Wednesday, August 31, 2011

QR Code Craze

No doubt by now, you've seen the 2-dimensional QR or smart codes gracing everything from cars, to commercials on TV, to business cards and direct mail.

If you're not familiar with them, they are like the bar codes you find on all types of products. Bar codes can only hold 20 numeric digits; QR codes can hold thousands making them practical for use by small business owners. Any consumer can use a QR code if they have a smartphone app and an Internet connection.

QR codes most commonly link to URLs. You can use it to direct your customers to many things like coupons, visits to your Facebook page, visits to your Web site, your contact information, etc. The only limit is your imagination. This would be a great way to get feedback from your customers by linking to a place where they can provide a review or take a survey/poll.

Practical uses for QR Codes:
  • Business card
  • Marketing brochures and materials
  • Receipts
  • Event name tags or tickets
  • Products
  • Car or business vehicle
  • Signs
Link shortening services goo.gl and bit.ly automatically generate QR codes for sharing your shortened links. And email services like MailChimp automatically generate QR codes for sharing links to your most recent email campaign.

How can you adapt the QR code strategy to engage customers? (...on products, in e-mails, in direct mail...for directions to your business, a map to your business, product instructions, coupons/offers, downloads, and more.)

QR code that links to my Web site

qrcode

Don't make the mistake I saw a small business owner in Wisconsin making. Be logical about how you use it. Instead of listing their hours on the door of the business, he simply had a QR code where it said "Store Hours". That's all well and good if your only customers are tech-savvy individuals with smartphones! But what about the people with regular cell phones or no cell phones? They'll never know when your open and will most likely leave and never come back. Be sure to provide information for as many customers as possible. Having the actual hours on their door along with the QR code would have been much better!

Free QR Code Generators:
Create a QR code that links your mobile device to a fully functioning LIKE button for your Facebook page: http://www.likify.net/

Microsoft Technology also has a similar code called a Tag. So far, it doesn't seem as widely used, but is showing up in many retail markets. It can only be read by a Microsoft Tag Reader and is just as flexible as the QR code.
Free Mobi Tag Generator: http://tag.microsoft.com/my-tags/getting-started.aspx
Link to my Web site
Download the Tag app at http://gettag.mobi and scan this Tag.
 
I hope you have fun using this new technology in a way that will drive more traffic to your business. :-)

Ciao for now, Paula

UPDATE: After going to print, I received a trade magazine in the mail.(The article is not online yet or I'd link to it for you.) 
On the cover was a GNC store using QR codes on the face of their storefront and in their windows advertising "Deal of the Day". A quick scan takes the customer to a mobile-optimized page detailing the QR-exclusive content.
Source: Internet Retailer

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Using Facebook to Drive Fans to Your Web site

image copyright Social Media Examiner
Sharing a link with you this week to Social Media Examiner. It's a good resource for all things in the social media realm including Facebook and Twitter. 

In a recent post, Ben Pickering shares 5 Tips for Driving Facebook Fans to Your Website.

Check it out - it's a short read and will give you some ideas for connecting these 2 areas of your Web presence.

Ciao for now, Paula

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Mobile Commerce

Mobile is moving at a speed you can't ignore! Are you ready? Is your Web site optimized for a mobile screen such as a smartphone? Can visitors easily purchase from you or find out how to get in touch with you?

I thought you'd like to see these mobile commerce stats.
  • In the first quarter of 2011, according to Nielsen Co., 36% of mobile phones were smartphones, up from 23% in quarter 1 of 2010. That 36% is expected to soar to 50% by the end of this year. 
  • Apple introduced the first tablet to the market, the iPad, in April 2010. By the end of this year, Forrester Research predicts that 26 million tablets will be in use. That number is expected to double next year.
  • Forrester also projects that mobile commerce sales will double this year and grow by $4 billion in 2012 to a whopping $10 billion.
Internet Retailer is holding its 2nd Annual Mobile Commerce Forum in October. Make plans to attend to get the latest trends and best practices in all areas of mobile marketing. Find out more about this 3-day conference here.

Stay tuned to this blog for more tips and resources about mobile commerce as part of my ongoing effort to keep your small business informed.

Find information about using text messaging as a marketing tool for your business.

Ciao for now, Paula

post sources: internetretailer.com, forrester.com, nielsen.com