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If you’ve been to a restaurant in the past year, odds are a cheerful server has told you to “just open your camera, scan the code, and your menu will appear!”

This new digital trend has been a life-saving trick for restaurants, bars, and events during the pandemic, but with some marketing tweaks, Quick Response (QR) codes can work wonders for other businesses as well.

What is a QR code?

QR codes are a wealth of digital knowledge placed in a compact, nifty square. When scanned by a digital device, users can access the information they contain instantly, hence their name.

While you may have only recently heard of them, according to Kaspersky, QR codes have actually been around since 1994. Big businesses have tried to implement the codes in the past, but users previously needed to download a third-party app, and not everyone had access to the high-speed internet we have now, so the initiative flopped.

After Apple made it possible to scan with just a phone camera, QR code usage took off. According to Statista, an estimated 11 million households scanned a QR code in 2020.

The pandemic has undoubtedly given the codes their fifteen minutes of fame by utilizing them for everything from menus to virus tracking. And due to their convenience, we think they’ll probably stick around for a while longer.

How can QR codes help my marketing strategy?

People love QR codes because they’re easy to use, sanitary, more eco-friendly than paper, and downright fun. There’s something about scanning a mysterious code and finding what it has in store for you that’s reminiscent of a childhood treasure hunt.

Businesses can use QR codes to direct traffic to their website, social channels, collect email addresses for future drip campaigns, stimulate reviews or to direct individuals to contact-free payment sources like Venmo. Placing QR codes in stores and around your business increases the engagement with your customers, which in turn drives more brand awareness.

Let’s say you’ve recently started your own irrigation business and want to get your name out there and drive traffic to your site. Hoping to secure some new customers you offer a massive savings on sprinkler installations. A few weeks go by and you’re still not seeing the results you want.

Your top competitor is also a new business offering a similar deal, yet they’ve managed to double their monthly profits. Now you start to wonder what you’re doing wrong?

It turns out your competitors are using QR codes to drive traffic to their website. They have them printed on business cards, brochures, the company truck, and instead of leaving a door hanger they have static clings that they leave attached to the front door or appropriate surface. Consumers see the brand, notice the prominent QR code, and remember they have to turn on their sprinklers for the season. They quickly open their camera over the code, and poof, they’re on your competitor’s page browsing their services. No typing and making sure they spell the business’s name right, and no getting distracted by whatever else is popping up on their phone, just the company’s site front, and center.

Consumers are driven by immediate satisfaction. So, if something is too complicated or takes too long, they lose interest. QR codes speak for themselves when advocating for your business because they present tangible, fast knowledge.

You’re probably thinking, “That’s great and all, but how am I going to create a multi-media digital square?” That’s the best part, QR codes may look confusing, but they’re simple to make.

In fact, with this QR code generator, you can customize your code to your company’s needs completely free!

QR codes are cutting-edge technology and have a place in almost every marketing strategy to increase overall customer engagement. At Rizco, we’re always looking for new ways to highlight our client’s companies. QR codes are passports to better business, and we can help make them work for you.

Are you interested in utilizing QR codes to help your business grow? Contact Rizco today to learn how we can streamline your marketing strategy!