Marketing is all about giving your prospects and customers enough information to help them make an informed decision or simply make life easier for them.
Sometimes, however, the space to give them the necessary information is scarce, particularly if you want to pack it into a small, yet easily accessible area.
This is where QR codes come into play.
What is a QR code?
QR codes, short for “quick response” codes, were developed for the Japanese automotive industry. However, their use quickly spread into almost every facet of life because they are convenient and store a lot of data that can be easily scanned and read using a smartphone.
Estimated use of QR codes in the US is expected to reach 11 million households in 2020.
These simple-looking squares can hold any kind of information, from links to coupons, product information, and anything else you may want to encrypt in them. For this reason, you may want to consider including them in your email marketing campaigns.
How do I measure the effectiveness of your QR code campaign?
Most QR code generators come with an analytics dashboard that allows you to track how many times your code has been scanned.
If your goal is to generate leads, for example, you can send them to a dedicated landing page and see exactly how many subscribers come through using your QR code.
How to create a QR code for your email
Creating a QR code is much easier than you might think. After you’ve defined the goals of using one in your email campaign, you can follow the steps outlined below.
Choose your QR code generator
There are many code generators on the market, and you will have to take your time to research one that has the desired features, such as:
- Analytics: Choose a code generator that allows you to track performance.
- Customization: Personalize the design of your code.
- Ease of use: User-friendly for both yourself and the end user.
Decide on the information you wish to promote
QR codes allow you to encrypt different types of information easily and conveniently.
Source: QR Code Monkey
After developing the content you want to promote in the QR code generator, fill in the necessary information within the field. In our example above, that will be the URL you want to promote.
For email marketing purposes, this could be a URL to your opt-in offer or other incentives to sign up to your mailing list.
Download your QR code
Next, go ahead and download or print your QR code. Make sure to download the dynamic version, as this is editable, while the static one is not.
One point you should note when designing and editing a QR code is that the simpler it is, the more chances it will be easily scanned.
Place your code strategically
The placement of your QR code is important. You want it to be in a location that is highly trafficked and yet easy to access.
This could be in magazines, print ads, business cards, product packaging, store windows, posters, order forms, and more. Wherever you choose to place your code, make sure there’s a clear call to action.
Does it really matter?
One goal of every marketer is to make life easier for customers. Despite the myth that QR codes are dead, they do fulfill that exact purpose.
Knowing how to create and use QR codes in your email marketing is vital to not only making things easier for your subscribers, but also spicing up your email campaigns.
What now?
QR codes are definitely something you should consider including in your email campaigns. From list building to product promotions, QR codes are so versatile that you can use them for virtually anything.
Go ahead and find a QR code generator and start experimenting with ways to use them. Need some more ideas for your email marketing? Check out this article we created on running successful email campaigns.