Nowadays, we can see QR codes everywhere. But did you know that you can use them to give your customers a localized experience?
These scannable codes have become quite popular in the last few years as they offer quick and easy access to a huge variety of digital content.
QR codes’ popularity is constantly growing, but it hasn’t reached its peak yet: According to Future Market Insights, the global QR code labels market was valued at US$ 996.8 million in 2018. It is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.7% during the period 2019-2027.
Indeed, they can help you reach new audiences and, most importantly, make customers actively engage with your localized content.
This, in turn, will help you build a solid customer base and increase your overall revenue.
For instance, Tesco, Korea’s virtual store, has increased its sales by 130% since integrating a QR code campaign into its marketing strategy.
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It seems like they are the perfect tool for your international marketing strategy, doesn’t it! Keep reading, and you will learn everything you need to know about reaping all the benefits of QR code.
What are QR codes?
QR code stands for quick response code. This is a two-dimensional barcode, which, when scanned, automatically redirects the user to a specific web page, video, document, or contact information such as phone number, email, etc.
QR are often preferred over URL links since they are easy to use – no need for lengthy URL addresses, which are hard to type.
What’s more, due to the popularity of QR, users no longer need to download QR code reader apps.
For what purposes are QR code used?
They are omnipresent in today’s digital world. Since they are so easy to scan and use, brands are becoming more and more creative with their use.
For instance,leading food delivery app development companies helps restaurents use QR to direct customers to their menus.
This trend, in particular, referred to as “no-touch menus,” is accelerating, especially during the pandemic. Code allows people to access a digital version of the menu without entering the restaurant.
Another example would be museums. Putting a QR next to a piece of art or a historical artifact is an interactive way to provide the visitors with more information about the history of the exhibited objects.
What’s more, in some shops, QR is used to provide contactless payment. This payment method is quite popular in India. Every merchant has a QR that stores their URL and other relevant information. The payer only has to scan the code with the UPI mobile app to make a payment.
Types of QR Codes
Generally, there are two main types of QR code – static and dynamic.
Let’s start with a static QR. As their name suggests, this type of QR code is not editable. Once scanned, this code redirects you to a permanent link. The scans cannot be tracked.
Dynamic QR, on the other hand, is commonly used by brands since they offer more functions. You can adjust the data behind the QR to fit your needs.
Dynamic QR code have one great advantage that can come in handy for marketing purposes: this type of QR provides you with analysis based on the scans of the code.
This, in turn, makes dynamic QR a powerful marketing tool that can provide you with in-depth statistics on your customers’ preferences.
What is a Multi-URL QR Code?
Multi-URL QR is a dynamic code that is frequently used by brands. It allows you to use a single QR code that redirects customers to a specific URL address, based on their location, device’s language setting, time of the day, etc. You can choose from various parameters based on your needs.
If you target several different locales, multi-URL QR code are the perfect solution for you!
For instance, when a customer in France scans your code, they’ll automatically be redirected to the French version of your website. On the other hand, German or Indian customers can access the pages in German and Hindi while using the exact same QR code.
All in all, multi-URL QR code are a great way to provide your international customers with content in their native language.
How to benefit from QR Codes?
Simply using a QR code won’t be enough to reap all the benefits of this tool. You have to be strategic about it!
So, here are some suggestions on how to benefit from QR code:
- Redirect customers to a specific page: QR code can be used to drive traffic not only to a website but also to any web page you want from your localized content.
Indeed, you can use QR code to redirect customers to any page or piece of content you would want your customers to see.
For example, if you want to launch localized marketing campaigns in France, Argentina, and China simultaneously, you can set up your multi URL QR code to redirect your customers to specific pages according to your customers’ location.
- Redirect customers to your localized website: The hardest step is to make your localized website known among the customers in a particular target locale. QR code can come in handy even in this situation.
For instance, if you are just entering a specific market where most customers are unfamiliar with your brand, you can put QR code on different marketing materials, both printed or digital.
If you invest in ads on Facebook or other websites, ensure that your QR code is included. Another option is printed marketing materials such as posters, billboards, flyers, etc.
In both cases, however, you have to make sure that your QR code is clearly visible so that customers will not miss it.
- Use QR code for individualized customer support: One of the best ways to build trust in your customers is by letting them have easy access to customer support. In this way, you show them that your brand cares about their opinion and is always ready to help.
In this regard, QR code are a great tool to help your clients reach customer support fast and easily without having to navigate through long menus and a list of numbers.
Most websites offer long lists of phone numbers for each language and locale. If you are a customer going through these lists to find the right number, it would probably lead to frustration and a lot of wasted time.
Indeed, most customers will get frustrated and leave your website, possibly never going back ever again.
By setting up a QR code for customer support, you can let them find what they need with a single click.
- Track user engagement: It is extremely important to track your customers’ engagement! Knowing what content customers enjoy and click on regularly helps get to know the market. This, in turn, is very beneficial when devising your marketing strategy for the future.
For instance, if you have invested in billboards, but the statistics show that there is hardly any user engagement with these materials, next time, you might think of another marketing tool such as Facebook ads. Where you can track performance metrics like Facebook Ads CPC (cost-per-click) to ensure every dollar drives real engagement.
What’s more, this is a significant advantage over your competitors, especially if you are just launching your brand in a new locale. QR code offer you a detailed insight into your customers’ preferences since they track who is using your code and when.
- Use QR code on your product’s packaging: You can cut down massively on packaging and production costs by utilizing QR code more strategically.
For instance, instead of printing packaging with detailed explanations about the history, or the ingredients of your product, you can just put a QR code. This also allows you to be more creative in the way you present the information. You can create a game or a video rather than plain text.
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In addition, there is one huge advantage to this approach: if there are particular mistakes or you want to make changes, you don’t need to redesign and reprint the whole packaging since all updates can be done on the backend.
- Redirect customers to your socials: QR code are a great way to redirect your customers to your social media accounts. It’s easy, and you will avoid any confusion on your customers’ side.
- Spark your customers’ curiosity: QR code are used by many brands as a means to entertain their customers or to spark curiosity.
For instance, a restaurant chain Denny used QR code to promote their Hobbit-themed menu. Once scanned, customers could play online games and stream videos. According to statistics, the QR code used by Denny has generated 400,000 scans.
E-mart, on the other hand, used QR code for their so-called Sunny Sale campaign and increased their sales by up to 25%. They used 3D shadow QR code which were accessible only during lunchtime. Customers scanned the codes and received real-time offers.
- Be creative with your QR codes design: QR code can appear in several different forms. For instance, you can use them on printed or digital marketing materials, on your website, on your ads, etc. But if you want to really catch the attention of potential customers, try to be more creative using a circle QR code generator.
Harney’s Sushi restaurant, for example, used edible QR code on their sushi which, when scanned, showed the origin of the fish. This campaign aimed to end the ‘fish fraud’ in California restaurants. Also, having access to information about the food they eat, customers felt safer, and it also built their trust in the brand.
Overall, QR code are a great way to merge your online and offline marketing campaigns. They will help you increase your overall customer experience. What’s more, QR code are the perfect tool to implement more information about your product, which will likely increase your customers’ trust in your brand.
Coinbase’s Mystery QR Code Super Bowl Ad
To finish off, let us have a look at probably the most talked-about ad on Superbowl this year, which, believe it or not, was a simple dynamic QR code.
The commercial was pretty simple yet ingenious! A QR code bounces on the screen for 30 seconds while changing its colors.
It was only at the very end of the ad that the logo of Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, appeared for a brief second.
Once scanned, the QR code redirects you to a promo page that promises that you will receive $15 of Bitcoin if you create an account.
In fact, the cryptocurrency company used an interesting tactic: it wanted to make people scan the code and reveal the mystery behind it.
But most of the buzz is created by the fact that this ad was probably the most inexpensive ad to be featured on the Super Bowl, despite a reported cost of $7 million for a 30-second commercial spot.
Nevertheless, Coinbase’s bouncing QR code commercial was quite successful, considering that 20 million people scanned the code. Indeed, so many people visited the app via the code that the application couldn’t handle the traffic, causing it to crash.
In conclusion
QR code are a great way to enrich your customers’ experience while promoting your localized content. Additional features allow you to work with in-depth statistics on your customers’ engagement. This, in turn, is a fantastic tool for designing your marketing strategy.
QR code are a common feature of many brands, so try to be more creative to make your brand’s QR code more recognizable by customers. Indeed, QR code might as well become a recognizable feature of your brand!
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