Anyone who attended Graph Expo 2011 could feel it! The pure excitement of an industry on the cusp of resurrection. It has long been touted that print is withering. Taken over by the dominance of the digital juggernaut.
Not so fast! Just to be in the midst of this buzz, would exhilarate even the staunchest skeptic. From Bo Jackson to Xplor, the entire event was captivating. It was as clear as the beautiful Chicago skyline that the print industry has not only embraced the digital age, but is poised to lead the digital revolution.
Nothing made this more clear than the utter saturation of QR Codes throughout the Expo. I’ve never seen anything like it, to date. Virtually every exhibit had at least one. Large exhibitors had them scattered throughout, like modern-day museum info-plaques.
I scanned every QR Code I could find, and followed the link to wherever the code wanted to take me. Alas, there is still work to be done, lessons to be learned and improvements to make.
I personally gained a great deal of knowledge at Graph 2011. So much so that I thought I should pay-it-forward and return the favor.
So here’s my Top 7 List (I’m no Dave Letterman) of Do’s, Don’ts and Helpful Hints when deploying QR Codes.
- Be sure the landing site is mobile! Nothing increases a bounce-rate more than a slow-loading, miniature version of a pc site.
- Test…Test…Test! Then test the code some more, with a variety of phones, apps and conditions.
- Don’t Bury the Call-To-Action: Put your CTA at the very top of the mobile-optimized page. Don’t make them scroll to it.
- Include an easy url where users can get a scanner app. For instance, mozzart.mobi/qr detects a visitor’s device & recommends several qr code scanners that can be installed immediately.
- Don’t spend crazy money on mobile sites & landing pages, unless the ROI is there. Mozzart.mobi is just one of many solutions available.
- Have a means of tracking the visitor activity of QR Codes.
- Add a little pizzazz to your QR Code with color and art.
Graph was a blast. The sharing of knowledge was invaluable. The talent was evident. What a great show!
