Nobody can deny that QR Code Marketing is the newest mobile marketing trend for both large and small enterprises. QR codes have a one-of-a-kind ability to bridge the gap between offline and internet marketing initiatives in real time. They're also desirable due to their minimal installation costs. It also appears like the sky is the limit when it comes to coming up with new and innovative methods to employ QR codes.
Have you considered employing QR codes as a new source of traffic? Here are some pointers on what's involved, as well as your possibilities and options.
Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly Before You Begin?
This is a suggestion for "Is QR code marketing good for you?" Before you launch a promotion, make sure your site is ready to accommodate it. If your site's styles break when viewed on a mobile device, that's a major issue. Before you launch any form of QR Code promotion, make sure to solve these challenges. I realize the more knowledgeable members of the audience are probably thinking to themselves, "Duh!" but believe it or not, it happens to the best of us.
Designing QR Codes
I don't want to be a hater, but the black and white checker box is ugly. You also don't want the QR code to stick out like a sore thumb on your poster, catalog, or other printed material. When it comes to making your QR Codes a little sexier, you have a few possibilities.
You can alter the hue and soften the edges.
You can get your QR code to work even if up to 30% of it is corrupted by changing some of the settings (adjust the correction rate to 30%) when you generate it.
You can edit your QR codes and insert images into them. Keep in mind that increasing the correction rate to 30% will make your QR code noisier because the image will have a lot more redundancy, resulting in more dots in the QR code.
If you're still interested, here are some pimped-out QR codes.
When it comes to QR codes, you have options.
Most of us have only seen the traditional QR code: the little back box with the static from the 1980s. It's still "ehhhhh" at best, even when styled up. Microsoft Tag comes to mind (MS Tag). In terms of look and feel, it is significantly more customisable. However, there are some key distinctions to be made between QR Codes and MS Tags.
One of the most significant differences between QR codes and MS Tags is that QR codes are open source, whereas MS Tags are proprietary technology. This is significant because whereas conventional QR codes can be created anywhere, MS tags can only be created using Microsoft's software. This was something I felt was necessary to mention. I'm an open source enthusiast; I can't be the only one.
Another difference between the two codes is their'scan share' or adoption rate. Because QR code vendors and Microsoft are both hesitant to disclose data, I had problems finding clear data for this. MS Tags appear to be doing better in the magazine sector, but QR codes seem to be taking over in most other industries.
The cost is the most pressing concern for the majority of people. At this time, both QR codes and MS tags are free. Microsoft claims that they will give a two-year early notice before charging for the service.
Use a variety of QR code readers to test your code.
It would be terrible if you went to launch your campaign only to discover that the QR codes on those fresh 5,000 advertisements aren't working!::shudder:: Don't make a fool of yourself; test your QR code on multiple readers before sending it to print. Also, remember that bigger is better when it comes to QR codes. Furthermore, extremely shiny materials, such as laminates, should be avoided because they may interfere with people scanning the tag.
Recognize your target market.
This is significant for two reasons. Is it a good idea to do a QR code campaign? If your target group has a low percentage of smartphone use, a QR code campaign might not be the best option.
Knowing your audience is also important when selecting whether or not to include wording that provides instructions on how to use the QR code. "Some experts propose incorporating a little icon or text instruction in your marketing campaign to let people know how to use the tag," says Inc. Magazine's Tim Donnelly.
Your campaign should have clear objectives and calls to action.
Have a clear understanding of what you want your QR code marketing campaign to accomplish.
A simple goal would be to 'increase onsite product page impressions from print catalogs' or 'increase Facebook likes.' Despite the fact that this is a new traffic source, the same principles apply as when creating a campaign for any other traffic source to your website or social media profiles.
With that in mind, having a specific call to action for your campaign is critical. "A lot of initiatives fail because there's a call to action, and the call to action is inadequate," says Ed Jordan, CEO of JAGTAG. This is unsurprising, given that many campaigns just add QR codes to posters or other print ads without providing any incentive to take your phone out of your pocket and scan them.
Customers must be enticed to scan, just as they must be enticed to convert on any other conversion step. 'Enter our contest,' 'receive a coupon here,' 'enjoy our virtual tour,' 'see product specifications,' and many others are common examples.
Also, make sure that the call to action is something that will help you achieve your campaign's goal.
