Great! You and your client or agency decided that it was time to use QR bar codes in your media campaign. And why not? Here are the main benefits of using QR / 2D codes:
- QR codes revitalize Print and Outdoor Media – meaning, they instantly transform traditional advertising into a multi-media experience. People can interact with your brand through the use of mobile technology as opposed to only seeing advertisments
- Cost Efficient – This is a very innovative and entertaining way to increase brand favorability and can be executed at a low budget
So now that we know the main benefits of implementing 2D barcodes into your media campaign, here are the five steps you must take to get started.
Step 1. Determine what products, services or promotions QR codes will be used for. Once you know this, we can move to the next step.
Step 2. Decide how you are going to use the QR codes. Will you use QR codes to offer a discount? Provide product information? Or host a contest?
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Step 3. Choose a QR Code Management Platform. A 2D bar code management platform is necessary for:
- Provide users with a QR code reader they can download
- Help keep track of QR codes you create
- Capture statistics like number of total scans, number of unique scans, etc.
- Receive technical support
- Ability to create an unlimited (or specified) number of QR codes
Here is a little information about 3 QR bar code management systems I have personally been in contact with:
Scanlife – based in NY, but with offices all over the globe – has partnership agreements with major carriers like Verizon, Spring, Vodafone and Orange. Their application can be used on millions of mobile phones on every operating system and is being pre-loaded on several new phones. You can also find their application on via the App Store, Android Market, and Blackberry App World. Their customer service is excellent. Tarrah Little, Marketing and Sales Manager, was very helpful in answering all my questions and providing me with necessary material that I requested. She even explained to me what white label download meant.
Another 2D bar code management system is Insqribe. Insqribe is based in Australia and Nick Gonios, Commercial Director, was very helpful in answering my questions. They worked with Pizza Hut in developing one of the coolest iPhone applications I have ever read about that combines augmented reality and GPS, read about here.
Beetagg is another QR Code management platform. Beetagg is located in Switzerland. Beetagg CEO Robin Maass was kind enough to grant me permission try out their Manager Pro management system and create various reports.
So now that you have selected a QR Code Service Provider, we can go to the next step of creating a QR / 2D Code Campaign.
Step 4. Develop a landing page or mobile website that the QR Code will link to or just decide where you want visitors to go to after they scan the 2D code.
Step 5. Decide where you want to place the QR barcodes. Will they be placed on posters, billboards, magazines, newspapers?
So there are the 5 steps on how to implement a QR Code campaign. How long should it take to execute? Well that depends on how fast your team can make decisions and the complexity of the campaign. On average I’d say around 8 weeks if everyone is on board and knows what action to take.
If you’d like to share your experience creating QR / 2D barcode campaigns, feel free to write a comment or share your experience on our LinkedIn group. If you’d like to make new friends who are also in the industry, join FoneGigs on Facebook. Download free mobile directories of Mobile Ad Networks, Mobile Analytics Companies, and Mobile Search Engines here.
Thanks!
Eric Melchor, Founder – FoneGigs – The FIRST job board dedicated to Mobile Marketing and Mobile Application Developer Jobs.
Great Article and tips