If you have ordered pizza from Donatos lately, you may have noticed a change to their pizza boxes.  That funny looking square that you see is actually a 2d barcode that you can scan with your smartphone.  Yep, Donatos Pizza has replaced the paper coupons on their pizza boxes with mobile coupons that you can access when you scan their QR code with your smartphone;   Android, iPhone, Blackberry, etc..  I was excited and surprised at the same time when I first saw the QR code when I picked up my order and saw the QR code sitting in the top left corner of the box.

Donatos uses QR Codes to offer Mobile Coupons

Scan the Donatos QR Code

Get your smartphone and scan the Donatos Pizza QR code.   If you need a QR code reader we recommend Inigma. You will notice that the design is mobile friendly and easy to navigate.  Donatos did an awesome job with this campaign for a number of reasons:

• The QR code was placed on a prime location

• The QR code leads to a mobile website

• The mobile website offers mobile coupons

Way to go Donatos Pizza on your awesome mobile marketing campaign!

Products in grocery stores are using QR codes to engage and educate consumers before and after purchase.  Included in this article is a picture of a product found in Meijer, from a brand called, Gardein.  Gardein has QR codes on packaging that when scanned takes users to a website that has recipes.  I found this very helpful specifically because I am new to preparing vegetarian dishes and their site provides useful recipes that can help me as I am on my way to becoming a vegetarian.  Gardein almost hit the mark with this one, but the QR code does not lead consumers to a mobile friendly landing page. The idea of having a QR code that educates and engages consumers prior to purchase and while they are in the decision making process can help with increasing sales because the consumer will be educated on the product and be introduced to ways they can actually use it, like with recipes in this example. 

This is a great idea, however; the only thing I would change with this is particular program is to make the recipes mobile friendly.  I scanned the QR code with my Samsung Galaxy Tab so it wasn’t too difficult to view the recipes,  but I still had to pinch and zoom to read the text. Making it mobile friendly would have made for a more pleasurable experience, but overall I really enjoyed having the opportunity to learn about a product and be educated on it with my mobile device.

one.

Gardein, Awesome Use of QR Codes

Overall, Gardein did a great job of engaging with consumers and educating them on their products. 

Gardein, thanks for being a forward thinking marketing team and using QR codes to engage and educate consumers.   When you plan your next marketing program, contact our team. We have lots of experience in the mobile development and would like the opportunity to work with your team to create an engaging mobile marketing program with you.

Taco Bell uses QR codes to help prospective employees locate restaurants so they can apply for a job.  The process was very simple, you get your smartphone out, open a QR code reader (iNigma in my case) and scan the QR code on the sign.  You are able to see a video and search by city, state, or zip for job openings at Taco Bell.  The idea of using QR codes to help job seekers was clever.  The video is just under two minutes and contains interviews of employees sharing their experience as well as benefits of working at Taco Bell.  The employees in the video mention the opportunity for growth as well as the work environment being fun and “fast paced.”

Taco Bell Uses QR Codes for Job Seekers

Mobile Smart

Taco Bell made sure that the proper environment was set up for those who scanned their QR code. They had a mobile-friendly landing page that allowed you to search for jobs by city, state. When you enter a city and state, it returns a list of open positions. Clicking on a location in list returns a full job description along with a field to enter your e-mail address to apply for that job. The process was very simple and the mobile site was fast on my 3G phone.

The Results

I did a little research and found that less than 1% of the “hits” to the mobile site was due to QR code scans. At the time this post was written, the link used for this campaign received a total of 45,922 clicks, however; most of the activity was due to direct links from e-mail and direct access from the web, the QR code only received about 7 scans. This was very surprising since the QR code was placed at the entrance of Taco Bell. This campaign was started in Spring of 2011 and is still continuing. I am curious to see how long it goes and if the QR code scan activity increased.  Overall, I thought it was a great use of QR codes, they had an incentive, the content was mobile friendly, and the code was placed in a prominent location.

Additional Resources

Here are more links to articles about  mobile campaigns with QR codes that you may find helpful.

Panera Bread uses QR codes to engage with customers.  The hanging banners like the one in the photo included in this post are placed throughout Panera Bread and when scanned lead you to Panera Bread’s YouTube Channel.

Panera Bread uses QR codes to Engage with customers

The idea of engaging with customers using QR codes while they are at a location for an extended period of time can prove to be worth the investment if there is a call to action, however; Panera Bread’s use of QR codes did not provide this.  I scanned the QR code simply out of curiosity, but in a few months  this will not be the case.

QR Codes are Great, but Where’s the Incentive?

When you are using QR codes for marketing, provide an incentive to scan the QR code.  Panera Bread receives a lot of customers during peak times; from my experience especially during breakfast and lunch.  Providing an incentive for people to scan the QR code could have given a more pleasurable experience for the user and Panera Bread could have gotten more out of the use of the QR code than simply having it land on their non mobile-friendly YouTube Channel.

A Call to Action

I would love the opportunity to work with Panera Bread’s marketing team before they attempt to use QR codes in their marketing again.  Our team could create something for them that creates a pleasurable experience for the users as well as ROI for Panera Bread.

Panera Bread, I am extending an invitation for you to contact me regarding our team providing an awesome mobile marketing campaign for your restaurants!  Send me a DM in Twitter @mslinkexchange.  I look forward to working with you.

Here are a few links to other blogs about QR codes…you may find them interesting!

QR Code on Paper Products at Walgreens promoting their green process

After taking a closer look at the packaging I saw that most of my questions were answered, but I would suggest to the team in charge of the design to move the QR code closer to the content that provides the alternative website address and information about the product. In the current design the QR code is separated from the associated content which causes a disconnect at first glance.

Marketers get excited about using QR codes, but they have to keep in mind that not everyone knows what they are or what to do with them. So at a minimum provide a link to the mobile website associated with the QR code so they can access the content if they do not know how to scan your QR code on your packing.

I did scan the code and it landed on a nicely designed mobile friendly landing page. With the exception of my suggestion above, this was a good use of the QR code.

I look forward to sharing lots of useful marketing information with you!

Stay tuned!
Shawntay

Subway gets 1 Million entries with Mobile Marketing Campaign

B2C Marketing

B2C marketing can be a challenge because of the many advertisements on television, internet, radio, billboards…the list goes on. Getting the attention of your customer can be challenging especially now that consumers have access to services TiVo and DVRs which allow them to “skip” through advertisements. Marketers and advertising agencies have to be more creative to capture the attention of consumers long enough to leave an impression about your products and brands.

Marketing Professionals

Here on the Mobile Site Link Exchange we provide innovative mobile solutions for forward thinking marketing professionals. This also includes examples from leading advertising agencies and nationally recognized brands such as the one mentioned the example below.

Subway found a way to cut through the clutter using a tactic that requires an initiation by the consumer while in their restaurants. Wondering what Subway did? Well, they used QR codes to engage with customers while in line at the ordering counter.

Subway placed a QR code on a large, free-standing sign that promoted a special “Footlong Nation Appreciation” promotion.

This was an effective use of QR codes for the following reasons:

1. There was an incentive to scan the QR code
2. It was placed in a prominent location within the restaurant where people would be more likely to engage with the product
3. The landing pages were mobile friendly

The key to standing out from the clutter is to add value to the consumer. Subway did this by engaging with consumers in a way that allowed them to offer ways to win items such as free subs, chips, cookies and other Subway items. This tactic was effective for Subway because it was a non-invasive way to reach their customers. This ensured that only those who are interested will engage with the promotion. Part of the registration process included having the user submit their e-mail address, contact and demographic information; this could be used to continue with marketing future promotions. Here is how the Subway Footlong Nation Appreciation program works:

• Users scan the Subway QR code with their smartphone and complete the online form
• Users are then presented with an opportunity to see if they are an instant winner and presented the opportunities for prizes
• They are then provided instructions on how to earn points

Overall this campaign was well done. The process was simple and mobile friendly.  Listen to this podcast about marketing with QR codes to learn more. 

If you are looking into using QR codes for marketing there are many resources available here on MobileSiteLinkExchange.com. Need a team to help you with your marketing campaign contact the experts who were recognized by CNN Money.  Comtactics can help you reach your audience, engage with them all within your budget. Contact Comtactics today by phone at 800.975.5161. Or contact them via the web http://comtactics.net or send them an e-mail at service (at) comtactics dot net.

How to us QR Codes to increase website traffic

Use QR codes to offer specials to customers

Mobile Marketing with QR codes

Advertising Effectiveness - Nationwide Insurance Code Billboard

Marketers are constantly trying to increase their advertising effectiveness by creating ads that capture our attention through all of the advertising “clutter”.   Several ways to do this includes using mobile apps, videos,  social media, or QR codes.  QR codes are becoming very popular and there are many creative ways that they can be used to promote or market your business and to improve advertising effectiveness.  One of the many benefits of QR codes is that they can be generated at no cost.  This has led to a large number of do it yourself marketing with QR codes…some done in good taste and others not so good.  For example, Nationwide placed a QR code an ad on a billboard that promotes http://nationwidechildrens.org.  Overall the ad was very effective with the exception that the QR code was too small to scan from my car. I was not driving at the time, safety comes before scanning QR codes!

Advertising Effectiveness - Radio Shack QR Code

Radio Shack’s Advertising Effectiveness

An excellent example of a well done QR code campaign is what I call the “phone upgrade QR code.”  I first saw this at Radio Shack at a local mall.  When this QR code is scanned it lets you know if your are eligible for an upgrade on your phone.  Radio Shack’s use of QR codes adds value by allowing customers to do self service right there in the store. This may have an impact on phone sales as well as freeing up the sales associates to focus more on Radio Shack’s products and attending to customers that are ready for upgrades.

Tips for Improvement

Both of these are nationally known companies using QR codes for marketing which I think is great, however; Nationwide should have thought about how adding a QR code to a billboard added value, if any to their ad or the person driving down the street who may risk safety to scan their QR code.  Improving the advertising effectiveness of this particular campaign may include placing the QR code on printed materials such as flyers, brochures, or rack cards.  If the advertising agency that worked on the Nationwide campaign was obligated or dedicated to adding a QR code to the billboard, it should have been at least three times the current size.  This would have allowed for those who are walking near it to scan the QR code with their smartphone.

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