We see them everywhere: printed on product packaging, business cards and advertisements. They can be used in presentations on seminars and conferences. The use of a QR code generator has become so common some might argue that they are losing their effectiveness in engaging an audience. The challenge is to get people to get their devices and scan the code. In most cases, it’s not so much the placement of the QR code that is ineffective but the message that people see upon scanning it that falls short.
Marketers strive to be one step ahead of trends, however, and are constantly introducing new and innovative ways to use a QR code maker and generate QR code for URL and websites to not just get people to scan the code but also push their brand in the process.
While the effectiveness of QR codes is still a subject of hot debate, we all know the convenience that they offer. Here are a few guidelines on how to make QR code and how to engage your customers with the associated content.
1. Select a free QR code generator
The good news is that there are tons of QR code creator sites on the web. Most of them will even let you create QR code free of charge. All you need to do is choose one that guarantees compatibility with most QR code readers to ensure effectiveness. Other things that you want to look at when choosing a QR code maker include the ability to track performance through analytics data and customization options.
2. Determine the type of content you aim to promote
QR codes are nifty marketing tools that allow customers the convenience of accessing content on their mobile devices. Brands use QR codes for different reasons and are beginning to get creative in the way they craft the content that is accessible through these tools. If you have recently launched your Strikingly website, for instance, you can use a QR code to direct customers to your site or to a specific location on your website.
At this point, you must have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish from this marketing campaign. Are you looking to get customers to sign up for a service? Do you want them to download an app you are launching? Is the QR code going to be used to direct traffic to your newly revamped website?
3. Consider a dynamic QR code
Most QR code generators give you the option to choose between a static or dynamic QR code. A static code has a fixed destination URL. For the most part, this is okay if you’re running a marketing campaign for a single website and you don’t intend to change the URL at all. However, if you are marketing different types of website content or apps under a single brand, it would make more sense to go for a dynamic QR code which allows you to change the URL destination at any time. This will save on reprinting costs and any other overhead expense related to having to change the code each time you need to market new content.
4. Test the QR code before distribution
Finally, it’s important to test your QR code first before you start downloading and sharing it on marketing materials. If you’re making a customized QR code, some mobile apps may have trouble reading it so you must test on more than one reader to ensure that it performs consistently. There are several online tools that you can use to test your code. Google Goggles, is a recommended testing ground for images. Apple’s Passbook is also another option that you can use.
