Continue reading »]]> A QR (Quick Response) code is a specific matrix barcode, readable by camera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. Next time you are out, look for them you will be surprised at how many you will see on billboards, posters etc.

Anyone with a camera phone equipped with a QR code reader application can scan the QR code to:

• display messages and ads
• get contact information
• connect to a wireless network
• register for a contest or newsletter
• add your signature or donate to a cause
• share a pre-composed text message or email
• open a web page in the phone’s browser
• play a YouTube video
• “like” a fan page on Facebook, share content on Facebook and Twitter
• add an event to your calendar
• … and just about anything else you can think of

You don’t need a a costly app to read the data. Most smartphones come with QR readers today. If not (like Apple), you can download one of several available at an online app store or from the QR readers website. Here are some of the most popular:

• OptiScan
• Kayawa Reader
• I-nigma
• BeeTagg
• NeoReader
• QuickMark
• Tap Reader

You can also use the above QR reader websites to create your own QR codes, the BeeTagg site offers a variety of options and is free to use and download.

Consumers today are mobile, multi-tasking, media-savvy and on the move. People are spending more time using mobile devices and connecting with them to the Internet. Smartphone users can:

• surf the web
• read email
• shop
• pay bills
• text/IM
• socialise online
• watch movies
• TV
• videos
• and on and on.

They also can take pictures and scan. In fact, mobile scanning increased 12-fold in the second half of 2012. It is time to take the changes that technology is making to our everyday lives seriously and modify our marketing strategies to remain relevant. You can develop a QR Code mobile strategy which is cost-effective and easy to implement − without any specialised skills or resources.

Creating your QR codes is simple simply visit one of the QR reader sites,

• OptiScan
• Kayawa Reader
• I-nigma
• BeeTagg
• NeoReader
• QuickMark
• Tap Reader

most allow you to create QR codes as well, BeeTagg in particular is very user friendly.

QR codes on printed sign up forms

If you encode the link to your web form URL, you can put it on any printed promotional materials

• guest books
• leaflets
• posters
• name tags
• giveaways

Visitors will be able to use their smartphones to scan the code with the web form URL and sign up on the spot or when it’s convenient.

Printing the codes on T-shirts for your team, customers and prospects, so they become walking sign-up forms

QR sign ups via incoming mail

To make this even more convenient, you can avoid the user typing data into minuscule web forms on tiny phone displays, and offer QR Code sign up, simply encode an email message with the address of your campaign and an appropriate subject. When the user scans the code, their mobile email client will open in their smartphone and, once they accept to send the message, they will automatically be added to your campaign. It combines the best of the old and new to make it easy for any skill level.

QR codes on digital sign up forms

The code can also be placed on the web form itself (as an image), giving the user the choice of either filling in the fields manually or scanning the code and sending the message. Since this is still a novelty, it might be a good way to build customer engagement, certainly among tech-savvy users.

The key is to know if most of your target audience is tech savvy, or still learning, if not, or you are unsure, segment your list and experiment on trial groups.