Mobile marketing has come to be synonymous with contemporary digital advertising. Mobile accounts 72 percent of US advertising dollars and mobile devices remain the most important source of internet traffic across every channel.
However, a small percentage of marketers have the ability to create expensive mobile ads or develop mobile apps that engage users.
QR codes provide an efficient and cost-effective method of leveraging mobile marketing to increase customer engagement and retain them.
Here are comprehensive instructions on how to make use of QR codes to improve your mobile-based marketing.
What Are QR Codes and How Do They Work?
You've likely seen QR codes at the very least once in your lifetime. If not, look through the latest Amazon package that was delivered to you, and you'll be able to see the QR code.
QR codes are a contemporary version of barcodes, which are now seen everywhere. We can package products and digital wallets for payments or even WhatsApp Web; you can think of it.
QR codes function as barcodes. You are able to link an item of information to QR codes. When you scan the QR code, you are able to access the information that is attached to it. There are two distinct differences between the two types of codes. One is that you can connect additional data with QR code. The second reason is that users don't require an additional device to scan these codessimply a smartphone camera will suffice.
Note: If you need to create a QR code, use a free QR code generator for a quick and easy solution.
What Can a QR Code Do?
Marketers can make use of QR codes to initiate a vast array of actions. This includes:
Check out a website or a landing page
Visit a profile on a social media site
Dial a phone number
You can send an email, text or a message
Check out a special offer or send a message
Check out a Google Maps location
In addition, the process of creating and using codes does not require special tools or technical knowledge. You can generate one with the QR code creator. You can also create dynamic codes, and modify the information that is linked to them without altering the code itself.
How to Use QR Codes for Mobile Marketing?
The above uses may provide you with a good concept regarding how QR codes could help you with any mobile-based marketing strategy. Let's delve deeper now.
You've probably seen the Burger King "QR Whopper" giveaway TV commercial. In the commercial the code was floating across the screen. After scanning the code you'll be taken to their website, from where you could use coupons to purchase a complimentary Whopper.
There are a variety of ways to utilize these codes to market. Let's explore a few of them.
Include QR Codes on Product Packaging
If you offer physical products, the packaging of your product will likely be the final touchpoint with your customer. The majority of customers will purchase your product, discard the packaging and forget about your brand in the future. This is why there is no customer retention. In reality, the retail industry ranks amongst the worst retention rates (63 percent).
QR codes can assist you to transform your packaging for your products into a catalyst for engagement and retention of customers. You can place a QR code on your packaging and connect it to your social media account. This will allow you to invite your customers to join you on social media and build an ongoing relationship with them.
Get Users to Download Your App
With the popularity of mobile phones increasing, companies across all sectors are launching mobile applications to stay in touch with their clients. There are over 4 million mobile applications available within the Google Play Store and App Store. It's clear that getting people to download your application isn't simple.
QR codes can help increase the number of downloads you can get for your mobile application. If you own an outlet that is physically located that you are able to use, you can put an QR code on your store and connect it to the download link for your app. Starbucks is the world's largest coffee retailer, employs this method to increase app downloads and advertise its latest line of coffee-related products.
Apps can help promote loyalty programs and increase engagement, which can improve retention of customers and increase loyalty.
Share Memorable Experiences
QR codes can transform an ordinary experience into something exciting and memorable. Museums have used QR codes to provide the information on-demand about the exhibited artifacts. It is possible to adopt the same strategy to boost the engagement of your customers.
If you're a travel company which wants to market the latest vacation package. It's possible to put a QR code in your brochure and then connect it to a video of your clients having a blast after purchasing the package.
Gamification is another way to increase the engagement of users. For instance, you could connect a code to an online quiz and offer users the opportunity to earn a small reward for completing the test. These are key in ensuring retention.
Encourage Users to Leave Reviews
We can't emphasize enough how important consumer reviews are. Up to 90% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. Positive reviews show the quality of your services and are a sign of trustworthiness and credibility. But getting your customers to write reviews isn't simple.
QR code codes can make this task much easier. With QR codes you can make it simple and easy for customers to write reviews. It is possible to include QR codes on the packaging of your products or on your store's shelves and connect them to the review page. Reviewers who leave reviews may be recognized for their time and effort, thereby improving the perception of your brand.
Yelp is a review-publishing website that utilizes QR codes to gather reviews from its users.
Enhance Your OOH Advertising Efforts
Despite the explosion in digital advertising, out-of-home (OOH) advertising is here to stay and is only growing. Companies like Nike, Walmart and Domino's are all using OOH advertising to build the visibility of their brands and expand their audience.
There are two disadvantages to OOH advertising.
It's not the first time it's not inspiring the user to take action. Someone sees your advertisement and is interested. Now what? How do you turn that potential customer into a buyer? Many companies have the phone number on their billboards. However, most people don't get their phones out to open their phone apps and dial a number.
Second, OOH advertising isn't trackable. It's impossible to figure how many people were able to see your billboard or went to your store following that. It's impossible to track the return of your advertisements which is a significant problem, especially since OOH advertising is very expensive.
QR codes solve both of these problems. By placing a QR code on your billboard you can invite people to act. For instance, if your business is a salon it is possible to place a QR code on your billboard and connect it to an appointment booking site. The users can scan the code to access the page and make an appointment.
Additionally, QR codes are incredibly easily tracked. You can gain insight into the number of times your code was scanned and what devices were utilized. You can also connect the QR software to Google Analytics to get more important data.
Walmart is the world's largest retailer and has used QR codes to promote the Virtual Toy Store campaign.
Why You Should Use QR Codes for Mobile Marketing
There are many reasons to include QR codes into mobile strategies for marketing. They include:
Cost-effective: You can make use of QR codes for no cost. Most QR code generators do not charge for creating simple QR codes. While dynamic QR codes are available at the cost of a small amount however, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Simple: QR codes are ideal for consumers and marketers. They are easy to design and require no costly equipment or expertise. They can be scanned using their smartphone camera without the need for any special software.
It is versatile: You can utilize QR codes virtually everywhere. Packaging for products in stores and OOH advertising materials are just a handful of instances. They also serve many functions, like driving traffic to websites and social media or sharing information, as well as getting reviews.
Measurable and Trackable: Using QR codes, you'll be able to cut out the guessing game in your OOH marketing campaigns. They can be tracked and measured, which allows you to know the effectiveness of your campaigns in every area.
Environment-Friendly: QR codes require no additional resources like paper or electricity. You can incorporate them into your marketing materials. They are also long-lasting; one QR code will be used by your company for a long time.
Competitive Advantage: A lot of businesses aren't aware of the advantages of marketing with QR codes. If you're the first to adopt, you will benefit from a major competitive advantage and differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack.
Wrapping Up
Marketing with QR codes is on the rise in the last few years, and it's just the beginning. As more companies realize the advantages of marketing using QR code marketing, it could possibly be the next major trend in the world of mobile marketing.
If you're looking to bridge the gap between offline and online in your marketing campaigns and improve their effectiveness QR codes are beneficial to your marketing and advertising strategy.
