QR CODES IN THE WILD: NOVEMBER 2011 EDITION
Posted by 
on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 
at 7:00 AM 
in Each month we write tons of blog posts on QReateAndTrack.com about the QR Codes that we come across while we are out and about. This month like every other month, we saw plenty of creative ways that people are using QR Codes in their marketing efforts.
Below are some of the pieces that caught our attention over the past month. We hope that you enjoy them.
Macy’s Backstage Pass
Welch’s Juice Company
Target
YakTrax
PCC Natural Markets
Harry Potter
Disney
Tags Introducing… The White Label Program for iFlyMobi
There is no doubt QR Code usage has dramatically increased over the past year. We are seeing them regularly in magazines, on our mail, on TV, on posters and signs, on tattoos(!!!), and more.
But this has caused many companies — primarily print service providers, mail service providers and marketing agencies — to look for the answer to this question: How do we make money from QR Codes?
We are happy to announce the launch of a new program that will help companies to monetize QR Codes and other mobile marketing activities.
Our iFlyMobi application, which enables companies to easily build mobile websites, now comes with a White Label Program option.
What does the White Label Program Include?
There are a number of features that will allow you to make the iFlyMobi application your own. They include:
- Branding the iFlyMobi application to look like your company: You can replace the logo and name with your own.
- Defining a custom URL: This allows you to control what URL your customers will see when they log-on to the application.
- Creating lead-generation forms for your customers that are optimized for mobile devices
- Providing your customers with a login that allows them to see reports for their mobile website
We will also be working with our White Label Program customers to help them sell QR Codes and mobile websites. Customers will have access to:
- Monthly webinars related to QR Codes, mobile websites, and other related topics
- Marketing and sales collateral that can be rebranded
- Phone/Live Chat Access to our team
- And more!
How Much Does the White Label Program Cost?
To utilize the White Label Program option for iFlyMobi, there is a one-time fee of $499.99. Also, you’ll need to choose a monthly plan that will allow you to build mobile websites for your own promotional efforts.
In order to add new clients to your White Label Program, you simply choose a monthly Page Plan for them. Then you can begin building mobile websites for them. Your customers will not see this fee, so you can charge them whatever you like for your mobile marketing services!
How Do I Get Started?
It’s easy! You can sign-up for a White Label account online today.
Three Ways that a Printer Could Benefit By Using SMS/Text
If you have been to any marketing-related conferences over the past year, I’m sure you’d agree that mobile has been a very popular topic.
Companies of all sizes are looking for information on QR Codes, mobile websites, mobile apps, and more. In addition to those items, there inevitably is a speaker at these conferences that will say this: “Don’t ignore SMS/Text! More people use that than they do the mobile web”.
It certainly can be motivating to hear those quotes and to read articles like this one. But how can you actually implement SMS/Text into your business?
Here are three ideas on how a printer could incorporate SMS/Text into their marketing, sales, and customer support activities.
Notification When A Job is Ready
Most of the printers that I work with send notification via email when a job is ready. In addition to that email, it may be worth considering sending a text-message to the customer at that time as well.
Of course, this may not make sense for all jobs. But here are a few scenarios where SMS may prove to be helpful:
- When the job was flagged as Rush/Urgent
- When the job will be picked up by a customer
- When the job will be delivered by the printer & sign-off is required
Yes, email or a phone call could certainly be used in those situations too. But as more and more people turn to SMS to communicate about all sorts of activities, this may be a way for a printer to also share information with their customer in a channel that they may prefer using.
To Share Information About Specials
Certainly, a business does not want every marketing initiative to be related to pricing specials and discounts. However, those can still be used from time-to-time to create buzz, garner attention, and increase sales.
Many printers are using email and social media to promote their specials. Another way to do that would be through SMS/Text. Since most pricing deals only have a short-window of time, SMS/Text can prove to be an effective way to get your customer’s attention very quickly.
Of course, the message we send out should do more than just provide details of the discount… Make sure that you include a way for them to redeem it!
To Gain Feedback After A Job/Project is Complete
We all want to generate repeat business. To do this, we often have to reach out to customers after a job has been done, seek to get their feedback, and then offer/recommend other activities that we could help them with.
One challenge in accomplishing that is finding the time — both for us (in this case, the printer) and the customer. Using SMS to initiate that conversation could prove to be an effective option for us.
For one, the text message most likely will get noticed by the customer. Also, it may provide the customer with a very quick way to provide feedback. (Many post-job follow-ups that I have seen come in the form of an email that often link to a survey that ask 10 questions!)
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These are just a few ideas on how SMS/Text could be used to help improve marketing, sales, and customer support initiatives.
Have you found anything else that works? If so, please let me know in the comments below!
A Shining Example in the Printing Industry: Universal Millennium
I was quite pleased to see John Sisson of Universal Millennium featured in a WhatTheyThink.com video today. John shared some excellent information on how his company has transformed and grown their business over the years. I think that they are certainly a positive story in the printing industry.
Full disclosure — Universal Millennium is an interlinkONE customer. However, in addition to having the chance to work with the folks from Universal Millennium in the vendor/customer relationship, I also had the chance to spend a lot of time with them while I was writing my book.
Yes, in Business Transformation: A New Path to Profit for the Printing Industry, I had the opportunity to feature a case study on Universal Millennium that highlights the path their company has taken to transform into a marketing services provider.
Here are a few of my favorite points from their story:
- They found ways to grow their business by making strategic acquisitions.
- They determined that they needed different resources internally and externally and they made the investments.
- They changed their branding and message to focus on what’s important — how they can help their customers!
DMA Boston 2011
From October 1st through the 6th, interlinkONE and Grow Socially employees will be participating in various events around DMA Boston 2011. We will be on the show floor, we’ll be attending some of the after-hours networking events, and we’ll be meeting up with customers & prospects.
If you are planning on being at the conference too, we’d love to see you there! Please feel free to let us know.
While it certainly is nice to have a show of this magnitude right in our backyard, we have also been quite pleased with some of the pre-show commentary that the DMA has been releasing.
In fact, we might have burst into a spontaneous company dance after reading this article. Yes, the headline and the sub-headline were right up our alley:
- “‘Integrate,’ says DMA”
- “Multichannel strategy emphasized at DMA’s All for One conference”
Those two lines are ones that we try to live by everyday when it comes to our marketing efforts. It’s not always easy, but using our own technology helps 
P.S. If you have any questions about how you may be able to improve your marketing efforts through integrated, multi-channel activities, please feel free to register for a demo here >>
