The latest in online marketing tools: QR codes

QR codes are popping up everywhere these days. You can find them on restaurant menus, in grocery stores, in airports and on signs. But do you know how they work? At some point we all get tech-saturated, and when we do, we tend to overlook the latest technological innovations. The QR code, however, should not be ignored. QR codes are a valuable marketing tool that arouse curiosity and inspire action.

What are QR Codes?

The photo above contains a QR code, which is a quick link to something on the web. The code can link to anything – your personal website, a YouTube video or your social media pages. What it does, essentially, is provide your clients with a little bit more information about you, if they’re interested. This is your opportunity to get a little more personal and really wow your potential client.

How do QR Codes work?

To generate a code, visit Goo.gl and simply type in the URL of the site you want to direct your clients to. Once you’ve entered the URL, click on “details”. Right click on the code and save to your desktop. Add it wherever you want to provide extra information. Perhaps, the coolest thing about QR Codes is that you can track data and calculate your return on investment (ROI). But, since the cost of the code is nothing, there’s really no investment here, but time.

QR code analytics track:

• Number of clicks
• Traffic sources
• Visitor profiles, including country, browser, platform (iPhone, Android, or Blackberry)
• Referrer – meaning you know exactly which ones are working and which ones aren’t

All smartphones are QR code friendly. All you have to do is visit your app store and download. The application is absolutely FREE. On my iPhone, I simply open the app and point my camera at the code. Within seconds it reads the code and redirects me to the site of their choice. The best part is that they work. Inspiring curiosity is one of the oldest and most effective marketing tricks in the book.

Where to put your QR code

I’ve seen QR codes everywhere. Real estate agents use them on For Sale signs to provide passersby with a guided video tour of their newest listing. The potential buyer can tour the home without the assistance of the realtor, thus eliminating disinterested buyers. It frees up time for both parties and has the added bonus of reaching a larger audience.

I’ve also seen QR codes misused. On a recent visit to a popular franchise restaurant, I spotted a QR code at the bottom of the menu. Curious, I pulled out my iPhone. The code, however, didn’t take me to a cool video link or provide me with a bonus coupon. It simply took me to their website. In fact, it took me to the online version of the exact menu I was holding in my hands. What a waste. There are truly some cool and unique things you can do with QR Codes. Here are some ideas:

• Turn the codes into stickers and put them in strategic places
• Link them to your social media pages
• Link them to an interesting video of your product or service
• Link them to a coupon or giveaway
• Put them on your business card or brochure for added information

There are endless options – just use your imagination. However you use your code, make sure that it’s not a letdown, like the restaurant menu incident.

Be creative – inspire curiosity and deliver.