By Angel Cicerone, Tenant Mentorship
www.tenantmentorship.com

The QR code, short for quick-response code, was created in 1994 as a tool to track vehicles during production. It began finding mainstream popularity around 2002 and has seen a boom in usage during the pandemic as a means to facilitate contactless communication and payment.

These unique, auto-generated pieces of digital art are a collection of dots, squares and squiggles that direct the user, via scan, to the digital location of your choice: from your website or review site to any landing page or your online store.

There are two types of codes from which to choose:

• static: After the code is created, the linked content cannot be changed
• dynamic: The content embedded in the code can be updated at any time.

QR codes pack a lot of marketing punch and flexibility to accomplish a variety of marketing and educational tasks. QR codes are free to generate and a snap to access for consumers. All they need to do is point their smartphone cameras at the codes, and they’re taken to your destination. Consumers are familiar and comfortable using QR codes.

4 Ways to Easily Incorporate QR Codes into Your Business

We all know QR codes are a great way for customers to access contactless menus. But they can do so much more!

1. Store Window

You can use QR codes to turn your windows into a marketing windfall. Link passersby to a free coupon or your website to learn more about your business. Place the codes over/near your window display products or vignettes so people can learn more about a particular item or group of items. Try an oversized QR code the size of your entire window to attract attention and promote a sale or special event.

2. Signage

Use QR codes on signage near individual products or categories that lead to landing pages with product features/benefits or any other details that would assist the customer in making a purchase decision. It offers the opportunity to give much greater detail than static signage and can even link directly to your online store for purchase.

3. Lead Generation/Loyalty Sign-Up

Use a QR code to direct users to a landing page or form on which they can register to win a prize or sign up for your loyalty program. You can place these QR codes throughout your store or at pop-up or catering events, anywhere you want to collect emails for marketing purposes.

4. Review Solicitation

Use a QR code to link directly to your preferred review site. You can create stickers that attach directly to each purchase or place your code on a card or flyer to insert in your packaging. It’s a wonderful reminder, as well as a way to continue your branding even when the purchaser is at home.

Additional Resources

QR Tiger is a website about all things QR. You can create free static codes on the site and learn more about ways to effectively use them. There are also multiple paid options for creating dynamic codes and tracking code usage.