Buckaroo's own corporate-branded QR Code.

While the use of QR codes is a technological advance, don’t forget to stick to traditional marketing practices. In other words, if you wouldn’t do it with other forms of marketing such as e-mail or direct mail, then don’t do it with a QR code.  The following is a brief list of best practices for QR code marketing.

• Make It Worth Their While: The novelty of QR codes is fading fast, so if your company chooses to utilize the high-tech tool, be sure the viewer is getting worthwhile content. The quality of content should match the time and effort it took the viewer to scan the code.  For tips on what exemplifies quality content, keep reading.
• Linkable Content: The link possibilities for QR codes are almostas endless as your imagination. Consider the following list of examples for linkable and quality content.
  • Discount, Sales or Contest Codes
  • Exclusive Content such as white papers and information graphics
  • Requesting a Quote or Further Information
  • Social Media Accounts
  • Watching Video or Viewing Photos
  • E-Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Product Details and More …
• Proper placement: QR codes are often seen in storefront windows or poster advertisements. However, codes can be placed on any promotional material distributed by your company such as; direct mailers, magazine or newspapers advertisements, company vehicles, business cards and more.

According to a Comscore study, the most commonly scanned QR codes are found on magazines and newspapers (49%), followed by product packaging (35%) and websites (27%). Furthermore, customers are most likely to be at home (57%) when they scan codes versus at work (22%) or outside or on public transport (20%).

• Track and Measure: As with all marketing activities, it is essential to track and measure the results of your efforts. Without such, a company has no way of determining the success rate and ROI of promotions and campaigns. Areas to focus on when tracking results include (but are not limited to): Where the product was scanned; how was the code scanned (type of phone and app used); how long did the customer stay on site; how did they respond to the content; and which QR codes are getting the most engagement (based on the location of the QR code).

Read our next installation on QR Codes: 8 Examples of Creative QR Code Designs