10 Ways How Small Businesses Improve Sales And Marketing Using QR Codes In 2023
As technology advances, businesses must stay competitive by finding new and innovative ways to reach their customers. One of the most effective tools for small businesses to use is the QR code. Quick Response (QR) codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can be used to store information, such as URLs, plain text, contact information, and more. By using QR codes, small businesses can improve their sales and marketing efforts in a variety of ways.
Now, let’s take a look at 10 ways small businesses can use QR codes to their advantage.
1. Create a Mobile Landing Page
QR codes are a great way to create a “mobile-friendly” landing page for customers. By placing a QR code on the product or packaging, customers can scan the code to be directed to a page with more information about the product. This page can include product details, additional images, and even a link to purchase the item. Alternatively, Businesses can place the QR code at the entrance of their store or on promotional materials, like flyers, business cards, posters, and other printed marketing materials. They can also place the QR code on website banners, social media posts, and email newsletters.
2. Promote Special Offers
QR codes can also be used to promote special offers and discounts. By placing a code on a store window or product packaging, customers can scan the code to access a discount or coupon code. That way a customer could walk into a store and see a QR code. By scanning this code with their phone, they could access a special offer or discount code. The customer can then input this code at checkout to get a discount on their purchase. This is a great way for businesses to increase foot traffic and sales.
3. Connect With Social Media
A small business could use a QR code to link customers to their social media accounts in order to promote their products or services. Customers can then use the QR code to quickly access the business’s social media accounts and view recent updates, promotions, or any other content the business wishes to share. This can help the small business reach a wider audience, increase engagement, and build trust with their customers. Great places where a small business can place QR codes to connect with social media include: their website, business cards, flyers, posters, packaging, store windows, and other physical locations.
4. Send Customers Directly to Your Website
By placing a QR code in your store, customers can scan the code to be directed to your website. This can help customers quickly and easily find more information about your business, as well as make a purchase. Sending customers to a website versus a mobile landing page is the difference between sending them to an entire site for browsing and purchasing products versus a singular page that is tailored and optimised for mobile devices. A website can have multiple pages and be filled with information, while a mobile landing page is a streamlined, single page that is designed to quickly guide customers to a desired action. QR codes can be used to direct customers to either a full website or a mobile landing page.
5. Create Interactive Experiences
QR codes can be used to create unique and interactive experiences for customers. By placing a code at an event or in a store, customers can scan the code to access exclusive content, such as videos, songs, and more. Some examples for interactive experiences are:
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Videos: Behind the scenes footage of the event or store, promotional videos for new products or services, interviews with store owners or event organisers
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Songs: Exclusive tracks from a band or artist performing at the event, unreleased songs from a popular artist, a mix of songs related to the event or store
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Other content: Discount codes, digital coupons, downloadable recipes, special offers, interactive games or quizzes, virtual tours of the event or store
6. Provide More Information About Your Products
QR codes can be used to provide customers with additional information about your products. By placing a code on the product or packaging, customers can scan the code to access additional information, such as directions for use, product details, tutorials and more.
7. Increase Brand Awareness
QR codes can be used to increase brand awareness by displaying them on store windows, product packaging, advertisements, and more. This can help customers become familiar with your brand, as well as make it easier for them to access more information about your business.
8. Collect Customer Data
QR codes can be used to collect customer data, such as email addresses, contact information, and more. This can help you stay in touch with your customers and provide them with the latest news and updates about your business. Businesses can generate a unique QR code that links to a web page or survey. The QR code can be printed on product packaging, business cards, posters, or other promotional materials. Customers can scan the QR code with a smartphone to access the web page or survey. Customers can submit their contact information and other data on the web page or survey. Businesses can analyse the data to gain insight into customer preferences and behaviour.
9. Link to Online Reviews
QR codes can be used to link customers to online reviews about your products or services. This can help increase customer trust and confidence in your business, as well as encourage others to purchase your products.
A customer visits a store to purchase a product. After making their purchase, the customer is given a QR code with their receipt. The customer then scans the QR code with their smartphone and is taken to an online review of the product they just purchased. The customer reads the review and is reassured of the quality of the product they just purchased. The customer then shares the review with their friends and family, increasing trust and confidence in the store’s products and services. Common places to share reviews for small businesses include social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as review sites such as Yelp and Google My Business. Small businesses can also share reviews on their own website or blog, as well as in email newsletters.
10. Utilize Digital Loyalty Programs
QR codes can be used to create digital loyalty programs for customers. By placing a code on a store window or product packaging, customers can scan the code to access exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards.
For example: Customers can walk into a store and see a QR code on the window. They take out their smartphone, scan the code, and are taken to a webpage that offers exclusive deals and discounts. They select the deal they’d like to redeem and enter their information. The customer is then notified that they have earned loyalty points for their purchase and can use them on their next visit. As an added bonus, the customer is also offered a coupon for a free item with their next purchase. The customer takes advantage of the offer and leaves the store happy knowing they saved money and earned rewards.
Conclusion
Using QR codes, small businesses can easily improve their sales and marketing efforts. From creating mobile landing pages to increasing brand awareness, QR codes can help businesses effectively reach their customers and increase their sales.
Are you ready to sell more with QR codes?
In conclusion, SoTrusty’s built-in QR code generator is the quickest and most efficient way to create QR codes for small businesses. Its free and easy-to-use platform makes it the perfect choice for small businesses looking for a simple and all-in-one solution. For those who already have their own shop or website, Visualead, QRickit, QR Code Generator, and Kaywa are more technical solutions and provide more customization options.
Take your business to the next level now and start optimising your business with SoTrusty. Sign up today and start seeing the results!