Current Marketing Trends: QR Codes and Your Business

Amy Martinez - 6.8.2011 9:00 AM

Current Marketing Trends: QR Codes and Your Business

Marketing agencies like Webolutions help clients determine what marketing trends would be most beneficial for their businesses. QR codes can be helpful in many industries; connecting with your consumers is essential in today’s business world.

A Quick Response (QR) code is a 2-D barcode that can be scanned by a smart phone’s camera and transfer information to the user via cell phone. QR codes have been used widely in Japan for over a decade, and the technology is now gaining popularity in the United States. QR codes were created in 1994 in Japan by a Toyota subsidiary, Denso-Wave.
 
QR codes are another way for people to communicate with your brand. These square coded images are beginning to pop up everywhere, from retail stores to magazine ads to TV commercials.
 
The QR code can link to just about anything (contact info or Vcard, Website, make a phone call, Facebook page, YouTube channel and much more).

QR Codes and Your Business

There are so many uses for QR codes in the business world. The design can be customized with your logo for branding purposes, links can be customized to prompt users to make a particular action and much more.
 
Here are a few examples of how industries are currently utilizing QR code technology:
  • Airlines – Now using QR codes in lieu of a paper boarding pass
  • Movie Theaters – Now using QR codes in lieu of a printed ticket
  • Business Cards and Email Signatures – Easily import contact information into your mobile phone
  • Government – The Canadian Government embeds a QR code on the front page of their online PDF application form for passports. As users fill out the form, the code is updated with the purpose of faster automatic scanning when the printed application form is processed.
QR codes can be used in conjunction with analytics so you can see how many people are viewing your QR code and how many people are responding to your call-to-action.
 
Here are a few ways you can use QR codes for your business:
  • Directions to your office location
  • Information on events
  • Information on art pieces – artist info, how to purchase
  • Shop online when store location is closed
  • Link to your social media – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.
  • Sign up for eNewsletter
  • Review your business online
  • How-to videos
  • Product information
  • Recipes
  • Nutritional information
  • Discount offers and coupons
  • Online reviews of a product
How is your business using QR codes to connect with your consumers? Let us know we would love to hear about your experiences!
 
*QR codes are not to be confused with MS Tags, their newer, remodeled counterpart. Stay tuned for a follow up post, in which we will discuss the difference between the two!


Posted in Marketing Trends »



2 Responses to "Current Marketing Trends: QR Codes and Your Business"

Becky Brath Says:
07/19/2011 1:11:09 PM
Hi Amy…. I was just reading QR your article (blogs) and was wondering if you do any public speaking? I am planning the marketing seminar for 2012 and looking for presenters. AEM is an association made up of members from manufacturing companies in construction, agriculture, forestry, mining and utility. Let me know if this is something that would be of interest to you, and any costs that we would incur. Thank you, and have a GREAT day!! ~Becky B.
Amy Martinez Says:
07/19/2011 1:25:16 PM
Becky, Thanks for reading! We have your information and will contact you offline about this speaking opportunity. I'm so glad you enjoyed the article!


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