QR CODES & SMALL BUSINESS

by Angela Kennecke

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Have you noticed those black and white bar codes on everything from magazines to your TV screen to signs? They're called Quick Response codes and can be scanned by a smartphone to bring you more information.

While they've been popular in Japan for more than a decade, they're just catching on in the U.S. And small businesses are figuring out ways to put QR codes to use.

A popular Sioux Falls Bakery has a new high-tech sign.

"A lot of people walking downtown might not come in here, but if they can scan and they see what we have, it will draw them into the store," Becky Smith of The Cookie Jar said.

The sign with the Quick Response code just went up last week, but The Cookie Jar has already seen people scanning it with their smartphones.

"It goes right to our special page on the website, so any specials we have going on for the month, I try to update that monthly. We can do a coupon on there. With Mother's Day coming up, I've got Mother's Day gifts. They can see that right away. It's instant," Smith said.

"It's going to be driven by the consumer. If people are using smartphones and using applications, it will start to take off," Marketing Director of Complete Media Matt Luke said.

Luke has helped his father's construction business use QR codes to let people know more about the renovation project at the old Security Bank Building on Main Street in Sioux Falls.

"The one about Security Bank history, we have old news articles on there about the history of the building and how Dillinger played a part in this building. It's interesting for audience to see how this building plays part in history of Sioux Falls," Luke said.

For a small business like the Cookie Jar, this kind of marketing tool comes at the right price.

"When you're a small business, you try to find something that's going to be cheaper or easy for us to buy into and this is definitely an affordable way to go and get all your info out there instead of just your name," Smith said.

Luke says while it may not cost the business anything, it's important to give the consumer something in return for taking the time to scan the barcode.

"Beyond just going to your website or a link to your FB page, what does the viewer actually get in return for scanning that code. Whether it's more information about a business, a special, it's a promotion or promotional video that gives the viewer, 'That was really cool that I took the time to do that,'" Luke said.

With their uses appearing to be unlimited, you're sure to see these barcodes pop up all over the place in the coming months.

Even the city of Sioux Falls is using QR Codes on public notification signs to give the public more information on projects.

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The bottom line is your phone reads it and then directs you to the information the super saavy marketer attached to it. The boring stuff is it is a two dimensional bar code.

It is so new that the uses are unlimited. Who knew the entire list of uses of a computer when it took a room or more for the hard drive? If you want to see QR Codes in mass quantity, take a trip to Best Buy.

Here is where I want to see it used frequently – magazines! I’ve found myself in too many waiting rooms, thumbing through magazines, only to find the perfect article, recipe or product that would solve a dilemma in my life (yeah, right). But it would be wrong to rip out the page in the magazine! So sad for me. Oh wait, QR Codes – my hero!

If I can just get the rest of the world on board, sigh.

From time to time, we like to turn the spot light on one of our own. While we as a group execute and deliver everything regarding advertising and marketing, there are fields of expertise we each claim as our own. Complete Media Outreach Associate, Cari Fossum, has developed a total obsession with text marketing. If you’re not familiar with the concept, texting campaigns are designed to give your business real time, immediate messaging to your current clients and an extremely cost effective way to reach new ones.

We originally set out last year to offer this service primarily to bars and restaurants and are now an active benefits member of the Licensed Beverage Dealers of South Dakota. Cari saw what we’d done and saw a much bigger picture. Turns out “mass texting” is a powerful tool for sports organizations, schools, city governments, retailers, churches and a host of others looking not only for a better, faster way to stay in touch, but to enhance their bottom line.

Cari has some terrific ways to get you up and running with text campaigns and at price points that will pleasantly surprise. Cari likes it so much, she has her own “campaign” just text cmitxt carrie to 368266. For more info on texting visit our website @ www.completemediainc.com. Then give Cari a call!

A few months back, I searched Kurt’s website. It took some looking and when it did pop up it was obviously in need of help. That’s not a slam on my friend, it’s actually pretty typical. Most business websites tend to get ignored as time goes on. Business owners are busy taking care of their business. While I could eventually find American Underground Sprinkler on the web, there wasn’t much going on… basically a home page, a page for pump maintenance and a contact page that wouldn’t let me submit an email.

I met with Kurt to discuss options and in short order, American Underground Sprinkler had a professional, five page site complete with company information, engaging photos, complete services, easy contact info. and it pops up in the search engines. Like all potential clients, Kurt did ask me what it was going to cost him. I asked him what he thought it had cost him already with his old website “circling the drain?” Fact… the new and improved website will pay for itself with the generation of just one new client… that’s for the entire year. It’s never really about cost, it’s about return on investment and American Underground Sprinkler now has that in spades.

Click here to visit AmericanUndergroundSprinkler.com

Now you can see samples of Butter’s Concrete jobs, print out color samples and contact them with any questions thru their site. They are able to update the site whenever they wish, contact our 24/7 tech support for guidance, or let us do the work as part of the agency time we provide each month at no charge!

Go to www.buttersconcrete.com to find out more!

If you need help getting a website for your business, go to www.completemediainc.com.

Businesses invest both time and money into making the best first impression possible. They aim to maintain a dignified presence in the consumers mind. And they hope to be thought well of after any transaction occurs. This seminar highlights five simple things that are easy to accomplish and can positively increase how others view your business!

This free seminar is held March 31, 12-1pm, at the Complete Media office building. Seating is limited. Call Randy at 605-360-2259 ext. 102 to reserve your space by March 29th.