Mad 4 Blog

Last week we introduced you to “quick response” codes and how they can be used to help you engage audiences and measure the effectiveness of your ads. In today’s follow-up, we answer three more in-depth questions about the benefits of QR codes.

1. How popular are QR codes in today’s crowded marketing world?

Although QR codes are growing in popularity, they’re not a very prominent means of advertising – yet. This can actually be a good thing for your company, since using this technology can help you stand out from your competition. Although not everyone knows how the codes work or will have the correct phones to sync up with your quick response marketing, they may still associate your brand with cutting-edge developments. One way to make the most of using QR codes is to couple them with traditional creative so that everyone can make the most of the information and art that’s associated with your campaign.

2. How do I generate a unique code?

There are several routes for purchasing a new, independent code. You can program your information once you determine what type works for your needs (locational info, company background, promotional offers, sweepstakes entry). Mad4Marketing connects you with a trusted developer who can generate your unique QR code.

3. How does someone’s cell phone read the code?

First an individual needs to already be familiar with QR codes, so that they understand that the purpose is to scan them for more information. Then they need to download an app for their smartphone – there are many options from which to choose in any operating system’s application marketplace, regardless of whether someone has an iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, etc. These apps are usually free or very low-cost and take less than a minute to download and install. No special hardware is necessary; all it takes is the common phone camera. However, some special devices with laser scanning ability can also read the 2-D design.

4. Are there any added benefits to embracing QR code advertising?

Once your audience begins getting used to seeing QR codes in your advertising and have the right software on their phone, you can really push forward with ways to utilize this technology. You can build an entire relationship dynamic between you and current or potential clients/customers that involves increasing interaction with QR codes. This element becomes a richer, more complex dimension in your interactions and expands the dialogue between you and everyone you want to reach out to on a continued basis.

Ready to add QR codes to your campaign? Contact us and we’ll help you get started.

Bar codes used to affect you only while you stood in checkout lines at apparel retailers or grocery stores. But now you’ve seen funny new versions them on advertising from flyers in your mailbox to billboards on your drive home. So what’s the purpose of adding bar codes to print advertisements? The following questions and answers provide an overview.

1. What Are QR Codes?

Those funny square-shaped bar codes you’re seeing everywhere are actually Quick Response codes (you may have noticed an absence of actual bars, unlike the ones you scan at Whole Foods). They’re named this because a smartphone can quickly scan the square and access a wealth of information about the product. This means that no matter how big your ad is or how much text you provide, one fast scan provides your prospective buyer with nearly unlimited data about your company, offer or product.

2. How Are They Used?

There are many ways you can take advantage of this new marketing tactic. In fact, creative uses for QR codes are being imagined every day. For example, someone can scan your unique code and come up with a coupon for purchasing your goods. Or they can access a video describing your services. Or the code can automatically pull up directions from where the user is standing to your nearest location. Your options are almost limitless; the real challenge is determining what tactic’s best to represent your brand and what will intrigue your audience enough to get them to whip out their mobile phone to learn more.

3. How Can They Improve My Marketing?

On top of just looking like a cutting-edge, in-the-know company, there are tangible benefits to using QR codes in your marketing campaign. The primary selling point is that when users scan your ad, you can also collect information. You can learn which ad placements are engaging viewers the most. Is it the code you placed in the newspaper or the one at the bus stop by your office? Are people then using the code, data or offer that’s extended via your QR code link? You can record this data and apply it toward further marketing endeavors with even stronger success rates each time. This measurability is paramount to long-term success with your marketing strategy. With QR codes, you get the same highly analytical data about your placement and performance that you’ve come to value from online advertising.

Looking for ways to build QR codes into your marketing campaign for improved measurability and a stronger relationship with your clients/consumers? Contact us to go over your options, including strategy and pricing. And check back next week for Part 2 of our Q&A for QR Codes.

We’ve been talking about holiday shopping trends – especially with regard to viral spending – for the past few weeks. Now it’s time to look at some key figures and report back on how the major shopping event actually went down.

You may be surprised to learn that even all the hype for Cyber Monday 2011 failed to anticipate the actual numbers that e-commerce retailers would see. They were actually even higher than either the optimists or analysts predicted. In fact, Search Engine Watch reported that November 28, 2011 was the biggest online shopping day in U.S. history based on data from such sources as comScore, PayPal and IBM.

SalesTracker reported that online sales rose 33% from the average on the Monday after Thanksgiving, according to IBM Benchmark (comScore reports a 22% surge). Each individual purchase rose 2.6% from the average order. The total amount of sales recorded by comScore was $1.25 billion in that 24-hour period. The same source concluded that more than half of all purchases were conducted from office computers as workers spent their post-holiday, back-to-work breaks (we hope!) on shopping to catch limited-time, heavy online markdowns.

With regard to the importance of mobile marketing, we have to also note that transactions conducted via smartphone – both Web access and specific shopping apps – represented 7.37% of sales this past Monday – which is a strong surge from last year’s 2.25%. (Figures as reported by The Washington Post; may vary slightly depending on statistics source – for example, IBM reports the surge as 3.9% in 2010 to 10.8% in 2011.) Sales conducted by iPad rather than phone clocked in at 3.3% of mobile purchases, states IBM.

Top e-tailers across the board on Cyber Monday were Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Amazon. Retailers can earn up to 40% of their annual income during the span of the holiday season, especially with highly promoted shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

Did you feel like you adequately prepared your company for visibility via online advertising on Cyber Monday? Are you interested in taking advantage of mobile marketing as this phone-based shopping trend continues to explode? Let us know!