Easy Offline lead source for Mobile sites and SMS services

11 replies
I probably should keep my mouth shut but I am sure I am not the only one that has noticed this..

After checking out just 6 local QR codes on my phone, only 1 (ONE) actually resolved to a readable mobile ready page.. So the other 5 (FIVE) wasted their money and effort on a QR code and mobile strategy by sending traffic to a page you can barely read...WTF?

I would call those 5 "really low hanging fruit" for smart offliners and can imagine the percentages are the same almost every where, maybe a little less, but I bet still close to 60% of businesses that use QRs are not sending the traffic to a page that will benefit their customer on a mobile device..

Need offline local leads?.... just go find your local business QR code users and set em up with a mobile ready page or SMS system that actually works..
#easy #lead #mobile #offline #services #sites #sms #source
  • Profile picture of the author SendCards
    I walked into one retailer on Sunday (Easter) and the manager was working...I had previously shown him on my phone (he doesn't have a smartphone himself) what his QR code displayed in the front window pulled up..His Facebook page...tiny tiny tiny...no real call to action...nadda...he was kinda blown away...I think he realized he may have been sold a bill of goods...

    Anyway he saw me and thanked me for showing him and he had a talk with his web developer just a few days earlier....then he rolled his eyes and laughed..

    What I got from this conversation is that there are a lot of folks delivering crap advice and solutions when it comes to mobile and web strategy..and that says there is a ton of valuable business waiting for the right person with the the correct advice and correct solutions.

    Keep checking out every QR code you can find, there is gold in those QRs!!
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  • Profile picture of the author agonce
    hahah I've seen this happen to million dollar companies, I don't remember exactly but it was one of the big brands that sell watches, and they had a QR code on a magazine (I think it was WIRED), I tried to scan it just to see where it will take me, and guess what, the site was not mobile optimized, I could barely see what's on it ... I just exit out right away, did not even spent 5 seconds browsing it.
    I've seen many other ones, I saw one which led me to a page which was DOWN! ie not loading at all ...

    The only problem with this situation can be converting them to YOUR clients, because all you're doing is showing them that they have a problem, they'll just thank you and tell their web guy about it, who will either know how to fix that, and if they don't they might call you. I haven't tried this so I might be wrong tho ...
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  • Profile picture of the author dardar
    I did the same a couple of times and like you said,they were amazed,but said something like 'I will let me team know about this''.
    One said ''I can't deal with you ''-----Why not ?
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    Yup, the problem is all over. I have a USA Today news app on my phone. Recently Best Buy had a mobile ad and I clicked on it. It came up with a page not authorized to view error! I saw the same ad a few days later. Now you would think it might be fixed. But no, still no access. I'd say 50% of the ads I click on are not mobile optimized.

    Seriously, what are they thinking.
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  • Profile picture of the author YellowGreenMedia
    Thats simple, they don't care because they can see that nobody in the general public (except the good people at WF) is using QR codes... i know that it is hard to sell to the true believers here... but face it... QR codes just don't work...

    Go ahead and flame me for it, i don't care... i just tell it like it is.

    Dave
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    • Profile picture of the author agonce
      Originally Posted by YellowGreenMedia View Post

      Thats simple, they don't care because they can see that nobody in the general public (except the good people at WF) is using QR codes... i know that it is hard to sell to the true believers here... but face it... QR codes just don't work...

      Go ahead and flame me for it, i don't care... i just tell it like it is.

      Dave
      I am pretty sure you are wrong. If there is a custom made QR code(look 'em up if you haven't seen one) I ALWAYS scan it because I am INTERESTED to see what the offer is and not just because I am a WF member.
      Moreover, I am a college student and here on my campus, the marketing team puts QR codes all over the place, and I find them quite useful when I see a flyer about something interesting but I don't have time to type in the URL or save it ...
      So don't talk BS w/o never testing it out. Maybe the plain black and white QR codes don't work, but being creative with them will SURELY make them work.
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    • Profile picture of the author SendCards
      Originally Posted by YellowGreenMedia View Post

      Thats simple, they don't care because they can see that nobody in the general public (except the good people at WF) is using QR codes... i know that it is hard to sell to the true believers here... but face it... QR codes just don't work...

      Go ahead and flame me for it, i don't care... i just tell it like it is.

      Dave
      Dave,

      I would say they are not a mature tech here in the US, and even geography determines their adoption rate and use. I expect the usage is higher in NYC vs. Eau Claire, Wisconsin...

      Time will tell if QRs are adopted or something else takes the lead..In the meantime they are out there, someone was sold a bill of goods and they are not optimized, and therefore could provide a means of entrance to potential clients even if you are just reaching out to tell em their "QR code is broken and would you like it fixed" ?

      I think there are a lot of ways this 'breakage' could be leveraged....I can even think of a few borderline nasty guerrilla tactics...LOL

      Cheers!

      Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    I am not certain I can buy into the statement they don't work. You can't say that when virtually no one is actually using them (especially in the right way). Chicken and egg for sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author rhab
    Definitely offers another potential lead source worth exploring. I like qr codes, but I look at them as more of like a side of fries kinda thing. Mobile websites and sms campaigns being your base service with qr codes thrown in to compliment your services.

    I wouldn't say they totally don't work, but they do have a place for certain businesses. They just aren't mainstream yet.
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  • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
    How are the doing in Asia? I believe that is a more mature QR market where people are more educated on them. Are they thriving or are they dying on the vine?
    Signature

    In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

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  • Profile picture of the author KCNL
    I have to agree with Dave in this one..

    Maybe this tactic works in the US but in the netherlands they apparantly don`t give a **** where the qrcode take their visitors..

    I see a lot of qrcodes in newspapers and advertisements, i scan all of them and 99% goes to a normal website...

    I`ve contacted a lot of them with a custom qrcode and mobile landingpage/mobile or mobile couponpage website showing them how it actually should look and work..

    Most of them don`t even respond or respond with dumbass remarks like:
    you can see the website on your phone so ?,
    we don`t have enough mobile visitors to have a mobile website for,
    we don`t need a mobile website, the qrcode was just for a temporary action/discount etc...

    If you can sell them a mobile solution than i think its more luck than wisdom..

    If you believe every wso about mobile and qrcode marketing will make you money, hehe good luck.

    Charles.
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