Using QR Codes in Marketing
QR codes have been around for many years. It is only recently that entrepreneurs have found ways to implement them in marketing campaigns. This article will explain what they are and a few effective applications in marketing.
What are QR codes?
These are two dimensional codes designed to be unique identifiers for most products and services. The QR code causes a smartphone browser to direct users to a given website that contains more information about said product or service therefore increasing chances of sales.
Uses in online marketing
You can increase online sales using QR codes in the following ways:
Real estate: You can add QR codes in your property you want to sell, rent out or lease. A person that scans the QR code will be sent to a site where they can ask for clarifications, make payments or contact the owner. This can increase sales when you are away and also help in branding.
Book sales: You can add QR codes to a book that allow people to read a few chapters, reviews and get information about the author. This extra information increases sales from an online book store.
Increasing website traffic: You can prompt people to scan a QR code in order to get into an online contest. Interested people can them share the QR code in their social media networks. All this traffic can then be directed to a given website. This sudden influx of visitors can help jumpstart online sales or develop a loyal following.
Email marketing: You can use QR codes to get more email subscribers by including them (QR codes) in a compelling copy. Scanning the code will direct them to a page where they can put in their names and email addresses.
E-commerce: You have to attach your QR codes to URLs that populate a shopping cart, video reviews or to webpages that have more information about a given product or service. Having these codes prominently displayed will increase sales. You will also improve your site’s branding campaigns in the process.
Check this video out! This guy is taking QR Codes to a whole different level.
Uses in offline marketing
The following are the ways you can use QR codes to increase offline sales and contacts:
Business cards: You can have a QR code instead of all your contact information. Interested people can scan them and get directed to online profiles that have details about your business, location, online video bio etc.
Labels: You can put them on meat products, dairy products, books, t-shirts etc. where people can get directed to websites that give details about ingredients, origin, manufacture and expiry dates, video descriptions etc. This will allow you to use space on the product for other things e.g. a better design. It is a good branding technique.
Shop front displays: You can put up QR codes on your shop’s door where customers can get information on opening and closing hours, discounts, special offers, giveaways, other branches etc. This information will allow your customers to enjoy greater convenience therefore increasing sales over time.
Restaurants: You can market your restaurant by having people read the menu, prices, special meals etc. upon scanning the QR code. They will thus get relevant information about your restaurant very easily which can cause them to consider your restaurant above all others.
TV ads: You can incorporate QR codes in television advertisements to allow people to get more information upon scanning. It is a good way to increase your ads’ effectiveness.
In a nutshell, QR codes have virtually unlimited applications in marketing. You just need to give people compelling reasons to scan them.
