As the interest in smart phones and QR Codes continues to increase, so have the inquiries about the QReate & Track software here at our office.
Here are a couple of questions that we received today that you may have wondered yourself. Hopefully the answers that we’ve provide help you as well:
Question:
Regarding IP addresses – why is this a useful reporting function? How can marketers use this info?
Answer:
IP Addresses can help to provide a general idea as to where the scan came from. So let’s say a marketer puts QR Codes on their products, and distributes those products throughout the US. They would be able to see if the majority of their scans are coming from certain areas (i.e. New York City). With that info, they may decide to put more QR Codes on products that are shipped to that area, and perhaps do other mobile marketing activities in that area too (i.e. sending out text messages). On the other side, it may help them realize that a certain area is not quite responding with the same excitement to mobile-based offers, and may need to adjust their approach accordingly in that location.
Question:
Why is it useful to know which devices people are using to scan the code?
Answer:
It is useful to know which devices are scanning the code because web pages may look different on them. They may look very similar, but as I’m sure you’ve seen or heard in the commercials, the Droid smart phone does some things that the iPhone doesn’t (and vice versa). So, if the reports told you that 90% of your scans came on the iPhone, you certainly would want to make sure that you have tested a video or web page on that type of phone.
Question:
Is there anyway to follow up with people who have scanned a code or do they have to be directed to a landing page where they give further contact info?
Answer:
If someone simply scans a code that points to a general URL (i.e. a video, a corporate website, landing page), you do not know who they are. You must drive them to a landing page where they could enter their information, and thus be added to your marketing database.
However, if you generated a QR Code for a Personalized URL, you would be able to tell who scanned the code, simply by the scan.