A few months back I wrote a post about QR Codes and how they can help you market your business.
But before you dive in and get yourself one of these snazzy little boxes, you must make sure you think carefully about how you and your customers will use it.
You should also ask yourself how tech-savvy your customers are.
If you suddenly adopt the QR Code as a means of accessing special offers or how to sign up to your newsletter you could be seriously limiting your market reach.
A lot of your customers won’t know what one of these strange little boxes is yet alone what it’s for. They may not even be interested in scanning it (even if they knew how) so make sure you offer other was of signing up too.
A few things to remember
1. Educate
If you’re going to use a QR Code tell people what it is, what they need to do and how to read it. Plus tell them it will take them to a great offer, your mobile site or a sign up form so they know what to expect when they get there.
2. Give them a helping hand
Not everyone with a smartphone will have a QR Code reading app.
Let them know they need an app, where to get one from and, perhaps, suggest some that you know work.
3. What do you want them to do?
Once you’ve educated your customers, shown there where to get their app and what to do with it, give some thought about what you want them to do.
The landing page that the QR Code takes them to has to do something so make sure it has a strong call to action.
4. Make it easy to read
Your QR Code has to be flat and uncreased to scan properly. So placing it on a t-shirt may look cool but it won’t work.
Have you started using QR Codes yet?
Leave a comment and let us know how you’re using your QR Code.
- Do you have a novel way of displaying it?
- Where does it take your customers?
- Has it been well received and well used?
It would be really interesting to hear some of your success or horror stories.
4 comments ↓
Hi Sally,
Didn’t see your original QR post.
My own attempt via last newsletter was not a success – only 3 responses and one vague exchange of e-mails.
S.
Hi Steve,
That’s a shame – it does make you wonder whether people are ready or even receptive to QR codes.
Sally
Sally, I am interested in technology and QR codes place in that. I think part of the issue is if smart phones came with QR readers imbeded then they would be everywhere.
But at the end of the day it is just a tool to speed up direction to your website not a sales technique in itself. Not like PR using skillful copywriting!
Did you see where Betfair put their QR codes? nobody would have been able to scan them, but the PR succeeded in itself!
Hi Andrew,
Hmm, Betfair’s was certainly an interesting use of the QR code! You’re right about the smartphone thing. If ideas like the QR code are going to take off they have to be available to everyone. People like things to be easy but you can only read QR codes if you have a smartphone and if you have the app to read them. For many people that’s just too many hurdles placed in the way.
Best wishes.
Sally
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