So you already have great, fresh content on your website—what’s next? Have you heard of QR codes yet? Here is a quick introduction. Similar to an old-fashioned bar code, a QR (which stands for "quick response") code is a black and white graphic box holding valuable information (that can be scaned and read) quickly by a smart cell phone. They come to us from Japan where they are very common and look like this.
You'll soon be seeing QR Codes in a beauty magazine advert, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is in your cell phone, it may give you details about that business (allowing users to search for nearby locations on the internet), show you a URL which you can click to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give you a coupon which you can use in a local outlet or details about the person wearing its on the t-shirt.
The reason why they are becoming widely used is that modern cell phones can scan (take a picture) of them. The cell phone needs a QR code reader and only take’s a minute for a iPhone or Android phone to install the reader. You can easily generate your own (quick response) QR code using a site like (www.kimtag.com) or the new Google QR generator and its free.
Your salon, no matter how small or large, can use QR codes in a number of ways. Here are a few examples of how others are using them. You could add one to your business card containing your contact details so its easy for someone to add you to their contacts on their cell phone. Add them to any print advertising, flyers, posters, invites, TV ads, product details, contact details, salon offer details, event details, a coupon, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace IDs or a link to your YouTube video.
Today, few may be using them, but those that do use Quick Response codes will definitely love how easy it is to find your business on the web,Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube etc. Using QR codes for your salon marketing is a very smart move. They’re topical, they’re unusual, they’re clever … and they’re definitely cool and edgy. We are only just scratching the surface of how this new technology will be used. That’s iNSTANT marketing – Quick Response Beauty___ you have to love it.
