MARKETING WITH QR CODES
There are a wide number of marketing ploys that marketers can use to capture their audience’s attention. One such tool is QR codes. QR codes originated from Japan where they are widely used and is an abbreviation for “Quick Response Codes”. They are a lot like normal barcodes but QR codes can store much more data and information than barcodes can. Information that QR codes can store includes URL links, location coordinates, text, voucher and coupon information, content that can be downloaded and much more.
Unlike barcodes which require bulky scanners, QR codes can be scanned by smartphones. There is really no special type of device needed. A QR reader app on your device is all you need for you to scan any code you come across and discover their secrets.
QR codes have been used as marketing tools for almost as long as they have been around. Many marketers however, did not realize the potential of these codes and used them wrongly or ignored them altogether. A result of this is that QR codes are still not widespread in their use. some mistakes that contributed greatly to this was businesses assuming that customers would be really interested in scanning the codes and so they would just print a code that really did not contain anything interesting. Considering that scanning QR codes is a long process, this resulted in people losing interest in QR codes and forming the assumption that nothing interesting was contained in the codes.
QR code for http://top-web.us
Another big setback with QR code marketing has been ineffective landing pages. A potential customer could go to all the trouble to download the QR code scanner app, scan the code only to realize that the content in the link is not what they were promised or not what they expected. Or worse still, that the link is broken and there is no landing page at all. Another issue normally is that marketers fail to realize that most scanners are used on mobile phones. They fail to optimize their content for mobile devices. This really results in a terrible user experience. Such a customer is less likely to bother with scanning any other code in the future.
However, with time, marketers are now understanding the potential of QR codes and the best practices when using QR codes. Landing pages are more and more interesting and products offered through QR codes are worth the trouble of scanning the code. According to a report by ScanLife in 2013, areas where QR codes are now widely used for marketing purposes include coupons, social media, downloads, loyalty reward programs, mobile payments, and many more.
If wondering where QR codes can be generated from, there are a wide number of services online that offer the service. A simple Google search is enough to set you on the right path. One such tool is TrustThisProduct’s free online QR code generator.
Three types of codes can be generated by this tool: static QR codes, dynamic codes and there is also an option for code generation for businesses.
The static QR code generator gives you the option to create codes that have information embedded in them. Changing the information requires generation of a new code. Options for static codes are text codes, business cards, SMSs, email messages, Wi-Fi access that contain password information of networks, and website address links. All these can be done in simple steps and no registration is required.
Dynamic code generation requires registration. Good thing however, is that you can register using a number of social sites. They contain links to pages that contain the information you enter in the creation tool and so allow for the content to be changed without requiring a new code generated.
QR codes for business can be used by businesses to collect information regarding marketing campaigns. Registration is however required for access to this tool.
Published on : www.top-web.us
