Social media/social networking and QR codes go very well together… if they are used correctly.   The 5 part series, How to Market Your Business with QR Codes,  provides the tools you need in order to market your business correctly.  If you need to start from the beginning, click here to read part 1 of this series - QR Codes on Business Cards.

This is part 4 of our 5 part series on how to use QR codes to market your business.  This series is for marketing professionals of small businesses or for anyone who wants to learn how to use QR codes for marketing purposes. If you are currently using social networking as a means for marketing your business or if you are considering using social networking, then there is value in this article for you.

 How to Add a Video to a QR Code

Follow these steps to add a YouTube video to your QR code:

Step 1. Go to YouTube and copy the URL of the video that you want to your QR code to point to.

Step 2.  Create your QR code by clicking this link (opens up in a new window so you can continue following these instructions)

Step 3.  After completing the form, click the button labeled, Create My QR Code!  Now you are ready to start promoting your business with 2d barcodes and a You Tube video!  Just think of the possibilities and the power of engaging with potential customers using social media (You Tube) and mobile bar codes.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about the power of using QR Codes with Social Media – You Tube Videos

Social Networking with QR Codes

 
Social networking with QR codes can prove to be very powerful for your business. As mentioned in the podcast, I attached my QR code to a You Tube video and got an awesome response to it! Go ahead, give it a try, it doesn’t cost anything and it is a very effective way to engage with your customers, existing and potential.
 

Get access to additional resources for NFC, QR Codes, and mobile technology.

This is part 4 of the 5 Part Series, “How to Use QR Codes for Your Business.” Click here to see Part 5 of this series.

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This is part 3 of a 5 part series on how to promote your business with QR codes.  If you missed the first two parts, you can start by reading QR Codes on Business Cards to learn how to create business opportunities and engage with potential customers with mobile barcodes.  The information provided in this 5 part series about marketing your business can be used by small businesses as well as marketing professionals of large to mid-sized businesses.

Marketing Real Estate with QR Codes

Part three of this series focuses on marketing real estate including real estate agents.  A number of real estate agencies market their properties using traditional methods such as flyers, billboards, yard signs, and print advertising.  Some have included SMS messaging to provide information to potential home buyers.  These traditional methods are great, but there is another way to engage potential home buyers… yes, you guessed it, QR codes!

QR codes are an awesome way to engage with potential home buyers because the agent can do more with it than a traditional method alone.  Using 2d codes in conjunction with print advertising can be a marketing juggernaut for real estate.  This is because mobile barcodes allow agents to really engage a customer with the property by allowing them to “experience” the product (home) at their convenience via their mobile device.  If you are wondering if QR codes are here to stay or just a passing fad take a look at these statistics:

• According to Scanlife, barcode scanning grew 1600% in 2010!
• Over 1 in 2 smartphone owners who have the app scanned a QR code in the past month! (Asking Canadians)
• 85% of people who scanned a barcode would recommend it to a friend. (Asking Canadians)

Listen to this podcast about marketing real estate, then watch the video!

Watch the video to learn more about marketing real estate with QR codes

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The post Mobile Marketing with QR Codes appeared first on MSLE.

Mobile marketing with QR codes is a must in the upcoming years.  The growth of smartphone sales and QR code scans is happening fast and if you have not started using mobile bar codes, as I have said before, you should strongly consider it.  I created a series of articles to help provide ideas on how you can integrate QR codes into your marketing plan.  This is Part 1 of a 5 part series on ways that you can use QR codes to market your business.

Let’s begin with something we are all familiar with… business cards.

I think it would be safe to say that most marketing professionals use business cards as a tool to market themselves.  But, are business opportunities slipping by because your business card looks like all of the others?   There is a service that has been created for marketing professionals that want to separate themselves from others and to allow for prospects to actually engage with their brand as opposed to just looking at a business card and putting it with the rest of the “stack.”

Listen to the podcast to learn all about how professionals network using QR codes on their business cards using WeAllScan.com

We All Scan is a service for business professionals who want to stand out from their competition and get more business opportunities.

We All Scan is the QR Code service for Professionals who are serious about business. Here’s why:

• We All Scan provides profiles web pages and accompanying QR Codes so you can put them on your business cards and reach a broader audience
• We All Scan allows your business cards to work for you 24/7 by making your business cards interactive and smart.
• We All Scan is a high-tech, easy to use business lead generator!
• We All Scan allows you to be steps ahead of your competition. You will get lots more interaction and leads with your we all scan QR code on your business card.
• We All Scan turns your business card into a live web page by allowing you to share more information about your business including your very own YouTube video.

Scan the QR code for Professionals

The best part of all of this is that it doesn’t cost anything to market like a professional.  Just a few seconds of your time…you can even use them on your social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.  I am a premium subscriber so I have more features such as stats, campaign management, and Contact database.  You can scan my Premium QR code with your smartphone to see my profile…you can even have it sent to your e-mail address.  By including this mobile barcode on your business card, you are increasing the time that someone is exposed,or engaged with your brand.  Why not take advantage of this opportunity and allow for potential clients that scan your code to see a video about your business, obtain their contact information (Premium Feature) to build your contact database, or to allow for them to have your information sent directly to their e-mail address to save time and paper.

We All Scan is for forward thinking marketing who are serious about business and want to separate themselves from the competition.  Listen to the podcast to learn how you can make your business cards “smart” and interactive using the We All Scan QRCode for Business Professionals service – We All Scan QR Codes!.

Now, go to WeAllScan.com and create your professional networking QR code, place it on your website, Facebook page, print it on a business card, or even use it for your Twitter profile picture.

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• How to scan QR codes – Great 30 sec video that shows you how to scan QR codes in 3 simple steps.
• Are you mobile? Your customers are. – Article that explains the importance of having a mobile website.

Is your smartphone ready to scan QR codes? – This article answers the following questions: What are QR codes and what is the best QR Code Reader for my phone?

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This is part 1 of the 5 Part Series, “How to Use QR Codes for Your Business.” Click here to see Part 2 of this series.
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Last year (December 2010) I posted a podcast on Cinch.fm titled, “Are QR codes here to stay?”  I gave my personal thoughts about it and they included the following statements:

• QR codes have been around since 1994
• Japan has integrated QR codes into every day life, i.e. tickets, food, grocery stores
• They are being used in marketing and advertising in overseas countries

Click the play button to listen to the original podcast titled, “Are QR Codes Here to Stay?” recorded in December 2010.

QR Codes in 2011

Now that it is December 2011, it seems that my predictions came true.

Here are some supporting facts about the use of QR codes, also known as Quick Response codes, over the past year (since 2011)

Scan this QR code to answer a poll question about QR codes. Results are displayed instantly.

• Smartphones and data plans have become more affordable.  ATT and Verizon, for example, have lowered their monthly rates for data packages
• Smartphones have outsold desktop computers
• Big brands such as Beat Buy, Ralph Lauren, Frito Lay, Doritos and a host of other nationally and Internationally known brands are using QR codes

There are a number of industries using Quick response codes or mobile barcodes to market their businesses in very creative ways.

For example, Comtactics, a marketing technology firm from Dayton, Ohio, created and patented a customer loyalty platform that utilizes Quick response codes to drive interactive foot traffic to businesses. This same platform is currently being utilized by Montgomery County, Ohio and Cox Media Group Ohio.

Toys R Us, Target and other major brands are using quick response codes with print advertising as a way to engage with potential and existing customers.

National and local newspapers and magazines are seeing the value in using Quick response codes or “mobile barcodes” to interact with customers by providing videos, presentations, and podcasts to further interact with their audience.

Here are some additional stats provided by Comtactics that was done over a 30 day campaign with Montgomery County and Cox Media Group Ohio to support local businesses.

QR code scans activity provided by Comtactics for Buy Local campaign

Marketing with QR Codes in 2012

Designer QR code by Comtactics - Gillette QR Code

Marketing with QR codes in 2012 is should be strongly considered in your marketing plans.  The rate of the use of mobile bar codes in increasing thanks to companies like Best Buy, Frito Lay, Ralph Lauren, and other major brands that have embraced the use of quick response and included them in their marketing, not to mention the positive user response to them.  With there being little to no investment in creating QR codes, and the great benefits of including them in your marketing, you, as a Marketing Professional, should strongly consider including them in your plans for 2012.

Companies will focus on branding their quick response codes to set themselves apart from other businesses that use traditional looking QR codes.  The quick response code in this picture was created by Comtactics and was featured on CNN for having one of the “23 Coolest QR codes.”  It appears as if a Gillette razor is cutting through foam (shaving cream).  Comtactics provides designer/custom QR codes for business of just about any industry.  Visit their website at http://Comtactics.net to learn more about their designer codes and mobile website and marketing services.

Free QR Code Resources for 2012 and Beyond

Here are some resources that I have gathered for you to help you with your QR code marketing plan for 2012.  Click on a link to get started.

Learn how to scan QR codes – Great article to learn how to scan with Android, Blackberry, Windows, Nokia  and other smartphones

Learn how to create QR codes – Article that shows you how to create quick response codes as well as provide a little history and uses on them.

Create QR codes – Free tool that allows you to create your own mobile barcodes for marketing purposes.

WeAllScan.com – Free mobile web page and quick response codes for marketing professionals.  Awesome tool for recruiters, marketing agencies, and colleges and universities.

A little history about Quick Response Codes

Quick response codes are sometimes referred to barcodes, and mobile barcodes.  They are those funny looking squares or boxes that have been popping up on print advertising, products in stores and magazines.  You can can create them for free on our site, http://MobileSiteLinkExchange.com and print them on virtually any printable item.  Click here to learn more about these mobile bar codes.

The post Are QR Codes Here to Stay? appeared first on MSLE.

ThinkFree Office is an app for your Android phone or tablet that allows you to create, view, and edit Powerpoint Presentations. I did a post recently about an application called, ThinkFree Office.  ThinkFree Office is an app for your Android smartphone or table that allows you to create, read, edit Microsoft Powerpoint, Excel, and Microsoft Word documents.

After I did the post about this on my blog, I decided to create my very own Powerpoint presentation using ThinkFree Office.  I did it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab and was done in a matter of minutes.  If you have an Android smartphone or tablet, you can download the HD version of ThinkFree Office from Amazon by clicking this link.

Getting Started with Powerpoint presentation on your Android Smartphone or Tablet

Here are some things that will help you once you download and install ThinkFree Office on your Android smartphone or tablet.

• Have some basic graphics handy on your Android, this includes your logo, pictures and any other commonly used graphics
• Keep your slides to a minimum, keep in mind, this will be created on a smartphone or tablet and you will not have a very large screen to work on.
• Leave room at the bottom of your slides to make up for when it is viewed on a desktop or laptop computer.  When viewing your Powerpoint presenation on your tablet or smartphone, it may look fine in ThinkFree office, but when you open it on your computer, your text may not display because it is cut off on the bottom of your page.

ThinkFree Office Powerpoint Presentation Screenshot

Other than those few things, it was very easy to create my Powerpoint presentation with my Samsung Galaxy Tab.  The Powerpoint presentation that I created was called, “5 Ways to Use QR Codes.”  You can download this informative presentation from this website using the link provided.

Powerpoint Presentation Podcast

I am including a podcast about the Powerpoint presentation that I created using ThinkFree Office.  You can either play it by clicking the play button or download it to your computer or smartphone by clicking the download link.

ThinkFree Office is an awesome tool for viewing Powerpoint presentations, Microsoft Word, Excel and other Microsoft Office documents. Click here to learn more about this Android app for smartphones and tablets.

Create PowerPoint presentations with Samsung Galaxy S 3

Get free audio books on your phone

Learn how to scan QR codes

Creative Marketing idea with Quick Response Codes

Why you need a mobile site – now!

The post @ThinkFree – Create Powerpoint Presentations on your Android : ThinkFree Office. appeared first on MSLE.

The world of the mobile internet is growing everyday. People are using various devices to access the internet: laptop computers, Mobile phones, iPods, iPads, Google/Android powered tablets, and more. Having a presence for your business on the mobile Internet is more important now, than ever. What are you currently using to promote your mobile site? Is it effective? Are you getting traffic?

Get listed in the Mobile directory. Get found on the Mobile Internet!

Getting your information to the fast growing mobile audience easy with this new tool for mobile sites provided by the Mobile Site Link Exchange. Our service helps you to:

• Establish an Internet presence on the fast growing Mobile Internet
• Have a search engine optimized presence (you can provide important keywords and descriptions to help the Mobile Internet to find you easier)
• Increase traffic to your mobile website
• Establish a presence in an environment that is formatted to serve both desktop and mobile devices (iPad, iPod, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows Mobile Phones, etc.

Listen to the podcast to learn more!  

List your business today!

Now that you have listened to the podcast about the new Mobile Site Link Exchange Directory, take the first step to getting more mobile traffic to your mobile site by adding your business to the Mobile Internet friendly mobile site directory.

Learn how to scan QR codes

Creative Marketing idea with Quick Response Codes

Why you need a mobile site – now!

The post New tool to promote and find mobile sites | Mobile Directory. appeared first on MSLE.

Learn how to use ThinkFree Office to create Powerpoint presentations on your tablet. Here’s the situation: It’s Monday at 9 am, and you are in meeting. You receive an e-mail on your Android powered Samsung Galaxy Tab reminding you of a proposal that is due early afternoon. Only to realize that you have another meeting scheduled and will not have time to get back to the office to get to your computer to complete the proposal.

The Solution- Think Free Office

The solution: There is an Android app available called Think Free Office. This Android app allows you to create and edit Microsoft documents including Word, Excel and PowerPoint on your Android tablet! You have the option of including graphics to your documents and presentations as well.

So after you get over the initial shock of having to create a proposal within the next few hours, you realize that you have Think Free Office installed on your Galaxy Tab and begin working on the proposal right after your meeting.

The proposal was turned in on time, your manager is happy because it looks great (you included the businesses logo on all the pages) and you look like a hero because were able to attend your meetings and justify the small investment the company made for your Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Think Free Office even allows you to store and access documents online so you can access them from your computer.

Visit the Android Market and install Think Free Office on your Android powered device.

You can also watch this YouTube video to learn more about ThinkFree Office

Click here to visit ThinkFree Office Online

Part 2 – Learn how to Create a Powerpoint Presentation on Your Android Powered Samsung Galaxy Tab

Click here to read the article on how to create a Powerpoint presentation on your Android.  This post also contains a podcast and link to download a presentation that I created on my Samsung Galaxy Tab!  Check it out.

• How to Create Powerpoint on Samsung Galaxy S3
• Learn how to use NFC on Samsung Galaxy S3
• How to Scan QR Codes with Samsung Galaxy S3

The post @ThinkFree Think Free Office – Awesome Tool for Samsung Galaxy Tab @Samsungtweets appeared first on MSLE.

Scan the QR Code to hear the podcast about QR codes and Real Estate

Looking to use QR codes to market your homes, rentals, timeshares, etc.?  QR real estate is an application that allows you to do it using the latest technology.  Listen to this podcast to learn more! 

Visit their website at real estate on Twitter” href=”http://twitter.com/qrrealestate”>@QRRealEstate for more information.

Click here to listen to the podcast about QR Real Estate on your desktop or mobile device!

You can also get a really good idea about QR codes and real estate marketing in this video created by @QRRealEstate.

QR Codes, also known as Quick Response codes can be used for networking, real estate, business cards, tradeshows… the possibilities are endless.  Click here to see more articles about marketing your business with QR codes.

The post Sneak Peek into QR Real Estate appeared first on MSLE.

“This new Press Release service, also known as QR PR is unique because it targets users of mobile devices. It will make it easier to read press releases without having to wait until you get back to your desktop computer.”

“This gives our customers an instant advantage over other Press Release distribution services because their press releases will be accessible from both desktop and mobile devices,” said Shawntay Fields, Project Director for the Mobile Site Link Exchange. “We have been watching the rise of smartphone sales and according to statistics, the sell of smartphones will exceed the sell of desktop computers by the end of 2011.”

According to Fields, over 40% of the website traffic to the Mobile Site Link Exchange located at http://MobileSiteLinkExchange.com is from mobile devices. She says this is due to the fact that their site is mobile friendly. She says that now, you can read the press release as soon as you get it via social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook or from the Mobile Site Link Exchange.

Mobile Press Release – only from Mobile Site Link Exchange

The new QR Code Press Release Service, called ‘QR PR’ has a large number of benefits for customers. They include:

• metrics for each QR PR Press Release,
• Mobile friendly press release (formatted for viewing on mobile devices),
• inclusion of premium options such as a link to an external website, image, video, pdf, or audio file.
• distribution to top social media channels

QR codes were invented in 1994 in Japan by a company called Denso Wave. They were originally designed for manufacturing purposes. You can download a free QR code reader such as I-nigma, for example, from your phone’s app store. Once installed, you can open the application, place your phone’s camera over the QR code in this article and be taken to a mobile friendly page on our site. Since they have gained popularity, they have beed used for marketing purposes or games such as Comtactics’ “ScanVenger Hunt.”

Comtactics is a multiplatform communications company based in Tech Town in the Dayton Aerospace Hub of Innovation and Opportunity. They have created successful marketing campaigns including, QR Code ScanVenger Hunt, Dayton Art Institute’s interactive art exhibits, Chain Store Age Magazine’s Dynamic Interactive Portal just to name a few. Comtactics focuses on helping businesses communicate with their target audience using traditional and emerging media tactics.

Contact Information
Shawntay Fields
Project Director of Mobile Site Link Exchange
Service@mobilesitelinkexchange.com
937.985.4338

Learn more from our podcast!

Listen to the podcast to learn more about this exciting new service and how it can help grow your businesses exposure click here to listen!

Get access to additional resources for NFC, QR Codes, and mobile technology.

• Does marketing with QR codes really work?
• Marketing Plan – Mobile Coupons
• More ideas for QR Code Marketing
• QR Code SCANVenger Hunt™ – Perfect for team building and conventions!

The post New Mobile Press Release Service appeared first on MSLE.