How does a QR Code reader work?

To use a QR code you first need to have a smart phone with internet connection and a QR code reader installed. You can choose from any of the free QR code readers available for android, iPhone and Windows Phone like QR Droid, Scan and RedLaser respectively. Once you have your QR Code reader ready, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Place the QR code in a well lit area.
Step 2: Keep your phone camera over the QR code and scan it using the QR code reader app.
Step 3: The reader will read the code and direct you to the information linked with the code.

Using QR Codes for marketing

QR codes are a smart marketing tool. Add the code to your print ads, flyers or any other material. When a person scans the code, they will be directed to a web page where you can list out detailed information of your product and services. So while you attract attention of your customer with your copy, you can direct him to much more relevant information via QR code.

Benefits of using QR Codes

QR Codes, if used properly, can benefit your marketing campaign in many ways. They can:

• Provide detailed information to customers about product and services
• Can be used to send business cards, leaflets, etc.
• Can be used for registering new customers in programs
• Conduct surveys and take customer feedback
• Provide detailed information to customers about product and services
• Can be used to send business cards, leaflets, etc.
• Can be used for registering new customers in programs
• Conduct surveys and take customer feedback
• Direct customers to avail discount coupons
• Can direct people to your social media profile
• Increase website traffic
• It makes it easy for users to share your content online on social media platforms

Generate your own QR Code

There are a number of free as well as paid sites and apps, like QRStuff and Esponce, available to help you generate QR Codes. Once you have generated your Quick Response code you can download it and print it or use it as an image on your online page.

QR Codes – Best Practice

1. Relevance: QR codes should serve a purpose. Use them only when you are sure why you want to use them and what you wish to achieve.
2. Code Size: QR code should be at least 1 inch by 1 inch in size so that it can easily be scanned using smart phones.
3. Colour Matters: The colours used are preferably black and white. Other colours can also be used keeping in mind that the dark and light areas should be in high contrast.
4. Placement: Ensure that the QR code is placed where it is easily visible and convenient to scan.
5. Linking: Link the QR code to a website that is mobile optimized; remember your user will be viewing this content on his mobile phone.
6. Short URLs: Keep your URL short. The more data you store in your QR code, the smaller dots it will have. Thus making it difficult to scan. You can use URL shorteners like Tiny, Bitly or Google URL Shortener.
7. Test Code: Once everything is done, remember to test the QR code using different smart phones.
8. Track: QR code generators let you track the number of people who scanned your QR Code. Track the data, analyze it and use it to plan your future campaigns.

You can also hire professional assistance. There are a number of companies that help in generating QR codes and tracking and managing the service.

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We can segregate it further according to online and offline mediums:

Let’s first understand what are Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing. Digital marketing is marketing with the help of electronic devices like computers, tablets, mobile phone etc. It can also be offline using electronic devices that do not relay on the internet like basic digital signage, etc.

We can segregate it further according to online and offline mediums:

Online: Social media marketing, Pay Per Click (PPC), Email Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Blogging, Video Streaming, Viral Marketing, Online Banner Ads and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) etc.

Offline: TV, Radio, Digital Signage, SMS, etc.

Social media marketing is a part of online digital marketing. It is used to reach out to people on social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and interact with them.

Difference between Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing

• Digital marketing is a marketing strategy.
• Social media marketing is a part of the digital marketing strategy.

• Digital marketing use various electronic channels of marketing.
• Social media marketing uses various social media platforms.

• Digital marketing includes online as well as offline channels.
• Social media marketing is purely a part of online marketing.

• Digital marketing is focused at all target audiences and they respond to digital marketing according to their level of interest.
• Social media marketing is more focused and involves people who have common interests, and audiences are involved only through mutual consent.

How to choose the right social media platform?
In the beginning of every social media campaign you need to be clear about the objectives for which you are using social media then accordingly make the right choice i.e. choose the right social media platform. The table below suggests the most preferred social media platform choice according to your objective.

Interesting Digital and Social Media Statistics 2013 

• 74% of marketers believe that Facebook is important for their lead generation strategy.
• Twitter’s fastest growing age demographics are 55 to 64 years old.
• Around 46% of web users turn to social media for making purchases.
• Social media generates almost double the marketing leads of trade shows, telemarketing, daily mail or PPC.
• A Facebook post gets 75% of possible engagement in its first 5 hours.
• 40% of marketers use Google+.
• 5.5 billion people get online via mobile and 1.5 billion via desktops.
• 31% companies report that they are just starting to develop a mobile strategy or have no mobile strategy at all.
• 70% of brand marketers (and 60% of agency professionals) view social media advertising as more valuable for building brand awareness than for driving direct response.
• More than half of all Facebook members have used the social network via a smartphone and 33% use a phone as their primary means of Facebook access.

Reference: CRN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Mashable, Business Insider, Mobile Marketer, Forrest, Internet Retailer, The Economist, AllThingsD, Digital Insights, Heidi Cohen, State of Digital.

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