Just like the wardrobe in Narnia can take someone to another world, so can QR codes. They take the reader from a piece of paper or print material to the online space where the entire brand unfolds.
QR codes are an immediate way to combine print ads and digital in one easy scan. As a marketer, you want all your ads to be fast, easy and engaging. Adding a QR code is one of the fastest ways to bridge all three. So, how does adding QR codes to print boost digital presence? To show you, we’re going to explore the history of QR codes, how to use them and more.
These days, QR codes are more common than ever. Short for “Quick response” codes, QR codes have been around for years, but early technology was clunky and required you to download a special app. Frankly, people really didn’t understand how to use them, so their potential went unfulfilled.
When the pandemic happened, QR codes took a steady uphill turn, and phones evolved to having genuinely fast, easy QR code readers as a basic, built-in accessory. That way, people could distance themselves from germ-ridden menus in restaurants and access digital spaces more easily. Even after the pandemic came to an end, restaurants, breweries and other retailers kept up with the trend because it was just easier.
With QR codes in place, consumers could peruse menus in Portland at their own pace, access promos, sign up for rewards and more. Information could be viewed in seconds without leftover food being crusted over on the menus. It was fun, easy and completely in the consumer’s control. Since then, built-in reader apps have been here to stay, and numerous retailers have gained a recipe for success.
Oddly, it took a pandemic to get America’s consumers on board using this powerful marketing technology. The public became acclimated to using QR codes, and the trend became popular for marketers around the globe to guide consumers along the buyer’s journey.
Now, marketers who aren’t utilizing QR codes are being left in the dust.
So, what should you do with a QR code to enhance your marketing campaigns? Well, let’s remember the primary application of QR codes: to give readers quick and easy access to your digital world. Once you understand your consumer’s motivations, it becomes easier to understand how to use QR codes to your advantage in print marketing.
QR codes bridge the gap between print media and the web. They supercharge your print advertising effectiveness by taking away the delay involved when someone sees something of interest. Instead of waiting until later to peruse a company’s website, they get immediate gratification when they want to access more information.
Want to learn how to maximize QR codes and enhance your marketing? Here are a few guidelines to amplify the results you get from QR codes:
Add the QR code link directly on the page that correlates to whatever you’re advertising. For example, if you are an auto service center advertising brake jobs, don’t send them to your home page. Send them directly to the scheduling page so they can book an appointment. If you are a grocery store advertising your quality, grass-fed beef, send them to the page on your site that explains why your beef is special. Don’t make mobile users have to navigate all over your site. Direct them exactly where your ad specifies, and give them information for what they’re looking for.
The point of incorporating QR codes in your print is to improve your conversions. You can tell the story in print. Then, when they scan the code, take them to a place where you can get a win. That can be any number of things. Maybe you send them to a special landing page, capture an email so you can include them in your content marketing campaigns or get them to submit a quote request. The options are endless, but ultimately, all get something from the user.
For example, there was a sandwich shop flyer where they dropped a QR code that brought the consumer right to their order screen. No apps to download or complicated navigation. Just boom, and you’re there. It was so easy. You want the process to be as quick and seamless as possible. The fewer steps there are, the more quickly your consumer can go from point A to point B without any holdups.
Nothing is more captivating than when a prospect is holding something tangible in their hands. They are engaging with it physically and seeing what you want them to see. Don’t lose them by making them search for you on the web, where they can see your competition. When you use a QR code, you bypass all of that. They only ever see you—and that’s the whole point, right?
QR codes can be a powerful addition to your multichannel marketing program. Use them effectively, and watch your web traffic grow and your sales increase.
Are you hoping to integrate a QR code in your next print campaign? We would be happy to help. With years spent in the direct mail industry, we know just what it takes to get your brand noticed. Just scan our code below now. Hold your phone up to the screen and take a picture with your phone. (Reading this on your phone? Just click the image)
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Portland, OR 97230
