Magazines Use of QR Codes Explodes in 2011

admin    QR Codes     2011, magazines, QR Codes, stats

The use of qr codes in magazines increased by 5 times in 2011.  The qr code enhancement seems ideally suited to the medium of magazines.

Magazines embrace QR Codes

Why have magazines kept pace while the newspaper industry seems doomed?  One of the factors that could be driving the feature-oriented magazines is that they don’t need to be as timely as the breaking news of the newspaper.  And, there’s simply no way that a print newspaper can keep up with the other more timely mediums of today.

Magazines became an increasingly important part of the growth of QR Codes last year.  It simply makes sense.  By adding a QR Code to a weekly or monthly print publication, the magazine can remain timely.  That’s because all you need to do is to change the content on the back end of the QR Code and you are now just as timely as the internet.

A survey of the top 100 circulation magazines in the United States found that mobile bar codes use by magazines climbed from 352 in the first quarter issues to 1,899 in the fourth quarter during 2011.

How to Put a QR Code on Your Business Cards

admin    QR Codes     Bob Bentz, business card, business cards, custom QR Code, QR Code, QR Codes

Bob Bentz's business card contains a custom qr code.

Business cards are getting a bit old fashioned. In fact, the day may come in the not too distant future when business cards are obsolete. For now, however, business cards remain a vital part of doing business. If you’ve ever attended a trade show, you know what I mean. I keep waiting for somebody to say that they don’t have a business card, but so far that has never occurred to me.

It is important, however, that you maximize the value of your business card. There is limited space on the business card so maybe it’s time to get rid of your fax number and other things that are truly no longer relevant in the business world.

Replace that space with an interactive QR Code. A QR Code shows that you are an up-to-date businessperson that knows that most savvy people today know how to scan a QR Code with their smartphone.

We recommend creating a Custom QR Code. A Custom QR Code on a business card can show your personality and makes your card stand out from the rest of the pack. Our apples-to-apples study shows that Custom QR Codes get 2.3 times greater scan rates than ordinary black & white QR Codes. In fact, after my recent trip to the CTIA Show, I noticed that my QR Code on my business card had been scanned a whopping 56 times!

Of course, if you’ve been reading about QR Codes, you know that there are numerous problems in the execution of this relatively new mobile marketing tool. Most important is that marketers are using them to simply send a scanner to a website that isn’t even optimized for mobile; this is truly a poor user experience and gives the user limited value. It is best to send the scanner to some unique and creative content. Video is a great choice.

Other people using QR Codes on business cards are using them to share contact details. There are numerous kinds of software on the web that enable you to download your contact details onto the scanner’s cell phone. This isn’t a bad idea, but I want to get the scanner’s information too. Moreover, I’ve included a text message marketing tool (Text BOB to 84444) if all they want is my contact details in digital format. That’s why my Custom QR Code sends them to my LinkedIn page. Once they LinkIn with me, I’ll have them in marketing database forever.

QR Codes for Nightclubs

admin    QR Codes     nightclubs, QR Codes, text message marketing

Brownie’s 23 East is a nightclub that caters to the college crowd in the western suburbs of Philadelphia.  Each night, it entertains college students from St. Joseph’s University, Cabrini, and Villanova.

The nightclub uses a custom QR Code from Advanced Telecom Services.  When customers scan the qr code on their smartphones, they go to the mobile microsite that Advanced Telecom Services has built for them.  The microsite for Brownie’s includes information on specials, upcoming bands, and mobile coupons.  It also allows users to Like their Facebook site.

Brownie’s also uses text message marketing to keep its customers informed about what is going on at the nightclub.  Wednesday is a big night for Brownie’s and they regularly send out broadcast text messages on Wednesday afternoons.  To join the Brownie’s text club, text BROWNIES to 84444.

Brownie's 23 East uses a custom qr code, embedded with their logo, to drive customers to its mobile website.

How Mobile Consumers Want to Receive Coupons

admin    mobile coupons, QR Codes, Text Message Marketing     mobile coupons, QR Codes, text message

While most mobile users still prefer to receive coupons via e-mail, there is a growing trend among consumers that wish to receive mobile coupons via text message or via QR Codes.

Business Report: Mobile Marketing Tactics for 2012

admin    Mobile Apps, mobile marketing, Mobile Web Sites, Text Message Marketing     apps, apps development, mobile websites, QR Codes, sms marketing, text message marketing

Business executives are interested in many aspects of mobile marketing, according to a just released study by AT&T.  The executives showed the most interest (43%) in developing mobile apps.  Mobile bar codes, or QR Codes, also showed great interest among the businesspersons (41%).  Of course, if you are using a QR Code, you had better have it lead to a proper mobile website and 35% have interest in developing a mobile version of their website.  Text message marketing was also of great interest to the business owners.

How To Use a QR Code

admin    QR Codes     how to use, QR Codes, scan

QR Codes have been the darling of the marketing world for the past quarter.  This story from CBS News gives the basics of a QR Code, how to scan a QR Code, and how magazines can use QR Codes.

JC Penney Uses Innovative QR Code Promotion

admin    QR Codes     ats, ATSqrcode.com, JC Penney, QR Codes

J.C. Penney is providing an innovative use of QR Codes for the holiday season.  There is no doubt that QR Codes are everywhere this Christmas season.

In fact, a very similar application was done by Advanced Telecom Services back in 1990. Let’s say the grandkids sent flowers to Grandma. The grandkids would record a message on a 900 number. When Grandma received the flowers, she would call an 800 number to listen to the message from the grandkids.

Video: Custom QR Codes

admin    QR Codes     custom QR Code, custom QR codes, QR Code, QR Codes

Regional Sales Manager Scott Bronenberg discusses Custom QR Codes and why you should be using a Custom QR Code rather than an ordinary QR Code in your marketing and promotion.