QR Codes are not meant for scanning URLs alone. In fact, one static QR code can be used in different ways for business marketing.
However, most marketers are still unaware of QR codes’ undeniable possibilities in business growth. Therefore, they are failing to use it effectively.
This blog will share some fun and creative ways to distribute QR codes to attract customers and improve your online reputation.
Why are QR Codes Effective?
Traditionally, QR codes encode data in the form of error-resistant black and white blocks of areas. They usually contain a URL, WiFi network connectivity data, event timing, and the like. The QR codes are in such a format that it works under all conditions: poor print quality, low light, inadequate reader, or unclear scanning. These qualities make QR codes quite resilient.
A regular QR code generator can encode URL, plaintext information having even thousand words, email addresses with enhanced elements, SMS text messages, contact details, such as phone number and standard vCard, calendar events, such as location, time and description, map locations, and WiFi.You can also customize QR codes design with graphics without tampering with the code’s recognition.
Innovative Ways to Use QR Codes in Business Marketing
QR Codes in Social Media Platforms
Since social media is a prominent part of business marketing, using QR codes can help you to build brand recognition and increase engagement rates. For instance, your Facebook or Instagram business page QR code can redirect your users to your website or a clickable page within your profile that displays a ‘like’ button, encouraging your users to tap on this button. Or you can integrate a QR code containing details about your brand into your profile pic to boost engagement. You can also employ the campaign-specific codes in Flickr and on the background of the YouTube channel.
QR Codes on Business Cards
Printing QR codes on business cards is an easy and inexpensive way to attract more clients to your business. For instance, you can integrate links to your various social media networks, your blog page, or your product page with your business cards.
vCard and QR Codes
Want to send your contact details to your potential customers as quickly and simply as possible? Then link your virtual business card with your QR code. At the receiver’s end, your customers will not have to save the contact – all they have to do is scan the code, and your vCard will find its way into their contact book. Receiving vCard doesn’t require an internet connection as the code contains all necessary information.
QR Codes on Outbound Marketing Materials
Most businesses print brochures, catalogs, banners, flyers, and other printed marketing materials for advertising. If your company uses them, you can include a QR code to link specific, important information or promotional offers that you cannot print on paper. However, you must include a description that informs readers on how to scan and what they can get out of it.
QR Codes on Product Labels
Use QR codes as an anti-counterfeiting tool. Yes, fake products are skyrocketing these days, especially in the medical and cosmetic realms. How do you stop your consumers from using a fake product of your brand? Integrate QR codes with your physical products by adding codes on their print labels. Marketers can use QR code tags to track counterfeiting activities, while consumers can scan the code and detect whether the product is original or not.
Besides, you can also use the codes on product labels innovatively, like adding a link to the recipe page on your cheeses’ labels.
QR Codes for Mobile Application
If you want your customers to learn about a mobile application you are offering, use a QR code to direct them to your mobile application located in an app store. A single QR code is all you need to store downloaded addresses of several app stores, such as Play Store, Apple Store, and Windows Microsoft Store. When your customer scans a code, it detects the type of device they are using and opens the matching app address. You invariably save your customers’ time searching millions of apps to locate yours.
QR Codes for PDF Documents
A code link to a PDF file is extremely useful when your customer wants to view and download a PDF about your company quickly from print material into their mobile directly. It saves printing and transporting costs and time. You can change and modify the contents of your PDF without having to change the QR code.
Multiple URL QR Codes
If you want to offer different content for different regions, say in Korean for Korean users and Malay for people in Malaysia, your international clients also have a good experience. You can simply use multiple URL QR codes. Depending on your input, the code will redirect to your respective variant language website and operating system.
QR Codes for Image Files and Gallery
The fastest way to show your customers your brand product photos and profile is by adding a QR code to your physical marketing document. Once the customer scans the code, they can view the stored images on their smartphone. This doesn’t require memory space or direct download.
Other Innovative Possibilities of QR Codes
- Print code on your counter display sign to engage customers and upsell existing customers.
- Send audio greetings to your customer through MP3 QR Codes.
- Provide Email and SMS QR Codes (with a specific subject line or text message) to your customers as an easy way to connect with you.
- Encode text through Plain Text QR codes.
- Share coupons through QR codes to track the results of specific promotions.
- Use codes on the apparel you manufacture to increase brand recognition.
Static QR codes can help marketers deliver additional information, including web pages, images, text, video and audio data, analysis, and even location, to anyone with a QR reader. While there are many free QR codes generator websites that offer such services, chances of errors in-built can dampen the purpose of these codes.
If you need customized yet highly resilient QR codes, you must choose a certified company to deploy QR codes effectively in your business.
