
to answer a question regarding their interests or likes and
dislikes to help you better market your brand. Offer an incentive
with the question such as "Scan our tag to receive 5% off your next
purchase with us -- all you have to do is answer one simple
question." You will not only gain new business, you will also learn
more about your audience which will ultimately help you understand
your market even further.
Try out different QR code promotions to see what will
work best for your business.
Results - One of the important elements to
finding the effectiveness of QR codes for your business is tracking
the results. An important way to ensure you can measure your
results is by picking a company where analytics or tracking will be
available after your QR code is setup. Through tracking your QR
codes, you can get an idea of who is scanning the code, what time
of day they do so, and if they purchased something from you via the
QR code. You can also evaluate which QR code was most effective. Is
the one in your front window getting more clicks then the one in
your brochure? From here, you can fine tune the plan to make your
QR code marketing campaign as effective as possible.
Provide value and a bit of mystery to the viewer through your QR
codes. Intriguing your audience into finding out more about
your company will only help expose your brand further.
Until next time -
Michelle Hartley
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
DC IT Support &
Consulting
Outsourced Marketing Services
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