Two-dimensional...going beyond 'flat thinking'.

Tweet Here is an excerpt from our newest white paper on 2D Barcodes. If you would like a copy, please send an email request to: rose.ehrecke@acculink.com with "Whitepaper" in the Subject line.

The current economic climate is forcing marketers to rethink how they reach their customers. What was considered savvy marketing yesterday is considered old news today. We must think outside the box and look to new avenues for generating revenue not only for ourselves but for our clients as well. AccuLink likes to refer to this as going beyond flat thinking.

The emerging generation of consumers falls into the 15-35 year old range. And most consumers in that age range, own mobile phones. In fact, there are more mobile phones than TVs and computers combined in the USA today. One-fifth of consumers access the Internet on their cell phones every day, and among consumers who shop online, 58% have Web-enabled phones. This gives marketers unprecedented access to their customer base not just by text messaging, but also by web. Smart phones are the new personal computer, contact manager, entertainment center and mobile communication device all in one. What form of technology can bring together traditional print, internet, relationship building and metrics? 2D codes.

What are 2D Barcodes (commonly referred to as QR codes)?
A QR-Code is a two dimensional barcode that is designed to have its contents decoded at high speed, allowing for accuracy in link recognition and convenient functionality. The acronym QR is derived from the term Quick Response. QR Codes were created by the Japanese company Denso Wave in 1994 as a way to track parts in vehicle manufacturing. Other industries began seeing how useful they were and started adapting the technology for their own use. From that point, mobile phone companies saw the potential in this technology and came up with QR code readers so that cell phone users could read these codes right from their phones. This technology is widely used in Asia and Europe and was voted trend of the year for 2009 in the UK.

Two dimensional barcodes are being used in convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (known as mobile tagging). The basic idea is simple. The user scans a two dimensional barcode with a cell phone loaded with barcode reader software and it takes the user directly to a web page with marketing content. This might be coupons, promotional videos, a survey, a blog, or product purchase page. The URL can also be a link to download an MP3, dial a telephone number, or auto-fill your email client with a sender address. Two dimensional bar codes storing addresses and URLs have appeared in magazines, on signs, business cards, billboards, even coffee mugs and t-shirts.

Because scanning a two dimensional code is much easier than entering a URL into a phone by hand, these codes are touted for their ability to reduce the barrier to response. This can translate into higher response rates from consumers with web-enabled phones. Interaction takes place immediately – creating a faster way to reach the consumer. People are more likely to respond to an ad at the point of initial interest, than waiting to access the content from a computer. Higher response rates increase a marketer’s ability to form new relationships (via text messages, electronic coupons, email opt ins, etc) that may never have occurred via more traditional channels of advertising.

To view the white paper in its entirety, be sure to send an email request to the address listed above.