QR Code Information

I just read a great article by Don Crowder about QR codes and wanted to share the information with you. QR codes are those funny looking square graphics that work like bar-codes and are the easiest way to enter a web address into your phone.

For those of you who want to try this new technology, here's a easy to use QR Code creator (some elements are free, others cost a bit): http://www.QRStuff.com

A list of QR Code readers / decoders / scanning apps for iPhones, Androids and more: http://www.qrstuff.com/qr_phone_software.html

Here are some great ideas of how to utilize this new technology in your marketing:

1. Business Cards
   Put a code on your business card containing all of your contact information
2. Put It On A T-Shirt
   Then people get sent where you want them to go
3. Put It On Price Tags In A Store
   Taking them to a specs page online
   Best Buy does this
4. Put It On Your Website Contact Us Page
   People take a picture of your page on the screen, put you in their contact list
5. Put It On Your Instruction Sheet
   People scan it to get step-by-step instructions
   Or maybe a video
6. Put It In Print Ads
   People scan to be taken to a specific landing page on your website
7. Put It On A Campaign Sign
   Taking people to your website
8. Put It On A For-Sale Sign
   Take them to a website with video and information about the item being sold
   
9. Put It On Your Luggage
   If your luggage ever gets lost…
10. Send a Tweet
    Scanning it sends out a tweet
11. Do A Location Login
    Put on every table and the walls of your restaurant, does a foursquare login or a Facebook location login
12. Add To Your LinkedIn Page
    Passes your contact information or website
13. Call Us To Place Your Order
    Scan dials their phone
14. Send a Teaser Postcard
    Send a QR code to a potential client, which takes them to your website
15. Put It On Your Conference NameTag
    Contact information or website
16. Put A Backsell On Your Invoice
    Taking them to a landing page making a special offer
17. Put One On The End Of A Video
    Takes them to a landing page, can pass source codes
18. Paypal Buy Link
    Scanning takes them to Paypal to buy your item
19. Promote An Event
    Scanning the code puts it on their calendar
20. Announce Your Free Wifi
    Scanning logs them into your wifi account
21. Put It In Your Powerpoint Presentation
    Build your list by sending them to a special bonus offer if they sign up

This new technology will give you easier ways to reach your customers! (And it's fun too!)
Please let me know if you come up with other ideas.

List Building for Online Sales Strategies

One of the most important things to grow your current business is a list of contacts. Online businesses need to build high quality relationships with their customers. Subscribers are the most valuable asset of your online business. Therefore, list building leads to building relationships, which in turn encourages prospects to visit your website, sign up and get closer to buying your offer. But people are not just going to flock to a website and leave their contact information! To attract them, they must perceive some value. The first thing they are going to think about is how they will benefit from giving you their contact details. That’s why every business that does online marketing must build its own lists, targeted at specific prospects.

A point to bear in mind here is that even after you’ve drawn the visitor to your site, there is no fixed rule that says they must purchase from you the first time they go there. Which means we must make sure there is some way you can capture their contact information behind before they go.

You do need to remind them and follow up, don’t you? You can do this by asking them to sign up in exchange for something valuable to them – like a free download or newsletter. In this manner, your list continues to build. You must find a way to follow up with these contacts to that they become your customers.

If you need help with creating a plan to build your list, please contact us. We're happy to help! Please email me at kathyosstrategies@gmail.com if you need help.

Top 20 Social Networking Sites

I just found a great report at http://www.hitwise.com/us/datacenter/main/dashboard-10133.html that gives the most recent statistics on search engines and social networking sites. This SEO information can help you decide where to spend your marketing time and dollars. Isn't Facebook amazing?

Steve Jobs's words to the wise

I just watched this video of Steve Jobs and wanted to share it with you. There are so many opportunities to "be in service " to others -even in the current economy. I hope you enjoy this and it makes you think. I did. I am grateful that I love what I do AND why I do it. I love helping customers get visible on the internet with new and improving online sales strategies.