Remember QR codes? Those black and white squares that can be scanned through a mobile device and take users to a webpage. While they were never a revolutionary tactic in digital marketing, they never did any harm either. They were more of a gimmick, if you will, that in some contexts made a lot of sense. But most businesses and brands ignored it.

So why does it look like it’s making a comeback now? And is it worth your time?

The New Rise of QR Codes

You can argue that the QR code never stood a chance until recently. Think about it - in its early days, users had to install an app specifically designed to scan these codes, and only then were they able to visit the webpage that marketers intended.

That’s too much effort to expect from your consumers. So, when looking at the stats, QR codes never generated a lot of traffic, so a lot of marketers just let them go.

In 2020, however, it’s a different story. Smartphones offer native QR scanners, and they don’t do it through an extra app. You can simply open your camera, and the app will take it from there. The fact that internet speeds also greatly improved only added fuel to the QR code fire. So, it makes sense that a lot of brands are looking back at this code and embracing it.

Should You Pay Attention to the QR Code?

The QR code can be quite beneficial in a digital marketing campaign because, at least in some cases, it can help audiences members quickly access your site.

For example, think if you go to a fair with a stand to promote your products. Participants can then quickly scan a QR code on location and visit your site to find out more, after of course directly interacting with you. This can be incredibly valuable, as the process can take place immediately. Without a QR code, the user would have to look you up later, maybe even once they get home, and you can lose a lot of potential clients this way.

Here are other benefits of a QR code:

High-impact campaigns, where instead of promoting complex messages you push a QR code to spike people’s interest;
App downloads, if the QR code directs users directly to the App Store;
View business location, highly useful for restaurants, cafes, or physical stores;
Shopping and e-commerce, where you can easily send out personalized deals and coupons to users.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the QR Code

They may have laughed at it back in 2011, but the QR code is finally getting a place in the spotlight. And, considering how easy it is to generate them, businesses big and small really have nothing to lose by embracing these codes too in their digital marketing campaigns. Are you ready to do it?

How you use Intimate Digital Conference Room technology can set you apart from your competitors, get you closer to your clients, and leave you better off than your competitors when the crisis is over.

Canopy Futurist Advisor, John Krubski, reveals how Virtual Meetings Can Be More Effective than the “real thing.”

“It’s not about mechanics. It’s about dynamics. What we make of this moment in time can have a profound impact on the way we do business in the post COVID era." www.krubski.com

"As the business world moves towards virtual meetings out of necessity, I fear we might just miss the really big opportunity," says Krubski. "I believe that, done right, digital meetings can actually be more powerful and productive than same-room meetings. I have seen that happen over and over."

Here are three of the factors the video below covers in full that give virtual meetings an edge over their face-to-face counterparts. (Workshops and training are available.)

The Safety of Digital Solitude: A virtual meeting puts up a barrier, but that does not mean it squashes the flow of ideas. Much like people are freer to speak their minds when posting to social media, employees are more likely to contribute in a bold way in front of their screens.
Permission to Think Out Loud: Just the presence of others makes thinking a cautious activity. Even though staff members are not alone during a virtual meeting, the simulated feeling of isolation is enough to get some creative thought patterns going.
Access to Collective Native Intelligence: When participating in an in-person meeting, we limit our contribution to our specific job function. Away from those constructs, people open up and open up to ideas that draw on the breadth of their experience.