QR codes are the new age two dimensional barcodes that can be easily scanned and accessed through all modern smart-phones. While this system has been around for the last decade, businesses are only now realizing its true potential and are still in the process of discovering the various areas in which it can be employed to scale up one’s own business.

If you are able to make good use of this system, you can do wonders to enhance the reach of your e-commerce business. Here are some guidelines on how.

1.      Curiosity Kills the Cat:

If you have seen a QR code before, you will know that it is encrypted. If you display it attractively along with your marketing communications, you are bound to attract some attention and curiosity which will motivate the viewer to scan the code just to check where it leads to. This will lead them to the landing page that you intend them to go on, even though they wouldn’t probably have visited your website or registration form otherwise, in a regular setting.

There are still a number of people who would scan your code to check how this coding system works. To be able to make your code a lot more appealing, you can customize it by adding an encrypted image that is similar to your logo or any such element that represents your business.

2.      Acquiring Database Lists

You can make effective use of QR codes that route users to pages where they can register their information for further engagement and communication. You can capture cell phone numbers and email addresses through an automated system that allows you to segment your contact lists for future communication.

The fact that you received this information from a code scan, means that there are higher chances of these users to be sufficiently tech savvy and receptive to online and email marketing.

Also, those you scan QR codes are likely to be very active on several social media platforms. You could also route your visitors to your Facebook page and coax them to “like” your page. You could create a parallel platform from engagement which further motivates them to keep coming back.

3.      Effectiveness of Print Media

Imagine the potential this system poses for you to track how effective your offline marketing communications strategy is. You can print the code on your print communication and test its effectiveness depending on the traffic that is driven into your online media. Though this may not be the true representative of your numbers, it will be enough for you to gauge its effectiveness.

4.      Connecting your Offline World with Your Online World

If you wish to boost your customer base from your brick and mortar shops to your ecommerce website, you can make user QR codes by printing them at relevant points across the store and motivating them to purchase the same products from the online counterparts. You can combine these codes with relevant offers that play a motivating role.

If applied in the right manner and extent, as an ecommerce website, you will be able to truly optimize the features of this innovative coding system for the benefit of online business promotions.

It is believed that one in every 5 mobile users today, own a smart phone. The surge in use of iPhones, Blackberry’s and Android handsets has made the web a much for accessible place. In this day and age, with users accessing more information on smaller screens, it is important that you do everything you can to reach out to these audiences and make their user experience on your web portal as comfortable as possible irrespective of the tools they choose to use for the purpose of accessing your web pages.

1. Effective Mobile Website Development will help ensure delivery of quality browsing experiences for those who access your website on their handsets.
2. A mobile optimized website helps you provide easy navigation for users thus ensuring they are privy to all the relevant content you wish them to have access of.
3. Your desktop based website is bound to consist of more images, content and features that are compatible to bigger screens and desktop browsers. When a person is accessing your website on their phones, considering the downloading speeds, it may take longer for the audience to load a web page that is fully loaded with all these elements. An effective mobile website development exercise focuses creating a minimalistic mobile friendly design that serves the same functions as its desktop counterpart and also maintains the integrity of the brand that it is representing.
4. If you get creative with your mobile website development initiative, you will be able to effectively incorporate phone specific features such as direct calling facilities, and synchronization with Google maps features etc.,
5. Note that mobile based search engine rankings vary from those of their desktop counterparts. Just because you have a high ranking on a desktop based search engine, it does not mean the same for the mobile website. The more user friendly your website, the more people frequent it from their smart phones and consequently, the higher will be your rankings.

It would be foolish for any business who wishes to make it big on the internet to ignore this large market which needs to be catered to on the go.

With the splurge of smart phone ownership around the world, mobile marketing has become an integral part of any successful online as well as offline marketing campaign. Marketers must not ignore all the mobile users who now have direct access to the web, their emails and even social media pages on the go.

Modern technology has made it possible for marketers to connect their offline audiences to the online world. QR codes are a popular bar coding system which stores all kinds of data such as links to websites, social media pages, customer care contacts, user manuals and even in-store promotion codes for the benefit of their audiences.

Users of smart phones are easily able to make use their camera features to scan these codes and gain access to a world of information that the brand or organization chooses to put forth to the target audiences.

QR codes are versatile and can be used satisfy multiple marketing needs of any organizations. Today, businesses choose to link their blogs, registration forms, and even websites through QR codes. You will commonly find them printed on print advertisements, business cards, menu cards, bills, bus sides, hoardings and now even television ads.

A factor to keep in mind is that any link that you share with audiences through this code must be mobile friendly. It does not make sense if the person is not able to view your content on their mobile screens. Not only are you risking loss on interest towards your communications but also risking them bad mouthing you because it is most likely their first interaction with your organization and their impression of you depends on this.

You can further mobilize you marketing by integrating your social media marketing efforts with these QR codes. You can coax people to scan the code and take them to a “like” page on Facebook. You could also implement innovative promotions by asking people to scan the codes at a point of sale or billing counter, which gives them access to discounts etc. this exercise is also beneficial when you wish to build consumer databases.

QR codes offer unlimited potential to mobile your marketing initiatives provided you are up for the challenge of innovation.

With large number of cell phone users now opting to purchase smart phones, QR Code as a concept are catching on equally fast. Most smart phones today have the capability to install scanning applications that give users access to the information stored in the code, make it a revolutionary tool for business today.

This technology as off today is highly used for marketing and promotions across sectors especially in the music, film and brand marketing. Obviously, QR code present many more opportunities towards business growth.

What Else can be done?

Consider the advantages of a concise coding system that can be easily created and printed to share information with anyone who has a phone with a camera in it. Now think of all the information that can stored inside this little space and its implications in every business function ranging from inventory management, production management, operations and logistics, marketing and promotions, and even finance.

These codes can be easily printed on your business cards, brochures, advertisements, product packaging, point of sales receipts etc. In addition to its implications in the marketing function, businesses have been able to employ them effectively for a number of other functions for the sake of promoting efficiency, productivity, cost cutting and eco-friendly business practices. For example, a number of airline companies are testing the use of QR codes as digital boarding passes thus delivering all the afore mentioned qualities in their business.

Other businesses are using these codes as an effective way to drive traffic to the company’s social networking pages or official websites thus creating another engagement platform with existing and potential clients.

A Mistake that can be Avoided

In spite of the fact that this technology has been in use in Japan for over 10 years now, to the world it is relatively new. Everybody is excited about the potential it has aiding in business growth, yet an extremely common error that companies make is that they tend to link users to their websites that are not customized to mobile navigation. Everyone knows that a user experience of a website when accessed on a PC, tablet and smart phone can be extremely different. A company will not only be risking their credibility by directing users to a website that is not easy to navigate on the mobile phone, but also risking the loss of a potential client who is unlikely to return to your website on a later date.

Before implementing the QR code to drive your SEO initiative, make sure that your website is customized to mobile websites.

What are QR Code?

Short for Quick Response Codes, QR code were first created in Japan, and are typically used to store and share information. This is mainly done with the help of readers that are now commonly available on most smart phones around the world.

Today, QR code can be found everywhere, in magazine advertisements, web pages, flyers, business cards etc. Through this barcode system, one can communicate to all mobile using audience information that is relevant to your business and marketing objectives.

Many businesses choose to share information such as links to their company websites, user manuals, registration pages, trailers to movies etc through this coding system.

Why are QR Code so Important?

The primary reason behind their fast increasing popularity as a coding system is the simple fact that they can store a lot more information and data compared to the conventional barcode. Another benefit it offers is high reach that is possible because of the ability of smart phone users to easily scan the code without the requirement of any chunky hand-held scanner.

How can Marketers take advantage of this Coding System?

There are unlimited possibilities that are presented to marketers by this coding system. Simply printing a QR code on your business card can let the receivers instantly browse through your company website or catalogue on their smart phones. Printing them on packaging can help you electronically share information in terms of customer relationship, user guides, and legal disclaimers.

Internet marketing specialists are relying on the fact the most major search engines will in the future start recognize QR codes and segregate search results based on that criteria. That again opens up a number of doors in terms on search marketing.

QR codes help bridge the gap between offline and online marketing by giving easy access to its offline audience to information that is online. Not only has this proven to be a cost-effective medium of mass communication, but is has evidently done wonders to the search engine optimization exercise by effectively routing offline traffic to relevant web pages.

Effective implementation of QR code can help marketers efficiently share information pertaining to details of product, contact details, short-term and long-term promotional offers, information on ongoing or future events, and even link audiences to social networking websites, etc.

QR Code is no doubt a revolutionary tool to engage audiences and drive traffic towards platforms that provide relevant information. Marketers today must not miss the bus and take maximum advantage of its features!

Building a successful website is a great lesson to learn because it is more than uploading web pages and submitting queries to search engine optimization. For creating a successful website, a careful thought, website design, promotion and marketing strategy should be well planned. This planning will ensure the success of your website. Planning a website is similar to decorating a house or arranging a store, in that you need to figure out exactly where everything should be placed and how your potential customers will find each item or service you offer.

Your website needs to give several features to the customers. In the beginning you should allow people to get comfortable with your site, as they can find everything easily. When planning a website, remember the following thing:

1. Decide your goals and purpose for the website.
2. Think concisely while creating and writing web content.
3. Create a site map that includes all the content that you want to appear on your website.
4. Don’t use colours and background that are difficult for the eyes, for example dark blue print against black background.
5. Don’t use a lot of high tech introductions.
6. Include a search feature for products and services.
7. Make sure that all hyperlinks work properly.

Those websites that allow users to search have a better chance of holding user interest for a longer period of time. Users like the one-click option to find what they are looking for.