What Are QR Codes and Why You Would Want One for Your Business

Quick Response codes or QR codes have actually been around for years, they are new unless you are in the United States. The American Business World is just now beginning to understand the value of QR codes. And, boy are we excited about what we are seeing!

QR codes are basically a Bar Code. Everyone knows what a Bar Code is but these bar codes have nothing to do with checking out at the local WalMart. They are all about Marketing and growing customer base. They are about traffic in the door and to the website. They are about making more money!

So here is the gist. How many people have smart phones these days? Unless you have been under a rock (sorry not borrowed from Geico ad) how could you possibly miss that millions of people have smart phones. And along with smart phones comes apps and cool features. One of those features is the ability to scan, swipe or photo a QR code.

When someone with a smart phone takes a picture or scans a QR code, one of many things can happen:

1) They might be taken directly to your website (yes, right on their phone)

2) They might receive a coupon (bring this code to our shop and get a 20% discount)

3) They might receive your phone number and automatically load into their contacts

4) They might get a text message

And on and on. Now think about it. As a business owner, what value would that have on your bottom line?

You are probably not convinced because you have not seen the QR codes out there. I was at the same place, but it's just like deciding to buy a great car, all of sudden you see hundreds of the same car on the road.

When I first heard about QR codes, I had never seen one. That afternoon I was pumping gas (yes, I pump my own gas), I happened to look up and right there over the gas pump was a QR code! I quickly grabbed my phone and scanned it. Voila! I received a message stating "Thank you for shopping with us. Bring this message in on your next visit and get 20% back on your purchase"!

All I could think at the time was, cool, I will come back for my 20% off. Since then, I have seen (and scanned) QR codes on Real Estate signs, newspaper ads, at the local fast food and pizza restaurants and even at the coffee shop I frequent. QR codes are hot, but more than that, they are effective.

Customers who respond to your mobile marketing become loyal customers. The reason for this is actually very simple. They feel connected to the business who engages them electronically. I truly believe this is because in today's high tech world, when a customer feels engaged, or connected, they consider it very personal. People miss the local community feeling of businesses, they miss being known and recognized when they walk in the door. Mobile marketing, or as I like to refer to it, mobile connecting, brings back some of those feelings.

If you have not yet gotten into the Mobile Marketing world, as a business owner, it is time to do it. There has never been a better time to be on the cutting edge. Take the steps immediately to implement this means of marketing into your business plan. You will be hugely grateful that you did.

But, one word of warning before you run out and grab a code. Everyone is getting on the bandwagon with QR codes. People are charging enormous sums for QR codes and the management of the codes. Well, more power to them, but the bottom line is, QR codes can actually be free. And, even though they are easy to get, you really do want to hire a professional to handle the process for you. But it should not cost you an arm and a leg. A good QR code marketing company can take care of the process for a small fee and even manage the code by implementing various marketing campaigns with either the same code or multiple codes. This in itself can be very time-consuming. Do it right from the beginning and you will find QR code marketing is an amazing addition to your business.

To your unstoppable marketing success...

Wanda Grindstaff is a recognized leader in the Entrepreneurial / Marketing arena. As a speaker, event leader and author, she is sought by many to assist and mentor in major marketing events.

As the author of the forthcoming book: "The Ultimate Traffic Explosion" she is growing her business (Crystal Coast Media Group) in the Brick and Mortar Marketing Field. She is shaking up the industry as she teaches entrepreneurs to see the many cost effective options available in the online and store front business world.

Feel free to contact Wanda Grindstaff with any feedback or questions.

Wanda@CrystalCoastMediaGroup.com
http://CrystalCoastMediaGroup.com
http://CrystalCoastMediaGroup.com/blog