4 Ways to Use QR Codes in Your Marketing QR codes offer an excellent way to attract new customers to your business. These are little blocky black and white codes that can be scanned by smartphones and other mobile devices. The QR stands for ‘quick response‘ and that pretty much says it all
The device is immediately directed to a URL that you’ve chosen. As more folks use mobile devices, the QR code is quickly becoming the marketing tool of the future.
Most businesses use QR codes to direct people to their websites. It’s much easier than giving them printed materials that say, ‘Check us out on the Web at www.blahblahblah.com.’ But there’s a whole lot more you can do with QR codes and here are just a few things.
Get People on Your List
Instead of your regular website, have the QR code send them to a page that’s specifically designed for list building. This is a page that says something like, ‘Sign up here for deals and special offers,’ and has a form that asks for their name and email. You can then send them email messages with offers.
Get Them to Like You
The URL of your QR code can lead directly to a page that integrates social media. It can be a site with a Facebook ‘Like’ button or a Twitter ‘Follow’ button. This is an easy way to get more fans and followers.
Show Them a Video
Since you can choose absolutely any URL anywhere, why not pick your YouTube channel? You can direct them there or to a specific video that teaches them something valuable or sells your services.
Make a Phone Call
Since most people scan QR codes on smartphones, your code can actually make a phone call. When they scan it, the phone starts ringing and your sales representatives are on the other end.
Marketing your business with QR codes doesn’t end with choosing a good site to send them to. What’s even more important is putting that code in places where they’ll see it. Here are some creative ideas for doing that:
- Signs, billboards and kiosks
- Business cards
- Your website or blog
- Brochures, fliers and other printed promotional materials
- Catalogs
- Postcard mailings
- T-shirts and other clothing items
- Magnets, coffee mugs, and anything else that has your business name on it
- TV commercials and YouTube videos
You can create a stamp or sticker with your code on it and just go wild. Some businesses have created scavenger hunts for their customers where there’s a nice prize at the end.
Others have gotten creative with the design, creating something that’s truly artistic as well as practical. The cool thing is that you can put QR codes anywhere. Get creative and you’ll get results!