QR Codes are one of the top marketing tools used by leading companies and marketers. It is an effective solution to help you boost your marketing campaigns. Quick response (QR) codes are especially useful for direct marketers and can even be considered a “lifeline” for them. These 2-dimensional  QR codes contain data that is not visible to the human eye. The data can only be read by QR code scanners and smartphones.

Using QR codes in direct marketing

QR codes are easy to generate and print; you can also embed them on your direct mail. They have the capacity to contain a higher amount of data than barcodes, making them ideal for direct marketers to convey important promotional messages to prospective customers. Their popularity is constantly rising and you can even see them on billboards, business cards, scarves, and other unconventional places. It is closely linked with direct mail marketing and here are some of the ways they can be used:

To share data

You have plenty of room to embed certain information that you want to share with your target audience because a QR code can contain over 4000 characters. Details like the contact information of a sales representative, information about the product, events, maps to your store, etc. are some of the commonly embedded information in QR codes.

To make offline experiences more exciting

Most of the time, QR codes contain URLs that can direct customers to specific landing pages. This gives prospective customers an interactive experience that can interest them to buy your products. Some landing pages contain more information, while others contain personalized response pages like PURLs. You can even direct them to a webpage where they can view a product demo or an advertising video.

To generate more sales

QR codes are a great way to provide your customers or target audience with the chance to instantly purchase your products. You can send out a catalog with a QR code that takes them directly to a purchase page, shopping cart, or estimate request form. You can also direct them to an on-screen coupon which can be used in case of store purchases.

To track consumer behavior

Direct marketers always need to keep themselves updated on the current mindset of consumers. This helps them devise new ways to market products and services more effectively. QR codes can help marketers in comparing the success level of different advertising channels. This is easy to do because online purchases and webpage visits can be traced back to the original code.

With constant development in the ways to market your products or reach your customers, many tools and technologies are left out and ignored after just a few months. The use of Quick Response codes or QR codes in marketing had earlier decreased but is slowly gaining more popularity now. Although large corporations in mainstream marketing have been using this tool since it was first introduced a few years back, small businesses and emerging businesses are also realizing the value of this innovative marketing tool. This technology lives up to its name, as it can give you a quick response for your marketing campaigns.

5 essential steps to start

Starting a marketing campaign using QR codes is not an easy task as it requires you to complete several steps. Here are 5 essential steps to help you begin a smooth and successful QR code marketing:

Step 1:

Determine where you want to put up the code for scanning. For your marketing venture to succeed, you will need to choose a location that is easily accessible to prospective customers. Putting up a poster with a QR code on your storefront is a good way to attract different types of people. The code will be easy to notice, and interested individuals can simply walk in to your store to find out more about your offer. You can even put it on your direct mail pieces or on your products.

Step 2:

Decide on what you want to convey to your customers. Once your prospects get to the web page you want them to visit, what do you want them to do further? Do you want to give them something or do you want to collect their email addresses?

Step 3:

There are several companies and websites that offer services for QR code creation. If you need help in marketing the code, it is best to consult an agency that has some experience in the field. Try agencies which are the leaders in print services and QR code creation.

Step 4:

The next step is to brand and market your QR code. Keep in mind that you want to get the attention of your customers and influence them to take action.

Step 5:

Make sure when you create your code, there is a possibility for you to track or analyze your progress. There are several tools that even give you real-time reports on how many people are using your QR code. This is a great way to see just how effective your marketing campaigns are.