When QR codes first began appearing in the marketing and advertising field, they were hailed as marketing genius. Consumers seemed to agree at first, but these scannable codes have begun to lose their luster.
So are QR codes a dead form of marketing? Maybe for you, but they can still have their uses if you have the right audience and are using them effectively.
Some common mistakes of QR codes are that they:
- Don’t scan. Have you ever seen one on a billboard by the freeway? Yeah….that’s easy to scan.
- Your target audience don’t have a scanning app.
- The code redirects to a non-mobile friendly web page.
- The QR code is not attached to smart tracking or reporting.
So should you even bother with QR codes? Before you decide to use this form of marketing for your salon, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do my clients use QR codes? Consider your client base. Are they smartphone-holding, technology-driven people? Or are they happy to bring in a coupon code you sent them in the mail? Decide if your promotional resources are better served in traditional formats (or even semi-traditional formats like email coupons), or if QR codes will strike a chord with your clients.
- What am I trying to achieve? Think about what end result you are looking for and whether a QR code fits the bill. A shelf-talker near your salon products that contains a QR code will only be effective if it leads clients to buy the item, convinces them to buy the item, share the items through social media or comment digitally on their experience in your salon.
- What alternatives are available? Some people simply do not like QR codes. Make sure you provide a basic link alternative for these clients instead of sending them away without your information.
If you decide that QR codes are a smart marketing investment, follow these tips to make them effective:
- Make use of waiting times. People often use their smartphones as a way to pass time when waiting for something else. Display QR codes prominently in the front of your salon to encourage clients to scan them as they wait to be called back into the salon. Look for other local business partners that will allow you to have a QR code display in their waiting areas too.
- Flex your expertise. If you have a new product line, attach a QR code that directs clients to more information on it. You could even have basic hair care tips or salon history available to clients by simply scanning a code.
- Make it pretty. By design, QR codes are ugly. Since it is your job to make clients look beautiful, do the same with a QR code. Design the actual code in a more aesthetically pleasing fashion or make the surrounding elements eye-catching.
- Be mobile friendly – Make sure the link takes them to a mobile friendly website with plenty of social sharing options, purchasing call-to-actions and information that will make them wanting 2!
- Ensure you have tracking enabled – if you can’t measure the impact, you are as good as wearing a blindfold. Make sure that it’s trackable.
- Provide instructions. Give the users some example apps to use in case they aren’t familiar with QR codes.
QR Codes give clients just one more way to interact with your salon. Remember that being scanned is just the first step of QR code success; the user has to respond positively to the information at the landing site too.
Author Bio: Valorie Reavis
Social Marketer, foodie, closet geekA marketing professional who has focused primarily on the hair and beauty business for of the past decade, Valorie now runs linkup marketing, a digital marketing agency for the hair and beauty professional. Valorie works to engage clients in the marketing process and help them successfully engage with their clients and community. Energetic and passionate about the industry, Valorie focuses on blending traditional and digital media in order to bring salons closer to their clients.
