One of the best things about the web is its interactivity. Hot linking, audio, video and scripting can provide your website visitors with a rich experience and provide you with a world class marketing tool. Email and social networking can further enrich the experience and provide your visitors with more entry points to your website – the heart of your online marketing strategy.
What if you could have a way to make your offline assets – your business card, brochures, magazine ads, post cards, clothing, bumper stickers etc. – interactive as well? What if someone could click a link on your business card and be taken to a special offer on your website? What if an after hours visitor to your place of business could visit your website by clicking a link on your front door? What if a potential buyer could click a link on a home you have for sale and immediately get all of the info on the home?
Well, I don’t think you’ll be actually clicking on links on these objects anytime soon, there is something almost as good that can do all the things we cited above… plus much more.
It’s called a QR (Quick Response) Code and it’s picking up momentum as a way to make almost anything interactive. You may have seen one already. They pop up in magazine ads, museum exhibits, tourism brochures and many other places. If you have a smartphone and a reader app for QR Codes, you can scan them and get more information, contact info, photographs, web pages, Facebook pages, coupons, special deals, etc.
Here is an image of my business card with a QR Code on the reverse side that leads to my consulting website:
Now my business card does double duty. It provides the holder with the usual contact information – the same as any other business card – and it provides a direct link to my website. Go ahead and test it if you have a smartphone. If you need a QR Code reader, check your phone’s App Store – there are sure to be several you can choose from.
QR Code usage is in its infancy as we write this. They are primarily used by early adopters. But the potential for marketing with QR Codes is unlimited. This is a technology that you may want to have a good look at. It’s easy and inexpensive to use. It’s about to become one of those high ROI marketing techniques that will make late adopters wish they had moved on earlier.
Need help putting new technologies into action? Contact or call Bob at 859.755.4115.