Friday, April 26, 2013

SoLoMo and QR Codes


SoLoMo is the new buzz word for to pay attention to if you want to engage consumers.  SoLoMo refers to the American shopping trend.  Shop socially, search locally and do it all using mobile devices (smart phones, iPads and tablets).  

If you are not tuned in to the SoLoMo thing you will quickly be left behind according to current (2013) research by Eventility, and event promoting entity. 

  • Eventility highlights 97% of consumers now search for local businesses online.  Remember, smart phones are used for online searches. 
  • 72% trust online reviews, 61% of younger demographics refer to social media to choose dining locales. 
  • The biggest attention getter: 78% of small businesses now receive 1/4 of their new customers from social media.
Let us talk about the oft misunderstood QR codes.  I read the current press from self-proclaimed marketing experts that QR codes are dead.  These little blog reporters don’t quote sources or provide numbers.  They seem to tell you what to think about QR codes.  

This article aims to respect your intelligence, rather than telling you what to think, here are numbers and sources to help you decide for yourself.  

To quote Mark Twain: 
"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."


The May 2013 Entrepreneur magazine, a credible source, in their SoLoMo print magazine article, reports that Apple and Starbucks are using currently harnessing QR codes for purchases.  When big names talk, they lend cred to QR codes because these generally do research on their own and determine what is effective and therefore relevant.

My source, the Chief Marketer, in a 2012 mobile marketing survey determined: 51% of all print ads contain a QR code.  Below are examples of QR code use by big brands in 2013.







 Back to SoLoMo: regarding the QR (quick response) route, do you know that 129 million Americans own a mobile device ? They are using their mobiles recreationally and because they are fun toys.  If you have an attractive and prominently placed QR code that makes an offer, you compel the consumer to take out their beloved toy and investigate.  If you hide some generic, selfish QR code in a bottom corner with no offer besides the joy of visiting your website, well, frankly you deserve to go overlooked.  When people tell me QR codes are not effective, and I consider myself an expert, I can quickly sum up the problem: it is not the QR code that is the problem it is the marketing that is the problem.  If you want a fish to ride a bicycle and it can’t, is something wrong with the fish? It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure that out.  
SoLoMo.  Social networks are accessed by mobile media to dine, purchase, hire and shop locally.  I bet you feel smarter about your marketing.  Bank on boosting your SoLoMo with a branded QR (quick response) code created by a professional to get the intelligent marketing your business deserves. 

The next time some rigid oldster tells you that QR codes are dead, be sure to help him or her across the street.  Or if it is some microscopic blogger telling you QR codes have faded, ask them for the facts that support their article.  We all know that a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth even puts it's pants on and opinions are not facts.

QRCodesOfNote.com brings you this intelligent article.


Some big brands and how they are using QR codes in 2013:



Wednesday, April 17, 2013

SMO and SEO


What is SMO?  



SMO stands for Social Media Optimization and it is the process used to increase awareness of a brand through the use of social media outlets and communities. The sharing of your content generates awareness of your brand, service, product or event.  

As a business, you want people to see your message and helping people easily view your content through entry points like QR (quick response) codes gets people to your website and any other online destination you have in mind.   

Why care about SMO?

Social networks (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest) drive traffic to websites in ever increasing amounts.  Search engines are utilizing the recommendations of social network platforms to rank pages in search engine results (the process of SEO) so when a page gets a like, it is seen as a vote for that pages quality.  Using a branded QR code improves your SMO and increases your SEO.

Image source

While chatting recently with a Juice Plus representative, I noticed she had colorful key chain fobs dangling with small Juice Plus containers.  I inquired about them and she smiled.  This lady was paying for her QR code design at the time and she went on to tell me how those small containers have provided so many opportunities to begin a conversation with people, some of whom go on to become customers and more.  I knew immediately why I did not have to tell her about the benefits of graphic QR codes because they have the same advantage and more.

Graphic QR codes get people talking.  Graphic QR codes increase SMO. Increased SMO also increases SEO. Want to know more or you just want a branded QR code, please call today.  We make codes for customers around the world. 719/428-5451.

Your Questions or Comments are always welcome here.
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