February 26th, 2012
QR codes have gone from being occasional to ubiquitous.
1. Do your research. Start with the Sunday newspaper. Check out the entertainment section and the auto section. Both of these areas are early adopters.
2. Check out how QR codes are being used in your industry. Look at trade magazines. See what is being done at trade shows.
3. Make a list of the QR codes that you like. For the most part, your customers and prospects will like the same kind of deployments that you like.
4. Think twice about what you link to. Make sure the link is smartphone friendly. Don’t link to the home page of your website, unless you have one that has been designed to look OK on a smartphone. If you are a heavy user, consider a set of pages designed for mobile viewing.
5. Linking to Facebook can work, but let QR code snapper know where you are sending them. People like to know that they are going to have to logon or register, when they snap the code.
6. While not essential, consider putting some guidance text next to the code. “Click here to watch a preview video” or “like us on Facebook and receive $10 off on your next order”.
Lastly, try a number of deployments. Learn what is most successful.
Tags: QR code guidelines
Posted in Marketing, QR Codes | No Comments »
February 15th, 2012
I have been developing a website for Illinois Science + Technology Park for some time. It is now up. We integrated third party content in a number of places. On the page, About Chicago Business, we had a nice piece from World Business Chicago. This page below used 3rd party content differently.
In Getting to (see above) you can find some content that tells the story in a more experiential manner. The first video is a testimonial. But the next two, Take a Ride on the Yellow Line, and Air Force One from the Milwaukee Airport are a bit different. But, for a visitor, they provide an interesting sense of being.
Tags: Content Creation, Websites
Posted in Getting Creative, Marketing | No Comments »
January 3rd, 2012
Happy New Year to everyone! How happy is your new year?
When you ask business folks about the economy, many folks will note a poor economy and a skepticism of the future. However, when you ask them about their business, they will respond that “my business is doing OK”
This was reinforced over the holiday period. Good sales at retailers, car sales are up, vacancy rates are going down. People are spending money. I was talking to a woman who sells for one of the daily deal companies. When posing the question, “do you need more customers?” many respondents note that they are happy with their business.
So, let take our cup and declare it as half full… or maybe two thirds full, as opposed to empty.
Tags: Happy New Year
Posted in Business News, Entrepreneurship | No Comments »
December 18th, 2011
About a year ago, I was designing a combined website and brochure strategy. We decided to put QR codes on the brochures, but it did not seem to make sense to put them on the website. One of the developers commented, why a QR code when you can just put in a link. ‘
Recently, we have been designing a new site for the Illinois Science + Technology Park. As we developed the “Getting to the Park” page, the idea of providing QR codes to provide key links that you would want to store on your smartphone came together.
We realized that if we put the qr code on the site, you could scan it, then, have that on your phone when you arrive. So, we have a code for a map to the park. Then also for those who are taking public transportation, a qr code link to the CTA schedule.
Check it out.
Tags: designing website for small business, QR codes
Posted in Marketing, QR Codes | No Comments »
December 10th, 2011
This is a rash of articles out praising the Apple way of developing products. Writers often suggest to companies that you need to create a product that is insanely different.
Sounds good? But here are a few things to think about.
First, there are not 5 examples of a similar product out there. Often when you propose a solution, people look at it and say, “Who else is doing it”. If there were many examples, would your solution really be different?
Next, it may not be successful. We all hear of the insanely different products that are wildly successful, but if it is different, it might not succeed. If it does not, that’s OK, ask why and move to the next one.
Also, don’t look for customer affirmation about the idea. Now this is hard, because there are many management gurus who suggest that everything you do should come from what your customers are asking for. If it is different, your customer has no context. But, do talk to your customer about the vision. You might suggest to them, “what if we had a product that solved this problem ”
Lastly, stay with your vision and don’t give up. It may take a bit for people to catch on. Or, today’s insane product morphs into tomorrows big hit.
Tags: Insanely Different
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Getting Creative, Marketing | No Comments »
November 9th, 2011
As smartphones get smarter, you as the user need to think about everything that you rely on. Why? Because if you change systems, those features may not be available.
Thinking about moving from an iPhone to Android? You will have reload your APP’s. Also, how are you going to handle your music.
You can do this, but it will take some time.
But what about the iPhone feature called Siri. This feature will let you ask questions and learn about what you like. You’ll get used to that capability. Want to move systems then? Unlikely you can take Siri with you.
Increasingly, capabilities will be created that extend from your laptop, to your tablet, to your smartphone, to your house. Those capabilities will be optimized to work across one system. So, you will have to choose. Apple, Microsoft, or Google?
So, when you upgrade this time, think about who you are choosing. You may be with them for quite some time.
Tags: smartphones, upgrades
Posted in Marketing, Social Media | No Comments »
October 26th, 2011
I was walking by Presidential Towers in Downtown Chicago a couple of weeks ago. I saw a QR code sitting in the window. Scanned the code and was directed to this site.
http://mobile.realtydatatrust.com/Home/24280
Pretty cool. You can almost rent an apartment standing outside the building.
They have really thought through the experience.
Check it out.
Tags: Presidential Towers Chicago, QR code
Posted in Marketing, QR Codes | No Comments »
October 5th, 2011
A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Radio Broadcaster’s Convention in Chicago. Interesting that in some ways, local radio was the original daily interactive media.
Here is a thought from the RAB, that has significance to all of us who produce content.
“Nobody buys a drill because they want a drill; they buy one because they want a hole.” Let’s face it: no potential sponsor wants to buy your Package A, B, or C. What they want is access to a combination of tangible and intangible assets that helps them reach their business goals.
How do you help your clients reach their business goals?
Tags: Business goals
Posted in Business News, Entrepreneurship, Marketing | No Comments »
September 27th, 2011
I did a presentation last night. Talked quite a bit about QR codes. One of the attendees sent me a note about the risks of using QR codes.
Essentially, the risks of scanning a QR code is similar to that of getting an email link. If you are not sure about the scan result, think twice before you click on it. Just like email you can get a virus, malware, etc.
While QR codes can be a great convenience, be vigilant as to the risks.
If it does not seem safe, it probably isn’t
Tags: QR code risks
Posted in Marketing, QR Codes | No Comments »
September 12th, 2011
I have been working on a couple of websites. Every one involved has an opinion as to what kind of device the site will be viewed on. One of the web designers says “nobody really views sites on their smartphones”. Then one of my clients says “all I have today is my Blackberry to look at the site”.
You have rectangular laptops, square desktops, smartphones, iPads, tablets etc. You may not be able to optimize for all, but when designing, check it out; know how you display on each device.
Your site may not be perfect on all. But with a few adjustments, a good design ought to work regardless of the device.
Tags: content for the internet, web design
Posted in Marketing | No Comments »
