QR codes are becoming more popular. You can see them everywhere. They are in magazines, newspapers, billboards, we even saw them on an ice cream “give away” trailer. So, how big should your code be? It depends on how the viewer is going to access the code. If you are doing a simple paper code, in print or on a business card, it can be as small as 2 cm square. That’s about three quarters of an inch. Obviously, if you are putting your code on a door or a trailer, it should be bigger.
Once you get the code, try it out. Test the code in various lighting scenarios. Think about the conditions that your viewer will be accessing the code.
Next, look at what you are linking to! Are you linking to a site with flash? iPhone users will not be able to see it. If you are linking to your regular website, how mobile friendly is your home page? Consider creating at least a mobile friendly landing page. We like to link to YouTube videos because they work and tell a story.
If possible, try your QR code link on different smartphones. A website will look different in different browsers.
Lastly, how will this link integrate into your total customer acquisition plan. After accessing the site, what do you want your viewer to do.
For examples of QR codes, please check out other blog postings in this blog, or our home page
Many corporations are limiting access to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other community sites. Some companies don’t allow employees to use text messaging. When asked about information security, the CIO can state, “we don’t allow access on our company provided devices!”
So, what actually happens. Employees text people on their own smartphones. They tell colleagues, customers, prospects, to just send them the links or the information to their home emails. How many times have you heard an employee say… “just send that to me on my gmail account”.
Instead of saying no, companies need to create a social media policy that says yes.
When discussing social media, sometimes we hear “my company won’t allow me to access Twitter, YouTube, text messages etc” For many companies, their social media policy is just saying no. This harkens back to the mid-1990′s when companies would not allow access to the internet.
A few things a company should think about.
1. Just because you don’t allow access on the company devices, it does not mean people aren’t using the tools with company information. If you cut it off on the company Blackberry, employees just tell their collaborators to send it to them on their iPhones.
2. Employees want to do a good job. They generally don’t access information that they don’t need.
3. Employees know that you monitor their internet usage.
The solution is to create a social media policy and e-Content creation plan that empowers employees. Outline what kind of use is acceptable. Provide the content tools that will allow them to participate effectively.
