QR codes in Australia

Is it a plane ? Is it a new freaky new eye test? No it is a QR Code and it is set to revolutionise the way advertising companies provide consumers with information in Australia.

QR Codes are the hottest marketing trend in Japan, and now the functionality and capability of Australian mobile phones has reached a critical mass, the Australian market is on the cusp of the QR Code revolution.

A QR Code is defined as a matrix code (or two dimension bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-wave back in 1994. The ‘QR’ is derived from ‘Quick Response’ as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. (Wikipedia).

QR Codes are designed to direct customers to an immediate action, whether it is to purchase a brand or to facilitate information. Among other things QR Codes make the average print brochure or billboard an immediate and interactive piece of media.

So how do QR Codes work?

Some mobile phones already come with the QR Code reading application and other phones can simply download it. And once your phone has the QR Code reader application the device can unscramble and decode the QR message.

Why not simply tell the customer in words, I hear you ask?

Simple, QR Codes can direct a customer to a website or specific landing page, provide a specific message, direct a customer to a contact number, or SMS, and even provide you with a Google map location, all quickly, easily, and without the need for remembering or confusing web addresses or telephone numbers. So the customer gets what they need quickly and easily.

And because QR Codes are easy and cost nothing to generate, businesses can create a QR Code tailored for each piece of marketing collateral including billboards, posters, brochures, and even television commercials.

Marketing Strategist Gordon Watson says, “Australian businesses are just realising the power of QR Codes, real estate agents are using them on their for sale signs and taking their clients on virtual tours, magazines are using them to take clients to product pages, Governments could use the codes on billboards to direct customers to more information.“

“Apart from contributing to cool and sophisticated brand attributes, QR Codes allow business to make their marketing more measurable in terms of response and waste, and this is a huge leap forward. The old adage used to be that 50 % of advertising works, we are just not sure which 50%, well QR Codes combined with other electronic media are making huge advances into producing less waste by allowing business to know exactly which elements of their marketing mix is producing the best return for investment.”

Social Marketing - who should look after your social channels

Just because social media is perceived to be a 'young person's' medium, does not mean you should leave your business's social communication channel to a work experience placement or to someone who has no background or qualifications in communications.

Just because someone has a Facebook or Twitter page does not make them an expert in social media. The real skill is knowing how to integrate social media with existing communication channels, and looking for opportunities to create competitive advantages. Furthermore, identifying your customers and integrating the social platforms they use to engage your customers - so you go to where your customers are (eg Facebook - over 8 million users in Australia), instead of your customers having to come to you.

I recently came across this article by Maria Ogneva from Marketing Profs which explains the 'Seven Virtues of the Perfect Social Media Leader'

Enjoy!

Regards Gordon

Climate crisis and financial crisis - kill both with one stone

It is encouraging to see the world come together as one with a view to defeating the global economic crisis. Whether it is the urgent meetings such as the G20, or just the sheer volume of money which has been thrown at the problem, in an attempt to stave off a global depression, it is a better example of how the world can come together for formulate a solution.

It is the money which has been thrown at the problem where i see real opportunity to defeat not only the financial crisis, but the other elephant in the room - the climate crisis.

If governments around the world are committed to spending to avert a global financial crisis, why can we not take this one step further, and invest in technologies which will create jobs in sunrise industries, such as sustainable energy technologies, public transport infrastructure, higher speed broadband etc. These projects would position economies for the future, as well as contributing significantly to improving productivity, which in turn will contribute to keeping inflation down, as the economy recovers.

Let your money do the talking

As we wait for governments to tackle the climate change issue, start shopping green - support companies which are actively taking steps to combat climate change. Yes, i am a Director of Australia's first carbon neutral full service lender (Wilson National), but support, your local markets, companies which sell energy efficient products (like Ecovation), encourage your local council to plant more trees, whatever you are buying, check to see if there is a business which offers a greener alternative. I am a firm believer that every little bit does help, no matter how small or how large, we are all in this together.