Would you like to market your business as “forward-thinking” and utilize the marketing technology of tomorrow today? You can! Quick Response (QR) codes are rapidly becoming the next trend in marketing, advertising and social networking.

What are QR codes?

In short, QR codes are graphic barcodes that can be scanned by any smartphone. Once scanned, the code brings you to a website. You can create a QR code for your business website, a video you’ve posted on YouTube, or an article you’ve written. The possibilities are endless. To read more about how QR codes work, click here.

How can I use them to market my business?

The cutting-edge way to use QR codes is on signs. You’re already ordering custom signs for your business; why not throw a QR code ont hem and simultaneously send customers to an online location? They’re fairly small and they will definitely brand you as a modern, tech savvy business.

And because QR codes are still a a new idea just beginning to push into the mainstream, people will utilize them. They’re only going to grow. In Japan, they’re huge, where they’re on movie posters, menus, business cards and signs.

How can I use?

Ready for this? QR codes can do a whole lot more than send customers to your general website. Here are some unique ways you can incorporate one on your custom sign:

• Real estate agents are already using QR codes on their signs. While you can only put a certain amount of info on your agent signage, a QR code can direct readers to pictures of the house or even a virtual tour.
• Signs aren’t always at a business’ location. If you have signs advertising your shop elsewhere, a QR code can point people to a map with driving directions.
• Put a QR code on your signage that automatically brings customers to your Twitter feed so they can follow you and keep up to speed with specials or important news within your company.
• A QR code on your restaurant sign can take customers to Open Table so they can make reservations easily.
• Put a QR code on your sign that takes customers to the page where they can “check-in” to your establishment on Facebook or Foursquare.
• Use a QR code to send people to your Yelp page so they can write reviews.
• You can make the code link to a coupon.
• Use a QR code to direct customers to a list of events coming up at your establishment.
• You can use QR codes to make your customers feel “exclusive.” Consider a sign with a picture of your best selling product and a QR code next to it - and nothing else. The code could then point customers to more info about the product, or a coupon.
• Airport signage with QR codes and direct people to a website with flight updates.
• Signs at museums and in visitor centers can use QR codes to send people on self-guided tours from their cell phones.
• Put a QR code on car graphics to send people to your personal website, a video or your business info.

Are those enough ideas for you?

How can I go about using those ideas?

When you order a sign from TheSignChef, we’ll create and design your custom QR code absolutely free. All you have to do is point it to the correct site. We’ll even help you determine the appropriate size for a QR code on your custom sign. Or to quickly and easily create your own QR code, simply access our free QR Code Generator!

A couple of other points

Many people still aren’t familiar with QR codes. If you’re not a technology based business, many of your customers probably aren’t familiar with them just yet. Provide instructions for use, even something as simple as, “point and click your smartphone.”

Remember that you can update the webpage your QR code points to whenever you want. If it points to daily specials, you can update that one page every day – this means that one code can be used for a long time, or again and again.

As a business utilizing this new technology before competitors catch on, you have an edge. And if you need any help, please contact our sign specialists. Then sit back, let us do the work and watch as your business thrives!