They may look black and white, but you need to find the grey area to get the most out of them.

If you have been looking into mobile marketing or even if you simply own a smartphone, then the odds are that you will already have seen QR codes for the first time, and you may even have scanned a few to see where they lead.

These mobile barcodes are popping up in advertising, signage, and product packaging everywhere.
The reason is that QR codes can quickly, easily, and very inexpensively help you to better engage with your customers. These simple black and white squares can be the key to bridging the gap between an offline and online interaction with a consumer.

With a properly placed barcode, you’ll encourage an individual to scan to find out more about your company, brand, or product. Then, provided you offer the smartphone user something relevant that he or she considers to be worthwhile, then you’ll be able to create a call to action and achieve very positive conversion rates.

The trick is not to mistake QR codes for a simpler way to enter a URL into a mobile device.

Though QR codes are a way to allow a smartphone user to simply scan and be automatically directed to a link, it shouldn’t simply be a pathway to a website. Successful use of these barcodes is dependent on engaging the customer, not simply presenting a web presence.

The following are a few of the most vital points you should consider if you want QR codes to help your business grow:

• Make sure that they link to a page or site that is mobile compatible and optimized.

• If they are being used for a specific promotion, link the barcodes directly to a page about the item, event, or service being advertised.

• Give the consumer a reason to scan and pay attention by offering an exclusive deal, such as an offer, mobile discount coupon, or other opportunity. Offers to obtain something for free or to save money are the most successful use for QR codes.

• Make sure your contact information is available, including click-to-call and a feature to find the nearest location. Once the consumer is interested, you don’t want to discourage him or her by creating a struggle to find you!

• Provide relevant and useful information in step by step “how-tos” or even video instructions demonstrating how your product can be used.

QR codes can be implemented rapidly and without great expense. They can be worked into existing packaging, signage or marketing materials and, as long as you give consumers a reason to scan, can make a significant difference to your business.

As the number of smartphone using consumers increases, so is the demand for mobile experiences.

Businesses ranging from retail stores to hotels are discovering that they need to keep up with the pace of technology, which means that mcommerce is already a vital part of ensuring future survival.

It is no longer an option for companies to avoid these changes.

Over half of consumers in the United States now have smartphones, and a growing number of them have come to expect that their favorite places to shop will cater to their desire to use these devices to make purchases and reservations. Many business owners are under the impression that this will require a great deal of time and expense, but it is possible to take part in mcommerce without tying up a large amount of a marketing budget or resources.

The mcommerce experience allows companies to become closer with consumers.

A survey performed by IMB this year that spoke with CEOs of companies of various size showed that 88 percent felt that their highest priority between now and 2017 was to bring themselves closer to their customers. Mobile commerce is an exceptionally important way to reach this goal.

Although the standard web remains important, as the majority of consumers still use desktops and laptops for shopping and searching online, recent data from Google has shown that 15 percent of online activity comes from mobile sources. This is a market segment that is simply too large to ignore, and it grows bigger every month.

By using social and mcommerce, companies get develop a better understanding of who their customers are and what they want from their experience. It becomes possible to identify many more variables than is possible from in-store or standard online shoppers. Once that information has been obtained, the customer experience can be continually personalized and polished in order to make sure that each customer type can shop in the way that they enjoy the most.

Mcommerce profiles allow businesses to personalize each individual shopper or guest, so that marketing, information, and purchasing can all be geared toward their interests, expectations, and needs.