Category: QR Codes

 

ScanLife introduces language detecting QR codes

ScanLife, a leading mobile platform specializing in QR codes, has announced the release of language detection for its QR codes. These codes will be able to detect the language settings of a user’s mobile device, thus delivering content in a language they are comfortable with. Language detecting QR codes could have profound implications for several types of mobile-based services as they will make these services more accommodating to people that may not be comfortable with a particular language.

New codes may bring universal appeal to marketing campaigns

In terms of marketing, the new ScanLife QR codes could give universal appeal to any marketing campaign. The codes could effectively remove any language barriers that exist between countries and cultures. This would make marketing campaigns able to connect with a wide range of consumers, many of whom may have been inaccessible in the past due to the ever present language barrier.

QR codes support 12 languages, more to come soon

Currently, 12 languages are recognized by the new ScanLife QR codes. When these codes are scanned, the language settings of a smart phone or other mobile device are detected. The content that is delivered to the consumer is then translated into the language they are comfortable with. Though the codes support 12 languages, the system is only able to translate 6 of these effectively. ScanLife is continually developing their platform to expand the capabilities of its language detecting QR codes.

QR codes continue to prove popular amongst businesses and consumers

According to a report from ScanLife released earlier this year, scans of QR codes have jump by 157% in the first quarter of 2012 over what they had been in the previous year. The company notes that the codes are becoming much more popular amongst both businesses and consumers because of their ability to provide quick access to digital content. The codes have yet to show any signs of losing the favor they have gained from either party.

Mobile marketing degrees are not being handed out

Education isn’t something that stops with a diploma or a degree, and continuing your learning is not a vital element in the majority of most professions, especially for marketers, who must always know the latest developments and trends to ensure that they can offer what their clients want most and how to best engage consumers to create an effective call to action.

Marketers go through their formal education and spend years building job experience, and the lucky ones are hired by a terrific organization. But this doesn’t mean that the learning can end there. Though governing laws may not require a marketer to take continuing education courses or otherwise update their professional knowledge, it remains an integral part of their ability to succeed (and for the ability of their employer to succeed).

PR and marketing professionals must remain on the cutting edge. Today, this means that they need to be aware of the latest developments and trends in the internet and technology. These two industries are moving faster than most people can imagine. Yesterday’s exciting new emerging concepts – such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter – have become common parts of our daily lives and, as such, are also routine elements of marketing campaigns and strategies.

As we’ve been seeing, emerging social media such as Pinterest and Google+ are just starting to find their place, and marketers will need to keep on top of their growing popularity or they will become lost in the trends and fall behind. That said, social media is only the start.

Mobile is opening up a whole world of new opportunities, but for many, it is like starting from scratch once more. QR codes, for example, aren’t just a buzz word anymore, but are becoming both supporting and central elements of massive campaigns. 

The difference mobile search made during the year…

With the ever growing number of smartphones in the marketplace, mobile search has become more important than ever before, but marketers are quickly discovering that their efforts with SEO and other traditional search techniques, cannot be quite the same as they were for the regular web.

Mobile search – unlike traditional laptop and desktop-based queries on search engines – offer different results different results and provide a different way of demonstrating those results depending on the kind of device that is being used – for example, a tablet or a smartphone.

Google has recently announced the development of a search engine crawler that was created specifically for smartphones, and that functions separately and differently from the one it is currently using for the typical feature phone. This is a strong indicator that unique SEO techniques will be required to effectively optimize apps and sites meant for smartphones.

Until now, it has always been believed that Google’s treatment of all mobile devices – from tablets to smartphones to feature phones – has been relatively the same as it has been for PCs, only with a few additional geo-specific results. However, with this recent announcement, it is clear that Google intends to treat the various devices differently, and SEO experts will need to come up with a new strategy that will take this into account.