Quick Response (QR) Codes in Advertising

Below is a Quick Response (QR) Code , a two-dimensional bar code used for marketing in the mobi phone industry. Invented in Japan in the 1990s, QR Codes were used to track automobiles. Now use has spread to all parts of the world.

Some mobi phones have QR Code scanners built in.that automatically bookmark the mobi site. If not, there are many apps you may download for free to read QR Code. Here is the page on iTunes where you may download iCandyMobile (free). If you would like to experiment with making your own QR Code for free, just visit QReate & Track.com.

Think of it. You could have your QR Code load your business card, web site, YouTube video, RSS feed, coupon--you name it. Manor, Texas promotes openness in city government and enhances their tourism trade using QR Codes.

I have seen people wearing t-shirts with a big QR code on the front. I guess it could be useful in identifying prisoners, illegal aliens, dogs, product information and even dating. You could put up your personal website and optimize it for mobile. Then you tie the website to cell phones using QR Code. This could take wearing your heart on your sleeve to a new level.

I can see some abuses of the system. Good looking young woman walks by wear QR Code. The code could link to a phone sex number or Facebook page, you would not know until it loaded. Get them for your children and you could embarrass them forever. I will let you think about that one.

Below is a quick video to give you a greater understanding of QR codes and what they can do for your marketing and advertising. He even invites all of us to go to his website, Creative Search Media, to play with the QR code generator.

Tags: quick response code, QR code generator, QR for marketing, QR for advertising

Green Peeks Out in Some Millenial Women

Millenial Women

Consumer Interest in Sustainability Remains Consistent Through Downturn : Capstrat

• Nineteen percent of Millennials are willing to pay significantly more for a green products and services.
  
  
• Contrast this with four percent for ages 30-45, seven percent for ages 46-65 and five percent among those older than 65.
  
  
• Fifty-two percent of men are less likely to pay more for green product. Thirty-two percent of women are green leaning.
  
  
• Democrats are twice as green. Environmental friendliness is more important to Democrats, with eleven percent of respondents identifying themselves as Democrats called sustainability the most important factor in purchasing decisions. On the other hand, only four percent of Republicans feel the same way

According to the study referenced above, Democratic women Millennials are the new green leaders. In the article above, the Millennial generation is considered to be anyone under thirty years old.

Tags: democratic, women, millennials, pay more for green, capstrat, consumer interest in sustainability remains consistent through downturn

MLK: Voice of Conscience of America

On the third Monday in January, we celebrate the the life and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When Dr. King died in 1968, many believed that the dream died with him. It did not. Dr. King left a huge body of work, a great life of accomplishment and an ardent group of followers that continue his work today.


He was a strong speaker with a reverent voice and there will never be another voice as powerful. The human race lost more than a human rights activist, civil rights leader, and a man of God; we lost an important voice for the conscience of America.

Thoughts on 2011

Done With Page Rank?

This news is just too good not to share. As a person who has watched the page ranks of several of my blogs ping-pong around, going from PR4 to unranked, back to PR3 to unranked. At one time I was tracking and graphing it, but it just became to be too depressing.

Google Giving up Page Rank Algorithm - via ineedhitsblog

We hold a perpetual license to this patent. In October 2003, we extended our exclusivity period to this patent through 2011, at which point our license will become non-exclusive. The PageRank patent expires in 2017.

Social and Mobile Marketing

• Linkedin is set for an IPO in early 2011 - It's 2010 revenue was estimated at $200 million, so if you're not on Linkedin get onto it ASAP!
• Facebook will hold off on an IPO until April 2012.
• MySpace have started massive layoffs - up to 47% of staff worldwide will go.
• ClickZ has outlined seven online marketing trends worth reading.
  

Trends

I think 2011 is going to be one of those years where everyone has different ideas about what technology is important to marketers. I worry that we will be unable to continue to adapt as more and more technology is available on smaller screens, in different format.

This may be the year to find a niche, set a marketing plan, hire a technical person to do what you cannot do, and be flexible enough to change as technology changes. May the gods of 3G, 4G, WAP, WLAN and all the acronyms be with you.

Namaste!

Tags: google, page rank, myspace, facebook, linkedin, social media marketing, tweaking technology