Build Your Email List Using QR Codes

Many of us share the following two characteristics: a love for instant gratification, and an obsessive attachment to our smartphone. As of 2010, a staggering 42 percent of the United States uses a smartphone, and it’s safe to say that number is growing. Couple that statistic with the fact that people are warming up to mobile marketing, and you can see how QR codes are gaining importance.In addition to their “cool factor”, QR codes are important because they can do what no other marketing mechanism can — they can instantly connect offline promotion to online destinations with the click of a button. But the importance here is greater than the sum of its parts.

Think for a second what that experience of taking someone from offline promotion (like print ads, posters, or business cards) to a digital destination really means. That digital endpoint means that you can collect data. In addition to basic traffic numbers, you can (with the right offer) also encourage users to submit contact information, demographic information, and other useful tidbits. Used correctly, QR codes can help you build your marketing database.

Let’s take a look at two specific QR code campaign suggestions that can help build your email list:

1. Offer an immediate incentive: This would work for brick-and-mortar locations. Distribute flyers with a QR code, or post a QR code in your store, and make sure it has a clearly described offer for a free or discounted product incentive. If you have a cafe, it could be a small coffee, or if you have a salon, it could be a free product sample baggie. Have this QR code link to a simple registration form asking for a name and email address. After completing that form, the page can refresh to provide a code, which they can then show at your register or front desk to claim their reward. The customer receives a small incentive, and you can collect their contact address for marketing purposes — just make sure the right legal language is included.


2. Run a contest: This could work for any type of business, physical location or not. Determine where you could buy advertising that will be seen by your target market. It could be in magazines, newspapers, poster advertising, etc. Run a campaign in these advertising venues for a contest, and include a QR code call-to-action. Have that QR code lead to Web page where users have to fill out a form to enter the contest, and allow them to opt in to your email marketing stream. After the registration page, you can lead them to interesting content like your blog, videos, or product and services information.

Originally Posted On: http://www.pbsmartessentials.com