Scanning for Sweeps

by david

We are often asked for the best way to use 2D barcodes or QR codes.  While this is an understandable question, the real answer is whatever is going to solve a need for you or your business.  Over time, this technology will connect people from anything physical to additional digital information or content.  Therefore, the applications are limitless. For marketing purposes, people will eventually just scan a product or an add to get more information.  But this is new technology, and the best way to see results is to deliver something of real value.  That could be a discount, exclusive content (video or downloads), or a chance to win something great. A few new projects have launched which deliver on the last area - a chance to win.  Using a QR code to enter a sweepstakes is pretty compelling because someone can enter their email or phone number very easily on a mobile phone, so they don't have to run back to a PC or hope they remember the URL later.  They just scan and enter. Here's an example from a Sprint newsletter which is giving away free Kindles: [caption id="attachment_57" align="alignleft" width="159"] Sprint Newsletter[/caption] Here is the mobile page people see after scanning the code, and then you can even buy the Kindle from Amazon mobile. As you can see it's a pretty simple process for both an advertiser and a user, and that's the key.  The technology is meant to simplify life for everyone, so whatever you do, keep it simple! We will post more examples of sweepstakes campaigns and the instant win lotto code.  You can take a look at the Guinness example that ran in connection with Metro News.