Include QR codes for a fully integrated direct mail marketing campaign

Companies that want to make their marketing materials appeal to consumers need to experiment with new innovations. Some organizations decide to focus on social media efforts using as many resources as possible, while others decide that they’ll be best served by engaging in organic advertising and search engine optimization.

However, the best strategy for a mixed media marketing campaign will always be the one that uses the newest and most recently developed technology. In this day and age, this refers to smartphones and other mobile computing devices. The ease of use and familiarity that consumers have with QR codes is on the rise, making it the perfect tool for synthesizing direct mail marketing efforts and increasing the number of consumers who use iPhones and Androids.

Nellymoser, an online market research firm, recently studied the top 100 national magazines. An examination of each and every page yielded the discovery of over 4400 QR codes and other pictures that can be visually scanned by phone cameras. Any business that has been afraid that consumers aren’t ready for this kind of media should realize that the time has come to begin implementing them.

The perfect place to begin printing QR codes is on print solutions sent directly to customers. A survey by the research organization Charterhouse reveals that 23 percent of companies make no efforts whatsoever to align their digital and print efforts. It’s safe to assume that more than that proportion attempt to integrate the two types of marketing but fail to do so. This indicates that organizations should be working harder to make sure their mixed media strategies are being correctly implemented.

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to using QR codes is that customers must still be told how to use them. While more and more media sources are becoming used to their appearance, it’s still necessary to educate consumers. When using them in direct marketing cards and flyers, make sure to include a brief description of how to photograph them and follow their links to a website or online source.

While QR codes are effective, they should never be forced on clients, especially when they’re more comfortable using traditional or alternative methods for online investigation. For example, offer them the option to receive notifications via text message or email alongside a QR code. Marketing materials can even list the URL that a QR code will direct a phone’s browser to simply, so that consumers know where the codes are taking them.