retweet Is Your Business Code A Secret?
Buffer
344470ndvg4685f Is Your Business Code A Secret?

Ye ol' barcode

It has landed and it is spreading like a virus, OMG!  It’s replacing faces on Facebook!

It’s showing up on newsletters, packaging boxes and promotional ads………it’s almost everywhere!

With this going viral and  names like ‘RedLaser’, ‘Roundup’, ‘Sharesquare’…. is it time to make hats out of Aluminum foil to protect ourselves from Alien invasion?

Nothing quite so sinister………….Just the latest hot gadget for those innovative  advertisers to morph themselves into a “Square-2-share” and “Round-U-up”with “red-hot-laser” speed and efficiency.  The Goal?  Get their link or contact info in  your smart phone and a little closer to your wallet!

It’s the QR Code!

But what is it, exactly? What does it do? And more importantly, how can it benefit your business?

What is a QR Code?

A QR (Quick Response) code is essentially a barcode with spots instead of the traditional bars. By scanning the codes, you can access images, websites and text. By creating the codes and producing your own messages  you can connect to your Mobile web presence to the offline world.

When scanned with a smartphone, it causes the phone to load data. If the data is a URL, that web page opens on the phone.  It looks like this:

qr code blogTrainingOptin Is Your Business Code A Secret?

Opt-in Form

It’s usually just as simple as taking a picture!

This is the data it can deliver:

  1. URLs: It opens the webpage on your phone
  2. SMS: Sends a message through text messaging. This feature is not as commonly used because many people don’t have an SMS package and will be charged for it)
  3. TEXT: just a plain short message that appears in your phone.
  4. CONTACT INFORMATION: The contact info is delivered straight to the contacts file in your smart phone, allowing you to save it, with all the info in the correct fields. If you’d like to have our contact info in your phone, please scan here:

qr code TangoContact Info Is Your Business Code A Secret?

In order to scan it, you’ll need an qr-reading app in your smartphone.

WhereTo Get The  Scanner App:

Android: Barcode Scanner

iPhone: Neoreader, Optiscan

Blackberry: Upcode, Beetagg

Palm: QR deCODEr

Or search for it in your app world or market.

Ok great, so now we know how it works but, what can it do for my business?

What a QR Code can do for your business:

Let’s say your business comes up when you are out shopping or you are in a meeting and you have everyone’s card but your own in your pocket, someone  wants a look at your website or to swap contact info. If your website is so long  (like ours) it won’t fit on a restaurant napkin or you don’t have the time…. what do you do?

You whip out your QR code from your wallet or your own phone and let them scan it, and Zap….. they are on your website and have your contact info!

If we were talking to somebody about our social media services, we would have them scan this:

qr code tangoservices e1303514306555 Is Your Business Code A Secret?

If you own a brick and mortar business, for example, a restaurant. You could have a sign that says “Find us in Facebook”, hoping  your customers will remember to do that when they get home and actually find our page …..

… rather than take a chance on that, simply put your qr code where your customers can easily scan it, place mat, menu or table tent and while they are waiting, you will be adding FB fans, right then and there!

And last but not least, you are a network marketer building your list, and somebody is interested in receiving more information by signing up for your newsletter.  They can scan the qr code which will direct them to your opt-in form, just like the one you have in your blog! They would fill it out, submit it  and your autoresponder would start sending them your messages right away. Isn’t it fantastic?

How to generate your qr code

We have used this free tool to generate the qr codes you see on this page. (Our Lead generation Members Club offers this free-to-use qr code generator)

You’ll have to decide what webpage you’ll send people who scan the qr code.

If you want to use it for your opt-in form with Aweber (don’t know if other autoresponders have that feature), then these are the steps:

  1. Either create a new webform or click on the name of one you’re currently using.
  2. Once open, go to the “Publish” tab and click on “have Aweber host my form”
  3. Copy and paste the link there to the qr code generator
  4. And you’re done!

Once you have your qr code, the uses are  many! We recommend though, to use it offline mostly. Why? While you can share your code as an image on the web, on a computer, it’s easier to just click a link than to scan the image with a phone.

So you’re better off printing your code and keeping it on hand for cases like those conversations mentioned above.

Want some ideas on where to print them?

  • buttons
  • stickers
  • pins
  • temporary tattoos
  • postcards
  • business cards
  • mugs
  • keychains
  • magnets
  • tote bags
  • mouse pads
  • notepads
  • and many many more!
If you’re looking for more ideas or just want to design your own, these are 2 websites you can check out:

Is  QR code marketing the next overstated solution to endless leads and rivers of revenue or the perfect shortcut to connect all the offline/online marketing ‘dots’? As with all marketing ….test, test and analyze the results.

To help us in our testing – scan this:

qr code FBSMfanpage e1303522818784 Is Your Business Code A Secret?

FB page

And if you enjoyed this article, let your friends on FB know with a LIKE!

468494616E20BECD27A3FDFB87EDB4A0 Is Your Business Code A Secret?

pic of us small Is Your Business Code A Secret?

Follow us in Twitter —> Tim And Sole

Check out our FB Fan Page —> Tim & Sole’s Steps to Social Media Success

Image: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Buffer

No related posts.