How does QR Code Actually work and how to use them in digital marketing?

For the Fastest response, we use QR codes every single day in our daily life. But, have you wondered how QR codes work and how data is stored in some dotes in scannable forms?

they’re commonly used to redirect users to landing pages, websites, social media profiles, or store coupons.

This blog aims to explain the working Process of QR codes and their benefits in Digital marketing.

For instance, you can use a QR code on the back of your business card to direct the User to your LinkedIn profile. A QR code on a brochure may send you to a landing page.

QR codes vary in design and function, and primarily QR codes have two types:

1. Static QR Codes

2. Dynamic QR Codes

Static QR Codes

A static QR code contains information that cannot be changed. This means you will need to create a new one when an update is needed or you made a deficiency. The good news is that static codes don’t expire — so once the content is set, you are good to go, anytime, anywhere.

Static QR codes are ideal for storing fixed or sensitive info — Wi-Fi passwords, employee ID numbers, or access codes. But they’re not so helpful if you need to update your data regularly. But you can use them for business.

Dynamic QR codes

Dynamic QR codes allow you to change your info as many times as you want. This is because the information isn’t ingrained into the code itself. Instead, it redirects users to a specific URL that can be changed at any time. For example, a restaurant can redirect users to a menu on their website where information can be updated dynamically.

A major benefit of dynamic QR codes is the ability to gather scanning metrics. While you can’t access personal information from users, you can see the time, location, and device used for each scan. And as marketers, we know these metrics are crucial to gauging campaign effectiveness.

Parts of a QR Code

The anatomy of a QR code is mostly relevant to anyone thinking of creating a QR code. Be aware, though, of the QR code security risks associated with free online services.

The most important parts of a QR code are:

• Data module. This is the standard unit of the QR code. It’s typically a black square set against a white background. Though the colours and contrast can be different, black-on-white is the most optimal when creating a custom QR code. The arrangement of these black squares, or data modules, is what makes up the majority of a QR code.
• Position marker. QR code Three-position markers on the bottom-left, upper left-right corner. Consisting of an inner and outer eye, they allow scanners and cameras to quickly and accurately locate the data modules and the scanning direction. along with an alignment mark in the bottom right-Centre.
• Quiet zone. This is the blank area in the White Color on all sides of the data module matrix that contains all the data modules and position markers. It allows scanners and readers to optically place where the QR code begins and ends.

These aren’t absolutely necessary to know if you’re learning how to make a QR code, but the familiarity helps. Some choices made during QR code creation can affect these QR code parts and the QR code’s scalability.

QR Code Positioning

The QR code scanner begins at the bottom right of the QR code. It then moves up two data modules at a time until it hits the first position marker. Then it moves two data modules to the left and goes down. It repeats this right-to-left, up-then-down zig-zag process until every data module is covered.

QR code structure consists of position patterns, alignment patterns, timing patterns, format information and version information patterns.

QR Code Working Process

Here’s a basic six-step outline of how the scanning process works.

1. Point your phone at a QR code.
2. The QR code scanner in your phone’s camera recognizes the three-position markers in the QR code. With a sufficient quiet area, your scanner is now aware of where the edges of the QR code are.
3. The scanner begins at the bottom right, where it encounters the mode indicator. These four data modules indicate what data type (numeric, alphanumeric, byte, or kanji) the rest of the encoded data is.
4. Next, the scanner encounters the character count indicator, which is the next 8 data modules up from the mode indicator. These indicate how many characters the total encoded data is.
5. Knowing the data type and character length, the scanner then continues its zig-zag path along with the data modules until it retrieves all the encoded information and reaches the end indicator.
6. After reading the final character, the scanner proceeds along its path to the error correction data modules. Within these encoded modules are one of four levels of error correction. Or how much of the QR code’s encoded data is backed up in case of code damage.

QR Codes in Digital Marketing:

QR Codes help digital marketers in collecting customer opinions and attributes to provide location-based product offerings.

Marketers can create directed promotional activities in a personalized and interactive way. The distribution and access to information are location independent without any barriers.

Marketers can provide more information to their customers through dynamic QR Codes and update campaigns frequently based on the acquired results. They can track the number of scans and analyse the effectiveness of campaigns in real-time.

It also gives marketers the ability to retarget customers and create personalized campaigns for potential buyers.

Benefits of using QR Code in Digital Marketing:

Differentiating your business from your competitors is definitely a type of marketing. QR codes can make customers curious and they will eventually scan the code to know more about that. Use this opportunity to link QR codes to exclusive offers or valuable content to carry that curiosity through to a sale. you can put QR codes on your products and broachers

QR codes can help you with digital marketing in different forms such as:

1. Drive Customers to Your Website

2. QR codes let you target consumers on the go

3. Boost app Downloads Automatically Call Your Business

4. Send an Email

5. Send a Text Message

1. Drive Customers to Your Website

QR Codes can send customers directly to the homepage, specific product pages, or lead data collection landing pages.

When the customer scans your code, they are taken directly to your website or a landing page that corresponds with the campaign. This can be a great way to move potential customers through your sales funnel and send them to a location where you can collect more information about them like Email Addresses.

Customers use the QR Code tools as a part of their direct mail marketing campaigns.

2. QR codes let you target consumers on the go.

Whether you’re providing coupons for shopping in-store or an easy way to sign up for your newsletter, QR codes make it super easy for customers and prospects to access your information fast on their phones.

3. Boost app Downloads

When you scan the QR code it will direct you to the App store to the download page of the app and start the download. Businesses have used their creativity to make their QR codes eye-catching and attractive.

Furthermore, apps themselves sometimes use QR codes to foster engagement
inside their community. Social media apps like Snapchat have created unique QR codes for their users to add people easily.

In line with that, Spotify has recently released QR codes for their songs. Users can now share or recommend their music by simply scanning the QR code, and it’ll automatically appear on the other person’s device.

4. Automatically Call Your Business

Another popular use of QR codes is to give your customers an option to directly call your business. For instance, you could provide a QR code on your product packaging that would connect customers directly to your support team. Or, you could send a direct mail postcard with a QR code that allows them to directly call your business and schedule an appointment.

This makes calling easy. Your customers don’t have to look up your number in Google and call, they just scan the code and then the phone number is automatically dialled for them.

5. Send an Email

In the same way that you can use a QR code to initiate a call, you can also use one to help customers send an email as well. When the QR code is scanned, the default email app will open on their phone, and a new message will open with a subject of their choosing.

This can be an effective and simple way to convince customers to email you. You could potentially connect customers with your sales or support team using this method, or invite them to sign up for an event.

6. Send a Text Message

Like sending an email, text messages also provide a simple way to connect with customers through a platform that they are accustomed to using every single day. When they scan the QR code, their text message app will be brought up on their phone, with the correct phone number automatically filled in for them.

Text messaging is so popular that many companies simply cannot overlook how beneficial it could be and how important it could potentially be to a multi-channel strategy.

7. View business location

If your website visitor wants to drop by your office, they can just pull out their phone and scan the QR code on your website. Instead of manually searching for the address on online maps, the QR code can give specific directions to your business location.

QR Codes and proximity marketing in 2022

Since scanning QR Codes does not require downloading an additional app, marketers, and brands intrigued by the idea of running proximity marketing campaigns without an app can turn to QR Codes.

Although the term proximity marketing has ‘marketing’ in it, businesses must adopt a customer-centric approach. Improving in-store customer experience through QR Code campaigns must be a priority.

By curating a unique shopping experience for shoppers, stores can start attracting and engaging with more customers. Possibly, the most important thing to point out here is that stores can do a lot with QR codes.

Conclusion

QR code marketing is booming, and it’s only the beginning. As more businesses realize the marketing benefits of QR codes, they can potentially be the next big thing in the mobile marketing space.

If you want to bridge the online-offline gap in your advertising campaigns and enhance their performance, QR codes can be an excellent addition to your advertising and marketing strategy.

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