OLIVE ROSEHIPS: mobile

Showing posts with label mobile. Show all posts

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Mobile is Everywhere, Time to Behave?

In 2014, Mobile is everything. Everything and everywhere. Go to any public place, work place, and or relax place and you will see mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) in use. Mobile and Social Media go hand in hand, one is used to connect to the other.

What does mobile mean to you as a small business professional? Some timely realization is that with mobile being everything and everywhere, giving thoughtful application to your online presence or footprint is now a timely consideration. In 2014, the competition is fierce for customer experience. The customer experience begins online for the most part. You and or your business are easily researched, quickly rejected when your posts are considered offensive or you are not credible or even nice. Like it or not, opinions are formed and you are always a click away from that follow. We don't suggest you adopt paranoia, or put your head in the sand, but some skilled awareness about what and how you are sharing are in order.

With Social Media, you are your own media department. Social media is like a really big cocktail party, and the way you conduct yourself and respond to others is noticed by those considering engaging into business and interpersonal relationships with you. Are you falling into pitfalls that are considered online no-no's? Are you sending accurate and positive messages? Are you being off putting without realizing?

Competition heats up in 2014. Unless you are the only one who does what you do, this is the year to be skillful, fun, and engaging simultaneously. People are using their mobile devices to connect and they are mostly into light hearted, unique, positive and relevant posts. Do you have a blend of these elements in your posts? Do you do what everyone else is doing? Are you paying attention? Are you savvy about new uses with social media?

It is time to brush up on Social Manners and Social Analytics. Social media is not necessarily a big waste of time if you know how to use it to advantage. If you are not seeing results with social media, however, you are likely wasting your time. 2014 is the year to learn how to win at this fun medium.

smbSocialMediaWorkshop.com offers private, personalized webinars where you can ask your pressing questions without 20-40 other classmates present. We also offer small class webinars for a lower price point. Our webinars are recorded for your review at your convenience, they are included in the price of the personal webinar and purchased optionally with a class. Our class times are Mountain Time, we are in the Denver time zone.

Remember, in the year 2014, mobile is everything, make sure you know how to leverage it.

Sources: Gartner: Mobile Forbes: 2014 Mobile Payment 7 Ways to Deal w A-holes on FB Mobile Device Onslaught Tablet Image

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.

26 Mar 2013 Gillette ad using QR codes (and Kate Upton)

20 Feb 2013 Wal-Mart Self-checkout stores use QR Codes

Swimsuit Models Come to Life Via QR Codes in Lexus Print Ad

Maserati enhances print ad with optimized QR code content

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:

Monday, December 31, 2012

DISMISSED?

While having a debate over QR codes with a witty, albeit unarmed nay sayer, I learned some opinions against QR codes. Chris was his name and he pronounced vehemently that QR codes “blew it!” and that people don’t scan them anymore. He even backed this up with facts that he collected from an entire one person: himself. I listened and took mental notes because Chris’ boldness represents the polite folks who may be thinking what he is thinking. I recognized that Chris and others have been unimpressed with prior QR code experiences but were very aware of their potential. If he were indifferent with QR codes I would have believed him a degree more but it seemed to me that he wanted to like them. I agreed with Chris on some things, such as: who wants to scan a code just to visit a website? I wouldn’t necessarily feel compelled to do that. I also tend to ignore QR codes that hide in the bottom corner and don’t provide a call to action. QR codes, in general, remain rock stars even if they aren’t largely being strategized effectively. The disappointment reminds me of this comparison: if you have an awesome Smart phone and only use it for calls; the phone is still great but you, you need to take advantage of the phone’s potential.

I showed Chris some branded QR codes with great calls to action that linked to engaging content. I wasn’t merely trying to shut him down, I wanted him to respond about his experience because I knew I could count on him to be honest. I put a custom QR code in front of him and I did not ask him to scan it. He could not resist. He said “Do you want me to scan that?” and I said “If you want to” and he was noticeably eager to. He proclaimed that if more QR codes were customized like this one, he would be curious about scanning. The good looking QR code contained catchy music and an inspiring ski video. The video was somewhat long, at 5 minutes, but I could not get Chris’ attention until it was over. I enjoyed chatting with Chris and I don’t think he minded having his negative opinion about QR codes shut down. I would have asked him if he minded but he was busy scanning all of the QR codes in my portfolio.

Check out this QR code by Swanson Flavor Boost http://bit.ly/VulQa0 . The actual black and white QR code still lacks visual appeal from multimedia graphics standpoint, the call to action doesn’t whet the whistle alone but once scanned, the QR code does not disappoint. Strategize with a professional today on a graphic QR code with a video embedded, branded QR code is a great ROI from which you benefit from measurable mobile engagement with your consumers. Professional QR codes offer quicker scanning, measurable scan tracking, and even the potential of changing the message in the code without reprint or redesign.

QRCodesOfNote.com

image source

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

QR Codes and the iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 pre-orders sold out in about an hour. Promoters of products or services can capitalize upon this mobile phone release which boasts a faster wireless connectivity and a larger screen; both advances are great for those providing content. These factors can drive your sales. In today’s world, more people own cell phones than own computers and most people always have their cell phones nearby. With all this mobile connectivity, many consumers first visits to websites will be via cell phones and mobile devices. Image source

A basic QR code, such as this example shown, is a pixelated box containing embedded data that is activated by scanning with a smart phone or other mobile device. The scan launches the QR code message onto the phone through the use of a downloaded scanning app such as the Red Laser. The scanned information can offer limitless experiences such as scan incentives, videos, music, contests, scavenger hunts, and special offers of all kinds.

Take the best advantage of smart phone marketing trends by handing your message to the smart phone armed consumer. With Apple boasting over 2 million iPhone 5 sales, about 2 million consumers are probably giddy to use their new phones. They will use it to make phone calls, play games, watch videos, visit the internet, and download apps that improve their lives. Scan apps such as Red Laser will allow these smart phone consumers to scan information about products and their prices. By adding QR code to your marketing plan, you can drive more traffic to your business. What you really want, in order to entice scanning, for improved traffic, leads, and increased SEO is a custom QR code. The plain, generic QR code represents the timid first steps of QR codes where consumers scanned and had a plain, uninspiring experience often at an URL.

Encourage shoppers to scan your code with a well thought out QR code marketing campaign which is visually intriguing and offers rewards for scans. With the implementation of a colorful and/or artistically altered QR code, the customer is more interested in seeing what is inside the code. That, and they like their new iPhone 5’s and find it cool to whip it out and scan your stunning graphic QR code. Image Source

Where are you going to get this stunning QR code representing your business for these eager smart phone users to scan? As you can see from this infographic, there is a continued increase in consumers scanning QR codes. QR Codes of Note™, a multimedia web design entity customizes QR codes into codes that scans super quick, tracks scan data and even has the capability to change your embedded message without altering the appearance of your dazzling, custom QR code that you may have had printed on car magnets, sticker, marketing tri-folds and in print ads. These artistic codes aren’t easily manipulated like the plain, black and white pixelated qr, so the likelihood of your code being altered into passing along malicious Malware viruses is greatly decreased. A quick phone call gets your questions answers about incorporating QR codes and gets you started on increased sales potential. The QRCodesOfNote.com website, has examples of custom QR codes though there are an infinite number of ways to imbue brands and custom qualities into QR codes that will distinguish you from the pack. With QRCodesOfNote.com you have the added benefit of not only purchasing a customized QR code, but also successful marketing pointers such as call to action wording, and added multimedia offers created by the designers to enhance your campaign to get the increased exposure you seek.