Mandycheaib@eportfolios.com

There are many different ways to “Think outside the Boxes” when using QR codes here are just a few of the many options that may work for you.

1  Play with Colour.

QR codes don’t have to be black changing the colour of your QR code is the quickest way to make it attractive.

2. Customize and Design

Play around with the design and make it all your own. Here are some examples of some creative designs from savvy organizations.

3 Go BIG!

Don’t try to hide your QR code, make it a part of your design.  When you customize the QR code there is more of a likelihood of error, however larger QR code are easier to read and therefore you can avoid any mistakes. Also they are pretty interesting to look at. Here are some ads that take this into play.

4. Scan your customers

Who says scanning is a one-way thing? Companies such as Starbucks are changing how we use QR codes with their mobile card app for iPhones. Watch the video for more info.

5.  Inform Customers and get Feedback Fast

When in a restaurant some people like knowing more information about what they are eating. Using QR codes in menus could allow your customers to access nutritional information and reviews about the food right from their seat in seconds.  This video by interlinkONE shows one example of this in action.

Here is an example of a great way to get people to fill out customer comment cards.

I don’t know about you but I would defiantly fill out this questionare!

When trying something that you have never done before it’s a great idea to check out what kinds of mistakes others have made so that you can avoid theme. After a bit of research I have come across these 8 mistakes.

Mistake 1: Not Testing the Code

Make sure it works before you put it out there. It sounds like a no brainer but if Time magazine can make mistakes then anyone can. In this ad released last year only 2 of the 6 codes actually work.

Mistake 2: Do not invert the QR code design.

The TIME example also falls into this category. Inverting the code changes it and makes it unreadable to the scanner.

Mistake 3: Not providing enough Incentive

People need to know that there is something in it for them if they scan the code. For example this add by the US marines only offers wallpaper and a video. This is not tempting enough for people to make the effort and scan the code.

Mistake 4: Not linking QR code to mobile site or one having valuable content

Although some people have tablets that allow them to scan QR codes, the majority of people who do scan QR code do so with their smart phones. It is vital that the link you choose for your QR code takes people to a mobile friendly site. If people become frustrated while trying to navigate your site they are likely to associate your brand with a negative mindset.

Content should not be an after thought of this marketing plan. When people scan your QR code they are seeking some type of additional benefits, one that is not available to those who don’t make the effort.  Therefore think about what you want to offer before you start.

Mistake 5: Don’t assume everyone knows

QR codes are still relatively new in the marketing world, therefore not everyone knows how to use them. Show people that you care by guiding them through the process. Don’t forget to include a regular URL for the people interested in your message but don’t have the capability of scanning the codes.

Mistake 6: Location, location, location

Make sure that your followers are able to see and scan your QR code. Some things to avoid in this area include:

Don’t put it too low to the ground where people will have to crouch to scan.

If the code is up high make sure it’s big enough to be read at a distance.

Make sure not to print the QR code too small… the smaller the code the harder it is to read.

Printing on a reflective surface make the QR code unreadable therefore make sure to choose a background that is matt or low gloss.

Mistake 7: Using long URLs

The longer the URL the more pixilated the QR code. This will make the code harder to read on some devices also for those who don’t have a scanner a short URL is much easier to type and or remember than a longer one.

Mistake 8: Putting your QR code where there is no Internet access

The way the QR codes work is that they retrieve information from the web, if there is no Internet access it simply wont work.

There is no point in doing anything if you can’t see result. In order to measure the success of your campaign there are some tools you can put into play that can help you keep track.

One thing you can do is creating a landing page that your visitors are directed to right away. If you have multiple ads running at the same time in different locations you may want to have separate landing pages for each of them as well. This will enable you to see which locations are the most beneficial to your cause.

On the landing page make sure that visitors can easily find what they want and give them the option to link onto some of your other pages.

To track your exposure use a can you tools such as Google Analytics, which allow you to measure many different facets of campaign at once. This also allows you to see how quickly people click through your sight and how long they linger on each page.

Take time and carefully plan how you want to measure your ROI, and make sure everything is ready to go when you start your campaign. This step will give you the best chance of becoming successful in QR code usage.

There are many different options for creating a QR code, being a broke student I went the free rout and used a free QR code generator called Kaywa. For this post I will be creating a QR code for my Blog site (http://zenportfolios.com/mandycheaib/), however you can use this site to create codes that do any of the services outlined in the previous post.

Step 1:             Log on to the Kaywa site http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

Step 2:           Choose the content type you want

• I chose URL

Step 3:           Choose the size of code you would like to display

• I chose medium

Step 4:             Generate

• Ta-Da there you have it a QR code!

Step 5:             Test the code and Save

Step 6:             Put into place some measurements so that you can track the success of your QR code campaign (covered in the next blog)

Step 7:             Utilize the code marketing campaigns

Step 8:             Study results and make needed adjustments.

Before I get the meat of this post I will let you know that this is only the first of 5 blogs about QR Codes. The reason for that is that there is so much potential in QR codes and the technologies that accompanies them that I hade to break it into parts. So here it goes…

First Things First, What is a QR Code?

QR stands for quick response and the codes allow you to quickly direct your customers to the information they want. QR codes are Matrix barcodes that can store more information than the standard barcode barcodes. Although this technology was first designed for the automotive industry it is now becoming mainstream with the advancements in Smartphone technology. Many organizations are using QR codes to better communicate with their customers.

How Does it Work?

As an Android user the first app I downloaded was an all-purpose barcode reader called Barcode scanner but there are plenty of options on smart phones these days for a reader.  Once you download and open the app find a QR codes to scan. It will do one of tree different things:

Take you to a website or page.

Give you information such as a phone number or text.

Or get you to send a specific SMS message to a pre-specified number.

There are 5 important components required to create a QR code this image illustrates them.

To stay current on issues that are important to you and your business there are many tools you can use. Karen Clark from http://www.mybusinesspresence.com made this video called How to set up a Google Alert to keep track of your brand or favorite keywords. which will help you get started on using one of the most popular tracking tools online, Google alerts.

Google Alerts tool allows you to find all comments on any topic that interest you. And all you need is an email account!

On this page you can customize your search in 5 ways:

This is a revolutionary tool in that in the past you would need to spend hour on end searching the net to find what you wanted with Google Alerts the tings you are looking for come straight to you! For example Karen Clark will as some point today receive an email that will let her know that I have posted something about her and her company on my blog. As I am a novice blogger with little to no following this site would not have been one she would have found very easily, but with Google Alerts she was able to receive notification of this blog without any wasted time or effort.

I had an unexpected learning experience this week. I attended my first networking event, my goal was to meet and connect with marketing professionals who would meet me and realize that I would be perfect for their company and sweep me away to my dream job. By the end of the night I was almost ready to give up until I met a woman by the name of Heather Walker.  Heather is a Coach Supporter and Business Balancer at Virtually Behind the Scenes; basically, she works with the business to allow coaches to do their business.

Heather was full of knowledge and eager to share that knowledge with whoever could benefit from it. In that spirit I would like to pass on one little nugget of wisdom that I received that night.

The message was simple: Going to networking events is not enough!

Many times the person with what you want is not at the place you are, but chances are that you might just meet someone who knows them.  People talk, weather its in real life or online, therefore don’t give up on a contact simply because they don’t have exactly what you want right then and there. Think about it as creating a network, a web if you will, of people that will one-day lead you to where you want to go.  Your dream position or opportunity will be easier to reach when you have the help of a solid network.

So next time you get a change to network here is what you are going to do:

1. Be yourself: you are the best at it!
2. Get people’s contact information
3. Contact them: don’t wait too long, use whatever means weather its Linked in, E-mail, or even Facebook.
4. In your initial contact make reference to the conversation you had. This does two things; first, it reminds them who you are and that they like you, and second it gives them a chance to think of connections they have that would be good for you.
5. Add them to your network. I prefer Linkedin for networking as it is designed for professionals to network.

Today your online presence is just as important, if not more important, than your real life presence. In the marketing field your online presence is a key factor in your future success.  Here are five keys point from Marketlikeachick.com and other online experts that I have found useful in creating my online persona.

1. Start now!

Now is the time to start. Although you may not know exactly what you want to achieve creating your online persona takes a long time.  There are tasks that you need to accomplish in order to get yourself from the start to the point you are a recognized expert in the field. Things like building your blog circulation, getting people to notice you, and cultivating your social network take time and dedication, don’t put it off until you feel ready, because chances are you will never get there.

2. Recognize What Makes You Unique

The Internet is filled with blogs and article about all sorts of things how are you going to stand out? Its not enough to just have a blog anymore you need to be different. Find what it is that sets you apart know your area of expertise very well and position yourself as an expert in the field.

Some ways to do this include:

• Blogging articles related to your field on a regular basis, and mailing the links to everyone who might be remotely interested will create more traffic to your blog and help make it a credible source.
• Be creative in your methods of communication use social networks or video links. Keep your eyes open for what’s   coming in the future. Staying current and innovative will go a ling way.
• Know your strengths and limitations find means of communicating that work with your strengths, don’t try to be something you are not.
• “You’re selling yourself and YOUR personality, so be different.  Be liked, or be hated, but be the best you can be at either!”

3.  Set Up Profiles On The Big Three

the big three are Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.  Make your presence on all of them but choose one to focus on. Make sure that the tool you choose fits your objective, and get really good at using it.

• Hint: don’t wear yourself (or others) out by trying to maintain more than a handful of social networks. This will limit the amount of authority you have on any of them.

4.  Get Connected With Your Peers

Get to know others in your field or niche that have the same goal as you.  You don’t have to share everything with them but its a good idea to share ideas and experiences that you have learned from and they will do the same.

Connecting with others in the same or similar field will also increase your influence in your field.

5.  Hook Up With The

Influencers

Marketlikeachick.com said it best when she wrote “In social media your ROI is your Return On Influence, so borrow the influence of others if you don’t have much of your own yet. You will be glad that you made friends with a few fire starters when you have them start tweeting out your blog posts and then your product launches for you.  Just remember, the big names in Social Media are being pitched all the time, so be real with them.”

6.   Choose Who/What You Promote Wisely

Just like in real life your friends and those you associate with speak volumes about who you are. Be sure that you associate yourself with the people and products that suit your image in order to maintain your credibility.

Tribal marketing seam to me the new buzzword around the marketing world. Everyone has realized the value of a loyal following but it seams as if the term “Tribal Marketing” has been attributed to all actions revolving around a culture. In this post you will find

Figure 1: Brand Management Perspective

According to Seth Godin Tribal Management is a whole different way of looking at the world”

Figure 2: Tribal Marketing According to Godin

Godin, often called the Marketign Guru, defined a need for organizations to move away from traditionall marketing tactics that were unidirectional and did not allow for communication between the followers.  His main argument is that the Brand and the company should continually conform to the wants and needs of the Tribe.  Furthermore he states that the primary goal of the tribe is to be connected to one another. Godin claims that what a tribe needs is a strong leader to guide them.

I would argue that the “Leader” of a brand should be little more than a the director of a play on opening day. The leader should play in the background and influence the tribe as much or less than the tribe’s members. The more natural and unobstructed the interaction between the tribe’s members and the brand is the more loyal and trusted the connection becomes.

Earlier you saw an image of what tribal marketing looks like according to Seth Godin below is what tribal marketing could look like. See the idea or brand is at the heart of the tribe and the “Brand Leader” is just another member of the tribe working with the tribe to strengthen itself and the brand.

Figure 3: New Tribal Marketing

How to use Twitter to Effect Social Change

Using social media is common; using it effectively is an art. This outlines some tips to people seeking to use twitter to work towards a cause. First the things that you will need are:

• Twitter account
• Followers
• Trustworthiness
• Multilingual capabilities

Some of handy tips provided in the video were be authentic – tweeting as you (an individual) will create trust and allow for a connection with your followers. Make

sure you have frequent post and that all posts are accurate and honest, your followers are privy to a lot of information on the internet and in society if your don’t provide regular and accurate information they will stop following you. Another way to stay connected to your followers is to use the @ sign to direct your messages to specific individuals.

Organize your posts using # (hashtags) to mark it easier for you and your followers to search for relevant information. But be sure not to dilute your message by using overusing #s

Translate and reposts relevant posts from other people to provide a more rounded perspective for your followers.

When something related to your cause happens make sure you have a swift “call to action” to mobilize people. Also, having eyes and ears on in the midst of the action provide a clear picture of the situation.

If used properly Twitter can move your cause from an idea to action.

for more info on how to use Twitter visit this sites: