You can never have enough website traffic… unless of course you get so much that it takes down your web server, but that is another blog post.  Anyway, what I am trying to say is that we are all probably looking for ways to increase traffic to our websites or blogs so I have a few tips that you can use that may help you to increase your traffic.  Since I am all about measuring, I suggest that before you start implementing these suggestions that you take a snapshot of your website statistics. You can get your website stats from Google Analytics, or your web host may provide this information through CPanel or some other software. To make it easier, I am providing a worksheet that you can download and record your website stats as well as track your progress as you implement the following suggestions.

Now that you have this information, let’s begin.

Direct Your QR Code to a Video

Creating a QR code and directing the user to a video about your business is a very innovative marketing idea.  One option is to have the video hosted on your web server, another option is to direct user to YouTube and include link to your website.   If you place the video on YouTube, here is a very helpful tip to help direct traffic to your website or blog.  Here is the tip:  Place link to your website at top of the description on YouTube because users may not click “read more” link.  This may increase their chances of clicking your link which will increase your traffic.

I experimented with a QR code and YouTube video for a 3d video that I created using XtraNormal.  If you have not heard of XtraNormal: they are an online service that allows you to create videos simply by entering text.  Their service provides the animations and scenes, you simply pick what you want to use and put it together.  Okay, back to business.  Let’s look at the next suggestion for increasing traffic to your website using QR codes.

Screenshot of MSLinkExchange QR Code Video on YouTube

Link a QR Code to Your Website

Another way to increase traffic to your website is to create a QR code and link it to your website.  This is a more direct approach to getting traffic because you are directing the user to your site as opposed to directing them to another location such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or any other location first.  You can create your QR code here on the Mobile Site Link Exchange; just make sure to enter your website’s URL on the form.  If you are out of business cards, now would be a good time to get them printed with your QR code on them.  Handing out business cards with your QR code on them is a sure way to get some extra attention and increase your chances of someone scanning your QR code with their smartphone to visit your website.

People get excited about this, but often fail to implement it correctly.  Here is a tip that will have you looking like an expert:  make sure that your QR code directs to the user to a mobile friendly landing page.  If you do not have a mobile friendly website, call me, I have a team of experts that can build one for your company (the same company that was featured on CNN for having one of the “coolest QR codes”).

Get a Custom Designed QR Code

Custom QR Code designed by Comtactics

If you can afford it, get a custom designed QR code to increase traffic to your website. This is a sure way to get noticed and increase website traffic.  QR codes are cool, but a custom designed QR code will surely get the attention of your customers.  The examples below shows a standard QR code and a custom designed QR code.  Most businesses that use QR codes and are using standard quick response codes.  Using a custom designed quick response code will be a sure way to stand out from your competition.   Comtactics designs custom QR codes for agencies and businesses.  Contact a representative to discuss your project at 800.975.5161 or visit http://comtactics.net to learn more.

Now that you have this information, it is time to use it!  Make sure you download the worksheet so you can capture your website stats to track your progress!

Standard QR Code

Marketing ideas for business are in abundance thanks to the Internet. As a small business, we don’t always have time to research the many resources so it can be a little overwhelming.   Having a reliable resource that you can depend on to provide marketing ideas can save you lots of time.   The Mobile Site Link Exchange has lots of information available about mobile websites, marketing, and technology.   There are also examples provided along with resources to help you get the job done.

Here are some marketing ideas that work for small business, home business or virtually any type of business.  A benefit about the marketing ideas provided is that you are able to use the ideas right now.  I recommend that after you finish reading this article that you download the MSLE Marketing Worksheet and use it as a guide as you implement the following suggestions.

Easy Ways to Market Your Business

Use SEO to make sure your business is easy to find online.

Search engine optimization is not something that get instant results, but it is something that can make a difference in your website traffic over time.  It is important to note that being found by search engines is important because more people research products and services via Google, social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), and more recently mobile phones. In a previous post about SEO entitled, “How to use SEO to Increase traffic to Your Website or Blog” I shared some simple but important tips that you can use right away.

Action Item:  Find 5 pages in your website and choose keywords that accurately represent these web pages.  Record these keywords in the MSLE Marketing Worksheet.

Get a Mobile Website for Your Business

Marketing your business with a mobile website can increase your presence by allowing you to reach people on their smartphones.  According to the Newspaper Association of America*, mobile traffic to news websites increased by 65% in the past year.

If you do not have a mobile site for your business yet make sure you read this article. It also contains a link to Comtactics which was featured on CNN for having one of the coolest QR codes.  Here is the link to the article about why you need a mobile website.  If you would like to get a mobile website or DIM Portal for your business, Comtactics has lots of experience with all business types.

A mobile website is a miniature version of your existing website.  Some things to keep in mind when you create your mobile website:

• Keep the navigation at the top of your mobile website to a minimum
• Do not create auto-refreshing pages without notifying the user and provide a way that allows them to stop it.
• Do not use graphics for spacing
• Provide a short and descriptive page title for each page – make each one unique and relevant.
• Do not use tables for layout

Action Item:  Get your analytics from your website; this could be Google Analytics, or your stats from your web server.  Write this number in the MSLE Marketing Worksheet.  Next, get a mobile website for your business; if you need help, I am for hire .  Pick intervals (maybe every 1 to 2 months) and update the MSLE Marketing Worksheet with your website stats.

Create Videos to Market Your Business

Videos allow you to share information with your audience.  Thanks to social networking sites such as YouTube, you can create and publish your video to the entire world with little to no expense.  Here is an interesting fact about YouTube… it gets around 870 million views per month!    Placing your videos on YouTube can be a very effective tool for marketing your business.   Wondering where to start?  Here are some ideas for videos that you can use to market your business:

• Create “How To” videos about your products or services
• Record interviews of your clients and post them on your YouTube channel
• Record short promo videos that promote your product or service and upload them to your YouTube channel

Placing your videos on YouTube can also increase website traffic, if it is done correctly.  Here are some tips to help you with increasing  traffic to your website from YouTube:

• Include a link to your website on your YouTube channel and individual videos
• Add detailed descriptions to each video
• Make sure you “tag” your YouTube videos with the proper keywords associated with it

Measure Your Success

Now that you have a few new tools that you can use to market your business, it is time to implement them and measure their affects on your business.    Download the MSLE Marketing Worksheet using the link below.  Make sure you fill in the worksheet with the items suggested in this article, it will help you track and measure your marketing efforts and will help you to see the positive results you will receive.

Source:  *http://www.naa.org/News-and-Media/Press-Center/Archives/2011/Mobile-Traffic-to-Newspaper-Websites-Increases-65-Percent-in-Past-Year.aspx

Here are some SEO tips you can use to make your website search engine friendly.  I could give you some long explanation, but I’d rather not; I like to keep things simple.  What SEO means in a nutshell is that you are making simple modifications that make it easy for search engines such as Google, to “crawl” your site so that it may be properly displayed in search results.  Increasing traffic to your website is not an overnight task.  It takes time to build your web site traffic but it is worth it in the end.

Note:  You can also use these SEO techniques with mobile websites.

I am going to help you by providing some helpful tips that you can start implementing right now that will help to increase traffic to your website or blog.

SEO Techniques You Can Use

Here are 5 Search engine optimization (SEO) techniques you can implement right now to increase traffic to your website or blog.

1.  Create Clear Meta Descriptions

Create clear, unique meta descriptions for each web page. If you are using a CMS (content management system) for your website or blog such as Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, etc. they usually come equipped with the functionality you need in order to update your Description Meta Tag for each of your web pages.   The “description” meta tag appears between the <head></head> tags.   The information in the description tag is often displayed in search results (I have seen them in Google) and it is displayed when your web page is displayed when someone performs a search.

Google Search Results with Title and Description Meta Tag information displayed. Click the image to see full size

2.  Use Header Tags – <h1></h1>, <h2></h2>, <h3></h3> etc.

Format your content in a way that it is easy for readers to see what is important by using H1, H2, H3, etc. tags.  Reader’s eyes will follow the content and will be able to see the hierarchy of your web page or blog. This will keep your articles from looking flat to the reader.

Example of h1 and h2 header tags in a web page. Click to see the full size

3.  Include Alt Tags with Your Images

If you use images, tag them with descriptive keywords using the alt tag.  This will help search engines index your images so they may be returned in search results.

This really works, I have seen in my web site statistics where I have received traffic from a Google image search.

4.  Create Search Engine Friendly URLs

Use words in your web page URLs.  They should look more like http://yourdomain.com/qrcodes.html as opposed to http://yourdomain.com/?id=32

Visitors of your website or blog will be able to easily remember your URL if it has words in it as opposed to numbers, or lots parameters in it.  This may encourage links to your website which may increase traffic.  If you are using a content management system or CMS setting up search engine friendly URLs is easy to do.  Check out the configuration file of settings to get started.

This is a screenshot of a Search Engine Friendly URL. Click on the image to see the full size

5.  Create Unique Title Tags

Create unique title tags (<title></title>) for each web page.  Title tags are usually displayed in the first line of the search results returned by Google.  Often times you can configure your CMS to automatically set your title tag based on specific settings.

I hope you find these useful.  These modifications can be done right now and start you your way to receiving more traffic to your website.  Remember, it is not overnight, but you will see changes gradually over time.

Here are some additional resources about QR codes that you may find helpful.  Click on the link to see the article.

• How to create a mobile website – Awesome tool for professional networking.
• Learn about Dynamic Interactive Portals™ – perfect marketing tool for campaigns, events, or product packaging
• Have you gone mobile yet?  Your customers have.  This is a must read – Why You need a mobile website, now!

Gillette Designer QR Code - Click to see the full size of this image

This Dynamic Interactive Portal™ was created by Comtactics. This DIM Portal was a demo that uses the Gillette brand to demonstrate how a designer QR code can be used on packaging to engage customers. This Dynamic Interactive Marketing Portal contains video that educates customers on the Gillette razor.

You Can Get a Custom QR Code for Your Business

Comtactics designs Dynamic Interactive Portals for all types of businesses.  Call 800.975.5161 or e-mail service at comtactics dot net to get started.

Creating mobile web pages is very simple, and you can now do it on http://MobileSiteLinkExchange.com!

Mobile web pages are a great way to interact with existing and potential clients via their smartphones. Thanks to my partnership with the mobile web page manager for recruiters, tradeshows and colleges, WeAllScan.com, I am able to offer web pages along with accompanying QR codes that you can print on virtally on any item:

• Business Cards
• Flyers
• Tshirts
• Resumes
• Brochures
• Signs
• Tradeshow displays
• the list goes on…

Follow these steps to create your Mobile Web Page

Creating your free mobile web page is very simple and can be done in a matter of minutes, just follow these steps

Step 1 Click on Create Mobile Web Page

Click on Create Mobile Web Page on the top menu

Step 2 Complete the form and click the button at the bottom of the page

Create Mobile Web Page Form

Step 3 Get your QR code and Print it on your business card!  

You will then receive your personal QR code that leads to your personal webpage!

Personal QR code that is created when you set up your site on http://mobilesitelinkexchange.com

Get free audio books on your phone

There are several resources that allow you to get free audio books on your phone.  To get started, you can get them from Project Gutenberg.  Gutenberg audio books are classics that have been made available for free.

Listening to audio books can be a really convenient way to catch up on your reading and it can be done while driving, biking, walking, etc. and most of the audio books are available in mp3 format so you can play them on virtually any device including computers, smartphones, phones, tablets, or laptops.  I have compiled a list of resources for free audio books that you will find helpful.  There are different types of audio books from fiction, to non-fiction and LibriVox, for example, has multilingual poetry collections!  You never know what type of audio book you will find, so begin your journey by visiting one of the sites that I have included in the list of free audio book resources below!

Free Audio Book Resources

Here is a list of free audio book resources that you can use to download free audio books to your smartphone, computer or tablet :

Librophile - http://www.librophile.com/#!audiobooks

LibriVox - http://librivox.org/

Podiobooks - http://www.podiobooks.com/

Open Culture - http://www.openculture.com/freeaudiobooks

Related articles about Free Audio Books and Free E-books for Your Phone

Get free audio books for your smartphone (Podcast)

Get free e-books for your smartphone, computer, tablet or mp3 compatible device (Podcast)

Audible – Premium audio books for your phone

Awesome Monthly Service for Audio Books
Try Audible Now and Get A Free Audiobook Download with a 14 Day Trial. Choose from over 100,000 Titles.

This is the final article in the 5 part series on how to use QR codes for Business.  If you missed any of the previous articles on this series, click here to see part 1 of “5 Ways to Use QR Codes for Business”.

Mobile Coupons Are Great for Small Businesses

According to Juniper Research, mobile coupons/special offers have a call to action rate of 50%! 280 Million smartphones were sold in 2010 (according to Gartner, Inc.) Smartphones are what is used to scan QR codes… isn’t that amazing! This proves to be an awesome way to build customer loyalty, increase sales, and stand out from the other advertisers who are using traditional methods to reach their customers.  Just imagine the return on your investment when combining the power of QR codes with mobile coupons.  You could place the QR codes on flyers, newspaper ads… even t-shirts and customers can scan the QR code with their smartphones to receive a special offer.  If they are at home or any location other than your establishment, the mobile coupon would drive them right to your business!

Awesome Example of Mobile Coupons for Local Businesses

Comtactics in Dayton, Ohio has used QR Codes with their SCANVenger Hunt™ platform. This has been used by major campaigns in Ohio and has had an awesome response from customers and businesses. Comtactics’ mobile coupon platform allowed for businesses offer their customers special offers that can be obtained and redeemed on their smartphones. Customers enjoy not having to carry paper coupons and the businesses get access to realtime reporting on the redemption of their special offers and mobile coupons. You can learn more about one of Comtactics QR Code campaigns involving special offers at ThinkTwiceMC.com.

Three Reasons Why QR Codes and Mobile Coupons Work Well for Businesses

1. Customers will enjoy not having to keep up with printed coupons
2. QR codes allow for measuring ROI on with virtually any marketing campaign
3. Smartphones have become more affordable so the audience that can take advantage of the QR codes is rapidly growing.

Learn more about the buy local program that uses QR Codes for Special Offers using Comtactics’ SCANVenger Hunt™ Platform

If you are a municipality, shopping center, or other economic development organization and would like to have a buy local program in your area to support local businesses contact Comtactics. You can visit their website at http://Comtactics.net, send them an e-mail at service@comtactics.net or call 800.975.5161

I hope you enjoyed this series, “5 Ways to Use QR Codes for Business.”  Be on the look out for more helpful mobile marketing tips from the Mobile Site Link Exchange where we provide innovative mobile solutions for forward thinking marketing professionals!

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.
 

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