Hello [wlm_firstname],
QR Codes in Marketing
QR = Quick Response
This is your unique opportunity to begin using this technology in your marketing efforts now and be ahead of your opposition. QR Codes is huge in USA now, and it is about in a small way in Australia, but it will be huge here in the next 12 months or so, and you can be ahead of the curve. SBN is introducing you to cutting edge technology NOW. – Gary Pudney (DKG Creative)
So what’s the big deal with QR Codes, and as a marketing consultant why should you care?
Why is their use literally EXPLODING all around the world?
1. QR Codes are free.
In their most basic form, QR Codes are free to generate and cost nothing extra to print. Just add them to your existing marketing materials like any other image.
2. QR Codes provide an immediate response mechanism.
As soon as an advertisement or product catches their eye, consumers can snap and view. There is no delay between the interest and the response. This eliminates the drop in response rates that comes when people are required to type in URLs by hand or write down information to access later when they are sitting in front of their PC. You should think of QR Codes as the marketing equivalent of an impulse buy at the checkout counter.
3. They leverage today’s growing mobile culture.
The latest smart phones have been described as today’s laptop. People’s entire lives are stored on their phones, from contacts to music and family photos. The cell phone is the one device that is with people at all times, even in bed! A jogger is out for their morning run and sees a QR Code on a billboard or bus bench. She stops, scans the code (which is stored on the phone for later) and continues running. Later at the office, they are able to view the content while on a break. Imagine a teenager visiting at a friend’s house sees a jewel case for a new album by his favorite band. By snapping the QR Code on the back, he is instantly directed to a mobile website where he can listen to audio clips, purchase songs and download them directly to his phone, or buy tickets to the latest tour. He can even access links that automatically Tweet the information or post it on his Facebook account!
4. QR Codes are trackable.
Not only are QR Codes trackable themselves, but they can provide tracking for other types of media such as billboards or magazine advertisements that are not otherwise trackable with proper tracking, the code can be printed on a piece of direct mail advertising, and if five different people access it, not only will you know it, you will be able to tell when and where those scans occurred! QR Codes can be set up to recognize the type of phone used to read them and provide content optimized for the exact model of phone used to give an end user the best possible experience.
Why is their use literally EXPLODING all around the world?
1. QR Codes are free.
In their most basic form, QR Codes are free to generate and cost nothing extra to print. Just add them to your existing marketing materials like any other image.
2. QR Codes provide an immediate response mechanism.
As soon as an advertisement or product catches their eye, consumers can snap and view. There is no delay between the interest and the response. This eliminates the drop in response rates that comes when people are required to type in URLs by hand or write down information to access later when they are sitting in front of their PC. You should think of QR Codes as the marketing equivalent of an impulse buy at the checkout counter.
3. They leverage today’s growing mobile culture.
The latest smart phones have been described as today’s laptop. People’s entire lives are stored on their phones, from contacts to music and family photos. The cell phone is the one device that is with people at all times, even in bed! A jogger is out for their morning run and sees a QR Code on a billboard or bus bench. She stops, scans the code (which is stored on the phone for later) and continues running. Later at the office, they are able to view the content while on a break. Imagine a teenager visiting at a friend’s house sees a jewel case for a new album by his favorite band. By snapping the QR Code on the back, he is instantly directed to a mobile website where he can listen to audio clips, purchase songs and download them directly to his phone, or buy tickets to the latest tour. He can even access links that automatically Tweet the information or post it on his Facebook account!
4. QR Codes are trackable.
Not only are QR Codes trackable themselves, but they can provide tracking for other types of media such as billboards or magazine advertisements that are not otherwise trackable with proper tracking, the code can be printed on a piece of direct mail advertising, and if five different people access it, not only will you know it, you will be able to tell when and where those scans occurred! QR Codes can be set up to recognize the type of phone used to read them and provide content optimized for the exact model of phone used to give an end user the best possible experience.