So we know that QR codes are misunderstood and that there have been some really innovative uses of QR codes in recent years; however, what are the benefits to using QR codes in your marketing endeavors? Let’s find out.
They Go Anywhere
From billboards to print ads to business cards to toilet paper, QR codes have the unique ability to be incorporated into almost any piece of marketing material and any marketing campaign. Online. Offline. Digital. Traditional. Their versatility is a huge benefit to marketers, especially those creating integrated campaigns as QR codes can serve as the common link in a campaign that spreads across various channels. Speaking of which…
They Bridge the Gap
Traditional marketing tactics are not dead. There is a place (and a need) to integrate both digital and traditional tactics and QR codes can easily connect the two. You can put a QR code on a printed flyer or sign which then connects users to the company’s mobile presence. Blending traditional marketing disciplines and technology couldn’t be easier.
They Make you Different
QR codes are misunderstood and therefore have not been adopted by the masses. Integrating a QR code, especially if it is done in a truly unique and innovative way can be a huge point of differentiation from competition. What would you rather do…run to the grocery store after an exhausting day at work or do you food shopping while waiting for your train in the morning by scanning QR codes and then come home after a long day at work to have your groceries delivered right to your door like Tesco did? I think we can guess your preference.
They Capture the On-the-Go Audience
Tesco understood this fact which is why they developed their QR code grocery campaign for busy South Koreans. Does your campaign target travelers? Busy moms who are always running errands? College students running from class to class all day long? Consumers spend a lot of time out of the home (OOH) and on the go which makes this an optimum time to market to them. In fact, Arbitron’s 2013 Out Of Home Advertising Study found that about 75% of US adults have noticed advertising on “OOH formats, including billboards, public buses, bus shelters, commuters rails, and more in the last month”. Calvin Klein recently released a billboard that was entirely a QR code…they get it.
They Bring Interactivity Anywhere
QR codes serve as their own call-to-action (CTA) and therefore bring interactivity everywhere. Traditional brochures, banners, billboards, etc. are inherently static but a QR code brings some interaction to any physical content that a marketer produces, making consumers get involved in the advertisement by scanning the QR code.
Finally…They are Easy and Free
A small business’ dream. Versatile, innovative and inexpensive! There are dozens of free sites that generate a QR code easily such as Kaywa QR Code.
