QR codes have been around for decades, and for a few years, they almost seemed to have lost their traction in the marketing toolbox. After the pandemic, QR codes have once again become a widely used marketing tool, connecting users with content quickly and seamlessly online. According to Forbes, it is estimated that 99.5 million people in the U.S. will use QR codes by 2025. Over the years these codes have evolved into a helpful marketing tool, bridging the gap between the digital world and the physical world.
Here are 3 reasons why your marketing strategy should utilize QR codes this year if you haven’t already.
- Quick and easy integration with mobile devices.
In today’s fast-paced world, smartphones have become a staple in our daily lives. With this, QR codes have emerged as a helpful tool for consumers. They offer an easy and quick method to access information. By simply opening their camera app and scanning the QR code, users can easily navigate to a website, landing page, or even see an audio or visual clip. This interaction with mobile devices not only enhances user experience but also eliminates the hassle of typing out long URLs.
QR codes can be customized for the transportation industry in a variety of ways. Motorcoach and transit companies can utilize QR codes in their advertising to track how customers learned of their services. For example, placing an ad in a local magazine with a QR code that takes customers to a unique landing page to purchase bus tickets. This would allow your marketing team to track the effectiveness of each ad and offer. Not only that, companies could encourage their advertisers and partners to use QR codes to determine the cross-promotion opportunities for each route and local businesses.
- Bringing interactive content to increase audience engagement with your business.
QR codes serve as a bridge for marketers to connect their desired audience with engaging experiences. By linking QR codes to videos, surveys, events, and free resources, businesses can capture the interest of their target clientele and create deeper connections. This kind of interaction not only enriches brand awareness but also provides users with content that they might not have otherwise taken the time to find themselves.
For example, perhaps your charter bus company has taken the time to create a free travel guide for each destination that you regularly service. To help passengers quickly and seamlessly download the free guide, you could include a QR code in the safety brochure in each seat back pocket. This guide could feature offers from local restaurants and tourist activities, allowing you to monetize advertising within your guide since you could provide businesses with key metrics regarding the effectiveness of sponsored placement.
- Bringing analytics and tracking to print media.
The ability to analyze user interactions and obtain important data is one of the main benefits of adding QR codes to your marketing campaigns. Marketers can learn more about user behavior by tracking the number of scans, the region, and the time of day the scan was performed. This data enables companies to make smarter decisions, improve their marketing strategies, and personalize their campaigns to better meet the needs of their audiences.
Knowledge is power. The more your business understands its primary consumer, the more your team will be able to drive brand loyalty that will increase ROI in the long term.
QR codes have maintained their place in marketing by proving to be an effective and adaptable method of engaging with consumers. Due to their easy integration with mobile devices, interactive content, and improved tracking capabilities it appears they are here to stay. As technology advances, the potential uses of QR codes in marketing continues to expand. This makes them an important tool for businesses that want to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing digital world.
