WHAT IS A QR CODE?
QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are 2-dimensional bar codes that have been around since 1994. They have been widely used throughout Japan and in parts of Europe. With the increased adoption of mobile phones, they are increasing in popularity in the United States.
INTRODUCTION
How can you catch the attention of busy, mobile consumers? How can you get them to respond to offers before the opportunity is lost? The answer is quick response codes, or QR codes for short.
You’ve seen them before. They look like black-and-white puzzles or games boards. You may have seen them in magazine advertisements, on billboards, or on the backs of business cards. Although QR codes are typically in black-and-white, they can be created in color, too.
HOW DO QR CODES WORK?
Viewing QR codes is simple. Simply point your mobile phone camera toward the code, snap a picture, and the software on your phone decodes the image. Instantly, you are directed to a website or a landing page. Or you might be presented with a special coupon offer or see a special text message. On some phones, QR code readers come pre-installed. Others require you to download them, these apps are typically available at no charge.
No need to write down anything or type in URLs by hand. Just stop, scan, and view.
Imagine the possibilities!
• A teenager is standing in front of a clothing store and sees a display promoting a hot new outfit. She takes a picture of the QR code on the window decal and accesses a coupon. She shows the cellphone screen at the cash register to obtain the discount.
• A man sitting on a train snaps a picture of a QR code on a billboard as he speeds by. He is taken to a website, where he can browse the information at his leisure throughout the ride.
We’ve all heard the expression, “Strike while the iron is hot.” Consumers’ ability to respond at the very moment you pique their interest has tremendous value. QR codes enable consumers to respond at the very moment you catch their attention. It is no wonder that many case studies show QR codes increasing response rates. By making cellphones the response mechanism, you remove many of the barriers to response.
QR USE ON THE RISE
Although many of today’s mobile consumers can access the Internet through their phones, QR code use is really being driven by the use of smart phones. The percentage of consumers owning smartphones ranges from 15% to 19%, depending on the study. Many expect that number to double over the next year.
According to comScore, owners of smartphones are three times as likely to use mobile apps and surf the Internet than mobile phone users at large. That means they are more likely to respond to QR codes.
As the number of smartphones grows, you will see QR codes popping up even more places. This means that marketers must spend time optimizing their Web ordering pages for mobile devices. This will help to make mobile shopping as easy as possible, from scanning the QR code to checkout.
WAYS TO USE QR CODES
QR codes add value in more ways than just direct sales. Let’s look at some of the ways these codes can be used.
-Business Cards
We now have more ways than ever before for people to contact us. It could be by our phone number or email address. It could be through Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. We may even have a blog and YouTube channel.
Rather than cramming all of that information onto your business card, simply embed it in a QR code. Viewers scan the code, and with the click of a button, they can save you as a contact in their phone.
-Coupon codes and promotional offers
QR codes allow you to easily and immediately deliver coupons and promotional offers. These codes may direct people to a website where they can redeem the coupon, for example, or present instructions on how to use the discount at a store.
-Event promotion and calendar items
Imagine this . . . you walk into a conference and start reading the brochure that lists the day’s events. For each event that intrigues you, instead of circling it on the brochure, you scan in its QR code. The details of that event are instantly added to your calendar.
Marketers are also using QR codes to deliver electronic tickets. No more lost paper tickets. Just show your cellphone screen at the door.
-Personalized URLs
Since QR codes make it easy for people to jump from print to the Web, they can increase the success of your personalized URL campaigns, too. Just embed the personalized URL right into the QR code. When someone scans the QR code, they are taken directly to their personalized landing page.
-Marketing Collateral
QR codes can help ensure that companies get the maximum return on investment for printed collateral. Add QR codes to all of your websites, videos, blog posts, and registration forms. Restaurants are including them on menus. Universities are adding them to speed student access to information. The possibilities are endless.
For more information on how to set up and use QR Codes for your business, give us a call!
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