Continuous Improvement -

Is a QR Code the right move for your marketing? Take The QR Code Quiz!

We see QR codes almost everywhere we go. They are a quick and convenient way to access a website or app from your mobile device. Many businesses use QR Codes but don’t necessarily know if they are using them correctly. They’re for more than just reaching your audience!

Knowing when, where, and how to use a QR Code can make a big difference in your marketing strategy effectiveness. So, take the QR Code Quiz today!

These simple Yes or No questions will help you decide if a QR code is the right addition to your messaging. Read along with the tips and tricks to become a QR Code pro!

1. Will your messaging be viewed in a physical, in-person format?

You should never plan to use a QR code online. If you’re presenting your message online, such as in an email or on social media, a clickable link is the way to go, not a QR code. Remember that QR codes are accessed by scanning them with the camera on a smartphone, and over 90% of internet users browse from their mobile device, making it very difficult for those users to access a QR code. QR codes are highly effective for use in store displays, event spaces, screens, and pretty much every printed material you can imagine, such as flyers, brochures, and even business cards.

2. Is your QR code accompanied by a strong call to action?

It’s important to determine whether or not a QR code can help you reach your goals, so make sure you have a clear objective in mind. You’re asking the audience to take a specific action, and that QR code is the quickest way to reach their destination. Here are some great examples…

Leave us a review
Register for our event
Order online
Browse our specials
Apply today!

Without a clear motivation for the audience to act, the code will not be effective.

3. Does the link in your QR code match the audience expectations?

Remember that a QR code is meant to make it easy and convenient for the audience to accomplish their objectives. Help them out by making the link as direct as possible. If you want them to read your blog post, the link needs to go to the blog page, not the home page. If you want them to leave a review, the link needs to take them directly to the review form, etc. There’s nothing more frustrating than the bait and switch, so don’t ask your audience to scan your code for savings, then link to your contact page instead. Take them straight to the savings!

4. Does your target audience have their phone handy when they see your code?

It seems like everyone is on their phones constantly these days, but there are still a few settings where QR codes aren’t the right fit because you shouldn’t be expecting people to have their phones handy. Billboards are not the right place to use a QR code because most of your audience will be driving in their cars and should NOT be opening the camera on their phones as they pass by your ad. Another example is during presentations. It is still common etiquette for people to put their phones away during high-end presentations. If you’re a keynote speaker at an event, think about providing a handout instead of asking the audience members to take out their phones to scan your code in the middle of the event. Of course, there are some settings where this is ok, so use some discretion when making that decision.

5. Do you have a trust-based relationship with your audience?

In this era of hacking and scams, it’s important to establish trust before using a QR code. Please make sure you trust that your audience will only use the link as intended and they won’t be trying to hack your code to embed a malicious link. You also want to make sure you have trust with your audience, because if they don’t trust you then they may not (and shouldn’t) scan your code.

If you answered “YES” to all of the questions above, then a QR code should be effective in producing results. If you answered “NO” to even one of these questions, then let’s discuss better strategies for achieving your goals through effective messaging. Schedule a consultation with our Marketing Muse, Robin Mahle-Piccione, and get ready to take your branding to the next level!

by Coach Christy Austin

Working with countless teams over the years has shown that assumptions are like a hidden pest. Like termites in the foundation, they erode our business, resulting in lower productivity, dissatisfied customers, and increased employee turnover. An assumption is defined as “an expectation believed to be true, without facts or evidence.” Though most are unaware, we each make hundreds of assumptions every day and don’t even realize it.

We make assumptions.

Our staff make assumptions.

Our customers make assumptions.

Our potential clients make assumptions.

This affects our overall success and often negatively impacts our bottom line!

Our own assumptions are laced through the DNA of our business. We know what we’re thinking, we know the culture we want, we know our values, we know our daily procedures, we know what we expect from employees, and we know how to work hard to make things work. But, does our team, or our customers, know these things? We often assume they do!

According to a recent Forbes Survey [i], the most common assumptions in the workplace that hold teams back include these.:

Management can’t be trusted.
I can’t make any mistakes.
If someone has an issue, they’ll speak up.
This is the way it has always been done.
Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken.

Obviously, most of our assumptions are automatic thoughts that “pop” into our minds. We never question them because we think they’re facts. Why? Because, much like family dysfunction, our assumptions are “normal.” They are familiar to us.

What assumptions did you make when you woke up today?

I’ll leave at my usual time because there’s never much traffic.
Our morning meeting will be productive.
The new hire probably won’t work out again.
My staff will work hard.

When I walked into my office this morning, I immediately sat in my chair, assuming it would hold me. I flipped a switch, assuming my lights would work. And I began typing away on a keyboard, assuming my computer would precisely function to answer dozens of emails. Interestingly, none of these assumptions are guaranteed and in fact, I’ve had many days these assumptions weren’t true – the chair broke, the lights didn’t turn on, and the computer didn’t send emails. Nonetheless, daily I assume each of these will happen normally without a second thought.

The greatest challenge with assumptions in the workplace is, most often, we can’t identify our own because they’re buried deep in our everyday function and routine. They come from our experiences. We don’t recognize these personal assumptions until they cost us something – time, money, valuable staff members, and other resources. In the end, just like with termites in the foundation, assumptions end up costing business owners much more than they realize!

So, what’s the solution, i.e., Pest Control?

Self-Awareness – Take time to become aware of assumptions, individually and as a team, and then we can begin to assess their validity through evaluation and dialogue.

Communication – Assertive communication is the key to dispel assumptions by ensuring others truly know what we expect, value, and need to maintain the culture and success of our business.

Policies and Procedures – A strong team culture is formed and maintained through simple and consistent procedures and policies, such as continuous improvement programs, which minimizes the pesky assumptions and guides us to achieve our goals and continued business success!

Do you know what assumptions are costing your team and your business?

Coach Christy can help you and your team with Pest Control to minimize those pesky assumptions and build a stronger team and more profitable and successful business. Give her a call today!

[i] https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolebendaly/2019/07/05/14-assumptions-that-are-holding-your-team-back/?sh=aaee6da76ebf

Category: Continuous Improvement

Can You Pass the QR Code Quiz?

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