skip to main |
skip to sidebar
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.
The “Big Gun” tattoo of Randy Eubanks of Suncoast Marketing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida won his organization their very own branded online ordering site for the “coolest business cards on the planet” by AccuLink and their latest storefront at B2vCARDs.com . Randy was one of many value added resellers that participated in a promotion presented by AccuLink at the recent Print Solutions Conference held in Chicago, IL this Fall.
In advance of the trade show AccuLink mailed a folded self mailer with a removable tattoo attached displaying a 2D code to all registered attendees. The mailer described the new technology associated with 2D codes (also known as “QR” or “Quick Response” codes) as well as the launch of AccuLink’s new and unique B2vCARDs. The incentive to come visit the AccuLink booth encouraged attendees to display the most creative application of the tattoo and receive a branded B2vCARDs.com storefront for the winner. After censoring and reviewing the results of the participants it was determined that Randy’s impressive biceps and unique design deserved the winning prize. B2vCARDs.com is an online storefront for business cards that transforms the common business card into an interactive and dynamic sales tool. When entering B2vCARDs.com the registrant enters whatever profile information he/she would like to pass on to another’s address book (also known as a vCARD). The registrant also may enter a URL of choice that he would like to direct their contact to. This URL could be anything from a Linkedin profile, a home web site or a Youtube video – literally any URL desired. B2vCARDs.com then transforms this data into scannable 2D Codes that interact with application enabled cell phones. The principle behind this new 2D code technology is to instantly connect browser enabled cell phones (with cameras) with the internet and, in this case, vCARD profile information. When the vCARD 2D code on back of a B2vCARD is scanned, the participant’s smart phone instantly uploads the card’s contact information. If the other URL 2D code is scanned the participant is directed to a web site that can be a static landing page, a video or even an opt in page to gather survey information.
“2D codes will revolutionize the value of printed media from this day forward” claims Lindsay Gray, vice president and co-owner of AccuLink and founder of B2vCARDs.com. “The old school business card is now a commodity – our B2vCARD technology now makes those cards obsolete. Imagine the value to a salesman who can witness a contact scanning his card and knowing from that moment forward all of his vital contact information is stored in his prospects CRM system. Not only is this a great ice breaker but it is a convenient utility too!”.
AccuLink has only just begun researching 2D codes and its many applications. In fact, the benefits to marketers are where the AccuLink focus is now. Since 2D codes connect printed material to the internet, AccuLink is offering turnkey marketing services that begin with the creation of unique 2D codes that guide participants into web based “opt-in” sites where responses are measured, collected and reported back to campaign managers.
Rose Ehrecke, Chief Project Manager at AccuLink, states “the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) is limited with conventional advertising channels but with 2D codes we can measure each individual scan as well as gain access to an individual’s cell phone. 2D codes can be the “Holy Grail” to CMOs in search of mobile marketing solutions. We now have paved a way to access the emerging consumers who view their cell phones as their primary entertainment, information and communication device”.
Lindsay closes by saying “we are excited about the results of our investments in research and technological infrastructure here at AccuLink. We are equally excited about the opportunity to partner with our value added resellers so that we may all enhance and improve communication services to our customers”. The future of print certainly seems to hold many promises limited only by one’s imagination. Whoever said “print is a mature industry”…?
Posts
