QR codes seem to be everywhere these days: posters, billboards, magazines, products, the internet… During a recent trip, I requested an e-ticket that was texted to me and included a QR code that could be scanned at security and as I was boarding my flight. It may be tempting for you to start throwing QR codes on all of your products and marketing materials. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you do decide to implement this marketing method. Check out the four biggest mistakes marketers make when using QR codes.
1. Using QR codes online.
QR quite literally means “quick response.” The purpose of this code is to provide your customers a quick method of accessing information. Making your profile picture on your Facebook or Twitter accounts or posting one to your blog isn’t creating a situation in which your customers can respond quickly. You’re requiring visitors to take out their phones, open the reader application, scan the item, and then wait for the browser to take them to the correct page. If you’re using the internet, it’s much faster just to provide a link for visitors to click on. QR codes are best utilized in places where your audience is already on the go and only has access to their smart phone.
2. Ignoring traffic sources.
In order to know if your QR code is effective, you need to track the source of your traffic and how much traffic is being produced. You might consider using a shortened link for your QR code. For example, instead of generating a code using the direct link, use bit.ly so you can analyze exactly how many have scanned the code, when they scanned it, and from what country.
3. Linking to boring pages.
It’s like any website. You may have great rankings online and your pages may be fully optimized, but if your content is of poor quality, you won’t make many sales. The same rule applies to QR codes. Don’t make the mistake of linking QR codes to your general website’s homepage. Get the most of your QR code by creating a custom landing page for anyone who has scanned the code.
4. Linking to a “Web Page Unavailable.”
Of all the mistakes, the most important one to remember is to never send visitors to a page that cannot be displayed. Check to make sure that you are linking to a site that has been optimized for mobile, or you might lose visitors who will never return.
For more information on QR codes or to create a code for yourself, visit us at LabelValue.com.