How to Use QR Codes to Lead Your Marketing Campaign in 2019
Many people use QR codes, mostly ineffectively — Learn how to use QR Codes to engage customers with your 2019 marketing campaign.
Did you know that the Denso Wave Company is credited with inventing the QR Code in 1994?
The company invented the codes for use in tracking their vehicle manufacturing process. This is all there was to these codes. Just like RFID, QR codes were mainly used for tracking purposes.
QR Codes—What Are They?
Before looking at the benefits of QR codes in marketing, it is important to understand what they are, and how they have evolved. The quick response (QR) codes can be defined as two-dimensional barcodes used to direct users to execute a certain action or to head to a given website.
QR codes have come a long way since they were first introduced. 8 years ago (2011) only two businesses—Best Buy and Macy’s—were using the codes. But the situation has changed today, with millions of users using them across the world.
Some of the uses for QR codes in business include the following:
- Using the code to call a number
- As a virtual business card that is used to share vital contact details
- Use it to reveal coupon and discount codes
- Adding an event to your calendar including an accompanying reminder
- Automatically using the code to connect to Wi-Fi in a store
- Armed with this information, businesses can then go ahead and come up with their preferred use cases.
Below are QR code usage inspirations for 2019:
1. Leveraging the codes to engage customers with short video content
It is well-known that the manner in which the world consumes content has experienced a radical shift in the last ten years.
According to recent statistics, reading only invokes ten percent memory retention while watching a video invokes 95 percent retention.
Looking at these statistics, it is quite clear why businesses have opted to employ QR codes in showcasing stellar product features. The same case applies when displaying advertisements in stores to help garner the attention of the shopper.
2. Designing QR code games to help increase conversion
There has been a rampant increase in the number of hyper-casual games being designed by game developers. Many of these games do not require the players to use too much of their brain power.
Marketers can, therefore, use a barcode scanner in C# to try and push such games to their shoppers. While pushing the games, they can choose to provide incentives such as a chance to win freebies or get a discount on the next purchase.
Shoppers love getting freebies and discounts, and, as such, this idea is likely to help increase customer conversion rates. It can also be used as a way of engaging with clients walking past an advert. All marketers need to do is place a ‘Scan and Win’ sign outside the business.
3. Making repeat customers from one-time shoppers
As a marketer, ever considered adding a QR code to the store’s post-purchase packaging?
Such a code would make it possible for shoppers to reorder or re-fill the goods from the store’s online portal.
People using QR codes to reorder specific purchases can do wonders for the store’s customer retention numbers. By using geolocation together with the code, you will be able to know where the client is located.
For example, if the QR code placed on a given product is being used to display product information, you can use this same code to encourage the client to re-order.
4. Encouraging shoppers to download the business’ brand app via QR codes
Angry Birds and Instagram are examples of brands that used creative codes to encourage clients to install their applications. The codes were used to unambiguously convey the company’s brand voice, thereby serving a dual function.
One function was to get new clients to download and install the app, while the second function was to establish their individual brands. The latter was achieved by using a QR code advertisement to induce brand familiarity.
Even though proximity marketing without the use of an application is by itself enticing, you gain more by having the clients install it. An app installation enables you to learn about your client’s shopping preferences and history.
With this information, it becomes easier to serve your clients through the use of personalized or customized product recommendations. Your shoppers will get to assume a role that is more passive as they get access to a better shopping experience.
5. Using QR codes to deliver a musical experience
Researchers have established that marketers and stores will use everything from displays to lights to entice customers to spend more money.
So why not consider incorporating music as well?
Classical music has for many years been used by stores to simulate an upscale shopping environment. Stores use this tactic to amp their product pricing.
On the other hand, what if it was possible for you to curate a unique shopping experience for clients entering your store? QR codes can make this a possibility.
6. Breathing life into places that are otherwise boring
What one person sees as boring is often subjective. QR codes can, however, help you come up with an interactive experience when used at parks, libraries, zoos, and museums. Rather than stationary human guides at various points, you can have the codes act as zoo guides. It will work wonders for visitors who appreciate a zoo experience.
A good example is IQZoo. It seeks to deploy QR codes in the zoo area. Whenever the code is scanned, it will display essential information such as the animal info, lifespan, age, name, etc.
What are the favorite QR codes you’ve found? Have you ever scanned QR code to get an offer? Share it with us!
