No doubt, you have seen these small squares of black and white
hieroglyphics on packaging, on in-store price tags, and on signs. You may have wondered what they are and what purpose they serve.
When combined with a mobile device that is equipped with a Quick Response (QR) code reader, these little works of abstract art are part of a powerful marketing trend that
provides instant communication between your company and your customer. This article offers a little background, supplies information about how you can use QR codes in your business, and includes a link to additional resources for implementing this technology for your own products and services.
More than a decade ago, a company in Japan (Denso-Wave) invented the Quick Response code technology to encrypt a fairly dense amount of information in a small area of a package, product, or label. The QR code is a close cousin to the familiar barcode, which is used extensively by companies to track packages in transit, identify products, and manage inventory. However, the QR code is used differently. It connects with customers and can help track their interest in your products.
The use of QR codes is now widespread in North America. One reason for the growing interest in the QR code is because it offers immediate contact with both existing and potential customers at the point of purchase. Some codes now incorporate color, a company logo, or even an image to promote a brand. Most mobile devices sold today support one or more applications that can read a QR code and immediately jump to a website. This means your business can provide up-to-date product details, detailed marketing content, current incentive offers, and a host of other information about specific products or services associated with your codes. Why is this important? If you can reach your customer at the point of purchase, or at the moment he or she is evaluating a product or service, you have a good chance of capturing the sale or winning the business.
Here is a practical example of a commercial real estate sign, which employs a QR code that includes an embedded URL. When a passerby scans the code using their mobile device, they are taken to the Web page for that particular property. While physically on the property, the passerby can access comprehensive information about the listing and other properties like it. Each product, or in this example each property, includes a unique code, which potentially leads to a unique landing page. The realtor can track visits to the landing page for each property he or she manages, monitor interest, analyze patterns, and use the collected information to adjust marketing strategy and report activity and results to clients.
This is one example of how QR codes are being used to provide immediate response to customers and supply up-to-date information about a product or offering. Sierra Custom Signs can generate your unique QR codes and print them on signs, labels, decals, banners or tags. To learn more, and to find more resources for both generating and reading QR codes, see our Quick Response Code Resources Web page, or call us at (775) 823-9699 to discuss your requirements.
