3 Things to Think About Before Starting a QR Campaign
As QR codes become mainstream, there remain many questions about what a QR code is and how best to add them to marketing campaigns. (For the basics - check out the QR code primer I added to our company blog). If you've decided to actually implement a QR campaign, be certain to include these thoughts in your planning:
1) Create value Make sure your campaign will actually be valuable to the participant. While still new to some people, QR Codes are gaining in common use. If you use them simply to spam your customer, you’ve lost an opportunity to establish a relationship. Like anything else in the social marketing sphere, it's all about trust - don't make people afraid to scan your future QR codes by messing up the first few.
2) Think strategically Will this campaign deliver one-way communication or will it provide a means to start a conversation with a new customer? Think contests, subscriptions or give-ways. If you can continue the conversation beyond the initial attraction phase you are planning properly.
3) Be unique Most QR Codes result in a webpage while missing the opportunity to use a text, email or phone link to connect. Know your audience. Maybe a recorded message would work better than a webpage to further your engagement. Perhaps a SMS would work even better. Don't be afraid to experiment with various methods to see what works best for your intended audience. Creating the unexpected may build your brand more effectively than the “tried-and-tired”.
QR codes have great potential and are gaining acceptance at an amazing pace. They will likely have a short half-life but while they are in the public eye it's important they are used to their full potential.
The power went out at my house in Arizona a couple hours ago. Apparently a transformer exploded. I threw blankets on the fridge, grabbed my 'puter and drove to a Starbucks to continue working. Oh - I forgot to mention it's 110 degrees out.
As QR codes become mainstream, there remain many questions about what a QR code is and how best to add them to marketing campaigns. If you've decided to actually implement a true campaign, be certain to include these thoughts in your planning:
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As QR codes become mainstream, there remain many questions about what a QR code is and how best to add them to marketing campaigns. (For the basics - check out the 
Social Marketing is a customer-expectation more and more each day. Businesses are acknowledging the value SM brings but have taken differing paths implementing how they are getting there. Some are "doing" social while others are "being" social. Which are you?
While good intent remains incredibly valuable, the meaning of your content has rising value that may someday eclipse intent. Meaning is the collective value that is placed upon your content. Collective being the filter of people placing value on your content by listing it or sharing it.
7 blogs that have impacted my view of online marketing in ways I cannot begin to describe - nor give proper thanks for sharing what they know. Trust me on this one, my friends, if you don't subscribe to these blogs, you will miss out on some of the best online marketing information available.
If you haven't followed Google search lately, you are in for a couple surprises. Not long ago, Google announced implementation of Instant and Place Search - both of which will impact your site's search results in pretty big ways.
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SaveOurStarbucks.com played a role in Starbucks' good decision to reach out to its customers with a smart customer trust rebuilding campaign. And further proof that creating an easy way for direct customer communication is critical for success in today's environment. 
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To prove this point, we created an experiment that tested what Odden calls "frugalism" - in this case we were frugal with engagement time and resources and proved how deadly that sin can be.
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