QR Codes may be the new wave in marketing your business online but you might be asking yourself, can I apply this to my Real Estate business? The answer is a resounding YES! I’ll give you a few great ways to use these funny looking symbols in all of the marketing you do from now on.
First of all for those who don’t understand what a QR code is, let me explain. It stands for Quick Response code and I’m sure you’ve seen them all over the place. They’re the little encrypted barcode-looking squares that are appearing all over marketing materials everywhere. The whole is point is to give consumers immediate access to what’s relevant to them and these little magical bar codes make it possible.
The consumer must have some sort QR code reader for their Iphone, Android or other smartphone device. These readers are available for free from any online app store. When the code is scanned it can be linked to any sort of digital content on the web (i.e. websites, videos, Facebook page etc..). I can trigger the phone to call a phone number, send a text message or even send an email.
The desired destination of the code is easily programmed when creating the code on any number of free QR Code maker websites out there. In fact, I’ll list a few down below.
Here are a few ways you can start using QR codes right away:
- Business Cards! This may seem obvious but I have yet to see another Real Estate professional use this trick and I meet a lot of folks and get a lot of cards at the many events I attend and speak at around the country.
- Direct mail pieces. Add a QR code to each one of your letters or postcards you drop in the mail. That will also help you track your conversion percentages.
- Property Signs and Flyers. Send them directly to a video landing page on your website where you give them a personal thank you for stopping by the property and offer them a free bonus gift to Opt-In to your list.
The opportunities are endless! Now I like to play around with the different destinations of the QR codes because in many case they already have all of the information they need right in front of them. For instance on my business card I’ll program the code to trigger my phone # to pull up on their phone. For a direct mail piece I would send them to my highest converting landing page describing how I can help them. Or even a testimonial page with all of the people that you have helped. I also really like the idea of using personalized videos as a destination as well. You’ll just have to see what works best for you.
As promised here a few websites you can get a QR Code created for free:
http://qrcode.littleidiot.be/ ( my favorite)
http://vyoo.it/ (for property listings)
At this point the use of QR codes is still growing and only time will tell if it will be a lasting tool for our ever-growing toolbox. But, I can tell you that the more they are seen as a part of our everyday lives, the more it will become second nature for us to scan that little code rather than spend the extra 10-30 seconds it would take to look up the information manually. I want to make sure I’m always a step ahead of my competition and this is something I know most are not using.
