It has been estimated that there are more than 5 billion users of smart phones around the world and the numbers are increasing every moment.These statistics are good enough for an individual or a company who wants to attract maximum number of customers with minimum efforts and budget.
One way of doing so is by use of the modern bar codes better known as the QR codes (Quick Response Codes). Before you go out using the QR codes as your next marketing buddy, you need to know what these are and as a businessman how can you use them effectively.
What are QR codes?
QR codes are similar to the standard bar codes that currently appear in all kinds of consumer products, except that QR codes contain much more information than traditional bar codes. You can think of a QR code as a hyperlink that connects the physical world with the online world. This integration between print and web via mobile adds a new dimension of communication to any marketing campaign.
How do QR codes work?
A QR code works by simply scanning the code with a smart phone device that is equipped with a camera and a QR code reader application. Various QR reader applications can be found on the net and can easily be downloaded free of cost. You can easily find them for any kind of mobile operating system, be it an iPhone or an Android.
What are the uses of QR codes?
The QR code can be integrated into any kind of printed material, like:
- Cards
- Broachers
- Posters
- Envelopes
- Print ads
These printed QR codes can be used for various purposes like:
- Downloading contact details (Vcards)
- Viewing a special offer
- Seeing a website
- Watching a Google Map location
- Viewing a profile on Social media
- Advertising a product or service
QR codes and digital coupons/mobile coupons
Out of all the various purposes that you can use a QR code, their utility as digital or mobile coupons cannot be over stated. If you are a businessman and are looking to attract more customers and increase you sales volume, you can use these QR codes as digital coupons and send them to millions of people who use the smart phones. There are several advantages of using the QR codes as digital coupons, some of them are:
- A potential worldwide customer base
- Instant scanning and using
- No worries of loss or damage
- Surety that the receivers will read them
- Cost-effective
Once a person receives a digital coupon containing a QR code, all he or she needs to do is to go the specified website and buy the promotional item, at the time of checking out he/she can use the given QR code to enjoy the discount offered. Although, digital coupons containing the QR codes can be used for online shopping, but it is not always the case, some of companies and big retail shops also send these digital coupons to customers to come and shop in their physical stores.
Just like a bar code you can show your digital coupons containing the QR code that you received in your smart phone to the person at the checkout counter. He/she will scan your digital coupons at the time you checkout and give you the specified discount. Digital coupons having QR codes are also widely used for data gathering purposes. Before you allow a person to enjoy the specified discount, you can make it conditional to fill out a form before they can use it.
The customers can fill this information digitally on a website and send the filled form to you, once the information is received and is verified, you can allow them the specified discount. It is a great way to build your clientele, and you can use the same clientele to send more coupons from time to time.
A digital coupon with QR codes is the hottest marketing technique and if you want to beat your competitors you need to think seriously about this new trend before it is too late.
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