QR Codes - The Next Best-Kept Marketing Secret for Small Businesses Sharing is how you build community, and one of the favorite arenas for doing this is through online social media sites. Social media is doing some big changes of bringing people together with technology, and extending it to enhance the experience all the more. What if information will be effectively embedded in a code, accessible by scanning a digital code to manifest physical reality? Know more about the immense potential of QR Codes. QR codes are unique bar code on the lower right of the sticker (or signage, product labels, websites, business cards, etc.) that lets customers - and potential customers - instantly learn more about a business, by visiting a mobile version of the business' Place Page online using any supported phone. These two-dimensional matrix bar codes can hold thousands of alphanumeric characters to link to even the longest website url. This connects to Google Places data based on Google users' interaction with local business listings. Each business has received a window decal with a unique QR code that you scan with your mobile phone. Businesses do not have to purchase anything in order to receive the decal, and it's completely free to sign up for Google Places . When you see a QR code, use your phone's application (QR reader) to scan it. If you're scanning a QR code on one of the window decals that is sent to thousands of local businesses, you'll quickly be taken to that business' mobile Place Page on Google. There you can read reviews to see what other users think about the business; find an offer that the business has posted to their Place Page; star or bookmark the business to remember to check it out later, or to remember to visit again; and or leave a review right after you leave the business. How small businesses can benefit from this? Small businesses usually within the nearby locality, do not need costly marketing campaigns like big businesses do. It's a good thing since their target market consists of a smaller group of people, so it is much easier to reach them. You can count on a marketing strategy targeting only a small population. And this is where QR codes serves as a great tool for small businesses to use as part of their marketing strategy. But how do these two-dimensional codes help in small business marketing really? For one, you can use QR codes to drive traffic to your own little space in the web: your website. You create a mobile version of your site and show customers your web presence. You can also use QR codes to lead people to your social media pages. Having them like your Facebook page or follow you on Twitter will give customers the chance to get regular updates about your company and your products or services. Another benefit is that QR codes are really helpful when you have a promo or some sort of a rewards program for your customers. These codes make it easy for you to disseminate information about some little contests you are holding or about some freebies you are giving out. You can achieve all these things without having to pay a third party to promote your website and your social media pages. However, how do you exactly use QR codes to achieve marketing goals and maximize your effectiveness? Here are some proven and tested suggestions: * Use QR codes on business cards. Include a QR code leading to your website, your social media pages, your online resume, or to your contact details page. Give out your business cards to as many business prospects as you can, and you’ll have a greater chance of having people scan your code and access your sites. * Put QR codes in your store’s front window. If you have a store, generate a QR code, print it out, and place it on your window. Make sure to place the code on a spot where passersby can see it easily and can scan it conveniently. You can use the code to invite Foursquare check-ins to your place. * Put on marketing materials.
Digital Organics: www.digitalorganics.com.au - 1/102 Howard Street, Nambour, QLD 4560 T 617 5476 3800
You can go the traditional way of promoting your QR code by handing out flyers, handouts and other printed materials, or by putting up posters. * Put QR codes on product packaging. Take advantage of product packaging to spread your QR codes. Customers who brought your product will be interested to know more about it. People will like it that you went to the trouble of providing them useful information in a fun and unconventional way. *Provide explanations about their use and benefits. Experiment with the size, location, and color of your QR codes, study your analytics and encourage actions that support your marketing plan. Above all, make the process fun to give them reasons to come back.
Digital Organics: www.digitalorganics.com.au - 1/102 Howard Street, Nambour, QLD 4560 T 617 5476 3800