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QR Codes are becoming more and more common in America, and even the mailmen, err I mean, mail carriers, have begun to notice. the The US Postal service recently announced a 3% postage discount for First Class, Standard, and Presorted mail containing a QR Code from July 1, 2011 to August 31, 2011.

To qualify for the program:

• The barcode must be two-dimensional and readable by a mobile smart phone

• The documentation for each mailing needs to be submitted electronically to the US Postal Service

• Each piece of mail needs to contain a mobile barcode either within the contents or outside the mailpiece

• The mobile barcode must be used for marketing, promotional or educational purposes and be relevant to the contents

Think of it this way: Right now you can save money on your direct mailings by simply trying out a QR Code System. With numerous websites to create free codes available on the Internet, it is by no means an expensive venture.

QR Codes make it easy for your clients to find out more about your products, contact information, special offers, and coupons, and they can do so without much effort. It’s a perfect time to get an edge on your competition and give QR Codes a try.

Here’s a clever music video featuring QR Codes, which can actually be scanned and will direct the user to information about the artist and even enter them into contests.

We thought about making one of our own, but we couldn’t decide who would get to play lead cowbell.

Developed in Japan in the mid 1990s, QR Codes are a form of barcode readable by camera phones and special barcode  scanners. The information encoded can range from simple contact information to special offers and video advertisements. QR codes have become popular in many countries because of their ease of use and simplicity. To get the information contained in the QR Code, the phone simply has to take a picture, and the user will then be directed to the information contained in the code.

Here are some quick facts about QR Codes today:

• Smartphones are projected to be in the hands of 43% of mobile users by late 2015

• Many U.S. top brands are using QR codes. These include Starbucks, GMC, Google, Weather Channel, Best Buy, Ford, Pepsi, Facebook, and more.

• Thirty-­two percent of mobile devices users surveyed said they’ve used a QR code

• Roughly 62% of those who have scanned QR code have done so multiple times

• Seven out of 10 say they would be interested in using a QR code, for either the first time or again

• The majority of QR scanning in the U.S. is performed by consumers in the 35-­44 years of age bracket at 25%, with steady adoption being seen among those 18-­54 years of age at 84%

• Nearly four out of 10 of respondents surveyed in late 2010 said they use mobile devices to browse or research products and services.  This figure has grown from 27% reported in spring 2010

• Top uses of those who said they have scanned a QR code were to get a promotional deal or obtain additional information

• Mobile barcode (1D and 2D) scanning traffic increased over 800% from this time a year ago

• Four out of 10 of consumers ages 18-­34 are using their mobile device to complete purchases of products and services with varying frequencies

Complied by the Rochester Institute of Technology.

These days there seems to be a million different ways to market your company. There are more tools available than ever before, and it can often be difficult to figure out which is the most effective. Here at AMG we are always interested in what our clients feel works best for them. So ponder for a moment and let us know…

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Often the first impression a client has of your company is your landing page. After clicking an advertisement or a search engine result, it’s the first thing they see. Here are some tips to make your page as effective as possible:

1.) Use three to five bullet points on each landing page to make it easy for readers to quickly scan the page. This also highlights the main offers or messages on the form.

2.) Include a privacy policy option in order to build the visitor’s trust in the site. This option may ease the anxiety the consumers have in actually completing the landing page form in order to receive the offer. In this example the privacy option is showcased the bottom left hand corner.

3.) Include the offer or deal in the headline of the landing page because it is the first thing the visitor will see. The headline needs to describe the offer so visitors know what they can get out of the form. Avoid headlines with lack of detail.

DO! (Be specific)                                       DON’T! (Try what for free?)

4.) Always have the headings and bullet points start with an action verbs. This answers the question “What’s in it for me?” from the viewers. Shows the compelling value in the landing page offers.

5.)The alignment of the page should be balanced by using three columns if possible. This maintains organization so the viewer can navigate around the page efficiently without clutter.

6.) Remember that on a landing page, white space is a good thing. The viewer can lose an offer, message or leave the landing page altogether if it includes too much text.

DO!                                      DON’T! (too much text)

7.) The entire form should be above the fold. This means the visitor should not have to scroll down to see the landing page content.

DO! (keep all content on one page)                                      DON’T! (don’t make the form longer than the page)

8.) Avoid placing additional links on the page.  Links may distract the viewer from the landing page offer. If you remove unneeded links, this potentially decreases conversion rates which means it is less likely for someone to end up clicking off the page.

9.) Steer clear from using white text on a black background. The landing page to the left is too hard to read because of the extreme contrast. An easy fix is using a gray background color instead.

10.) Interactive sites are a great way to involve the viewers so they can actually see what they get out of the landing page offer. The landing page to the right incorporates a calculator you can use to figure out how much your digital shelf space is worth.

Your logo is a visual sythesis of your company, boiled down to it’s simplest form to represent you. It’s purpose is not to communicate multiple aspects or characteristics of you, but instead be a symbol or statement of who you are and what you do. It is the foundation of your company image and sets the stage for future branding materials.

Your identity is a whole different animal that moves beyond your logo. It’s all the “little things” that when put together create a powerful statement (if done properly) and define you on multiple levels. These “little things” are everything that connect you and your audience: a business card, a website, an ad, your newsletter, a t-shirt… the list goes on and on. When your audience engages with these “little things” they have a reaction whether they are conscious of it or not. The important thing to remember is, every one of these “little things” is an opportunity for you to continue to tell your story — define who you are. You are in control of what you communicate and the trick is getting that positive reaction.