Webinar Resources

We see it time and again.  Another company fails at creating a useful user experience using QR codes.   QR Codes provide a bridge between the physical world (atoms) and the digital world (bits).  In his book "Being Digital", Nicholas Negroponte quotes the fundamental difference between bits and atoms.   Some companies like China, are in the atoms business as they move physical merchandise.  India, on the other hand, its in the bits business as they provide software services and outsourcing. 

Most of you reading this blog are in the bits business but print (atoms) is still a powerful medium to deliver content and QR codes are an effective tool to bridge information in bits through atoms printed on physical material.

Whether you are dealing with bits or atoms, the importance is to understand how to manage the delivery and the experience you wish to convey.  This is where many companies fail when they create and deliver their first QR code.  

Webinar Resources has designed a short learning module that will help you to understand how to create QR codes that deliver quick results - "How to Create QR Codes that Generate Quick Results"

• Learn more about creating effective QR codes by seeing examples
• Download recent and relevant content with your smartphone during training
• View recorded demonstrations of creating QR codes for Brainshark and YouTube mobile videos
• View recorded demonstrations of how to scan QR codes that launch Brainshark and YouTube videos
• Respond to questions in 5 different quizzes
• Create and track your own QR code using our MobExMe platform during the training session

So if you want to be successful with QR codes, then make a small investment of time and money and take this short twenty-seven minute learning module and walk away with knowledge and your own trackable QR code to promote your business.

One of our #qrchat colleagues took advantage of our QRCombo offer and created a QR code for her client, Spelman College. Webinar Resources reached out to SocialMMMDiva and worked with their social media team to further enhance the user experience for the QRCombo code produced for the Eighth Annual Spelman's College Women of Color Leadership Conference. You can scan the QR code to see the results.

The QRCombo code was published in the May issue of Black Enterprise Magazine. We are pleased to have supported this prestigious event. We have pinned the QRCombo code to our Pinterest site - http://pinterest.com/mobilemrice/qrcombo/

QRCombo is a unique QR code application that integrates mobile video content with mobile lead generation.  The Spelman College QRCombo code launches a Brainshark presentation with embedded video and a Facebook page on the second scan.  Tracking of the QRCombo scans is delivered through a personalized ExactTarget landing page. QRCombo is built on the MobExMe platform to support delivery of relevant content through reliable channels.

 

 

Almost 42% of the 98 million mobile subscribers in the US are now using smartphones and half of these subscribers are daily consuming a mix of digital content.  The mobile screen has become a reliable channel to deliver relevant content to connect, communicate and capture new opportunities.

 

QR (Quick Response) codes provide a great mobile gateway between the offline and online worlds and more companies are adopting their use to reach out to their mobile audience.   However, we continually see QR failures in our weekly #QRchat.   Companies that wish to promote their brand or instead "branded" with the hashtag #qrfail or worse, end up in the WTF QR Code website when their execution of QR codes fails.

 

There really is not a reason to fail when planning and executing QR code campaigns.  You just need to follow some simple rules.   Webinar Resources has assembled many of these rules and has designed and launched an online training module - "How to Create QR Codes that Deliver Quick Results".   We have posted this unique Brainshark presentation on the @Brainshark Learning Content Network.   We say unique, as this learning module was designed to allow participants to:

 

• Learn more about creating effective QR codes by seeing examples
• Download recent and relevant content with their smartphone during training
• View recorded demonstrations of creating QR codes for Brainshark and YouTube mobile videos
• View recorded demonstrations of how to scan QR codes that launch Brainshark and YouTube videos
• Respond to questions in 5 different quizzes
• Create and track their own QR code using our MobExMe platform during the training session

So if you want to be successful with QR codes, then make a small investment of time and money and take this short 27 training module and walk away with knowledge and your own trackable QR code to promote your business.

Webinar Resources was recently presented and recognized with a Brainshark Sharkie award  for the best presentation in the myBrainshark Learning Provider category. Brainshark received more than 200 entries for consideration in this year’s competition.

Brainshark’s myBrainshark solution for individuals, offers a catalog of business-related video content that is available for free or for sale. Learning providers such as Webinar Resources are select organizations with subject matter expertise on topics relevant to businesspeople. Using myBrainshark, learning providers produce relevant high-quality video presentation content, which they can promote and sell through the myBrainshark.com site and its partner site, TrainingIndustry.com.

“Webinar Resources is recognized for the creative repurposing and delivery of its Webinar Wednesdays program, including the ability to access the replay via a QR code, short URL or SMS message,” said Joan Babinski, VP of Marketing at Brainshark. “It’s a great example of not only repurposing content, but also providing audiences with a choice of how to experience it from anywhere, including on their mobile devices.”

"We are pleased to be a recipient of a 2012 Sharkie award,” said Mark Rice, Managing Director of Webinar Resources. “We continue to develop and deploy learning and acquisition processes that deliver relevant content through reliable channels. We will soon be delivering a series of ‘Mobile Media Made Easy’ learning modules that focus on successful marketing in a multi-channel world, and look forward to our continued relationship with Brainshark.” 

Webinar Resources has recorded and repurposed webinar replay content into effective learning modules, extending global reach for InfoTrends, Bizucate, Compendium, SandhillPR, Brainshark, and Glance Networks.

Learn more at: http://www.riceresources.com/webinars/press/sharkie_award.pdf

Just in time for St. Patty's Day, Webinar Resources releases a new use case that proves QR codes applications are only limited to your imagination.  QRSlot engages the viewer to scan a green shamrock QR code that invokes a clever slot machine simulation that displays combinations of popular social media icons.   Get three in a row and you win a free QRCombo code.

QRCombo was recently announced and is a unique application that combines to destinations into one QR code.  Use QRCombo for mobile lead generation, charitable giving, event promotion and many more applications.   You can see a sample of QRCombo codes on our Pinterest site - http://pinterest.com/mobilemrice/qrcombo/

Are ye feelin' lucky laddie?  Play QRSlot and win a QRCombo code that will start you on your search for a pot of golden opportunity.

I received a comment today that anyone can create a QR Code. Yes, but not everyone can create and deliver a successful user experience behind the QR Code that will bring back visitors. Planning, preparation, testing and delivery combined with a relevant "call-to-action are key elements for successful execution. Even major corporations make mistakes when they dip their feet into QR Codes for the first time.

This is part of our discussion that has continued on the LinkedIn Group "QR Codes - Great Ideas".  It began with the article published by @Mashable a week ago - "Why QR Codes Won't Last".   Many of us in the QR Code community have spoken up this week to educate readers that QR Codes are in an early adoption stage in the U.S.   It is not time to declare death to QR Codes as clever entrepreneurs and inventors continue to come up with new and exciting innovations.   We just launched QRCombo, an application that combines two destinations into one QR Code - http://mobexme.com/QRCombo

If you search tweets using the words "QR Code", you will see many creative use cases for QR Codes nearly every week. The #qrchat group that meets every Sunday evening (7:00 pm Central) is always reviewing the week's clever and creative QR Code campaigns. You can see some other great sample use cases for QR codes in this on-demand presentation our our partner, Brainshark, recently produced - "Brainshark and QR Codes". 

From my perspective, the best user experiences are the ones designed for multi-smartphone users from two (Scandinavian Airlines "Buckle Up for 2") to a community (Dayton, Ohio Scavenger Hunt). QR Codes were designed to connect the offline to the online world but they can also connect a community that will follow your brand. Participation of communities is where the greatest penetration and impact can be made for QR Code adoption and that is where we focus our services to help our customers to share and build their brand.  

Want to learn more, do more and provide more experiences with QR Codes?  Host a Mobile Media Made Easy workshop for your group, company or association.  Visit  http://mobex.me/mmmelearn to contact us at Webinar Resources and schedule a session.

Constant comments and articles that "QR Codes are dead" seem to keep sprouting up.  I came home from work last night and the first thing my son said to me was, "Dad, QR Codes are dead".   He heard it on Facebook as did thousands of others after retweeting and reposting a recent OP-ED article http://mashable.com/2012/02/15/qr-codes-rip/  posted on the Mashable Tech blog.  I was very surprised by the author's reasoning but not surprised by the comments received from a community of supportive QR Code enthusiasts and experts.  QR Codes dead?  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

QR Codes were developed by Denso Wave, a Japanese company that originally produced them for Toyota in 1994.   I first encountered a QR Code printed on a banner advertising Ralph Lauren's Polo brand at the US Open in 2008.

QR Code scanning has dramatically increased in the U.S. in the last two years and recent research by ScanLife indicates a 300% growth in 2011 over 2010 - http://blog.scanlife.com/tag/qr-codes/.   Recent research from Chadwick Martin Bailey indicates that 1 out of 5 people who have scanned a QR code, have also made a purchase - http://blog.cmbinfo.com/bid/73238/The-Facts-Marketers-Need-to-Know-Before-Using-QR-Codes   With 20+ million people scanning QR Codes, I would say that is a market opportunity.

So, here are four essential elements that I believe marketers, enthusiasts and consumers should consider to keep the QR Code crops growing and flourishing.

Education

Like any new process or idea, it is important to educate people on what a QR Code is, how it can be used and what value it delivers when scanned.  Always include some instruction and direction when you are using QR Codes.   The consumer needs to be guided through the "pitch to the package" (tell them where to get a QR Code reader, how to scan the QR code and what they will receive when they do).   Marketers, follow groups that meet online to discuss mobile technologies and learn what works and doesn't work.  I join a group of experts on a Twitter chat, #qrchat, every Sunday evening.

Utilization

You can find many great use cases and applications related to QR Codes.  However, "plan before the scan".  Determine your goal, Identify your target audience, plan how you wish to reach them and include a "call-to-action" (CTA).   Some of the most popular CTAs are coupons, discounts, free tickets and video content.  The reason many people claim QR Codes are dead, is related to the poor user experience that many marketers have created while experimenting with QR Codes.   Many QR Codes still direct the viewer to a company homepage (that is not optimized for mobile viewing).   Plan a memorable and actionable user experience and your visitors will spread the word and return.

Innovation

I have seen some great QR Code applications lately and they go beyond the traditional scan to a mobile web page/video scenario.  Some smart marketers are learning that QR Codes can be more interactive and are developing some very clever and successful campaigns.   Scandinavian Airlines recent "Couple Up to Buckle Up" QR Campaign required two people to sit down and plan a trip together.   As each partner scanned their own QR code, a split video of a young man on one phone moved towards the women on the next. 

Our company, Webinar Resources, recently launched QRCombo, a QR Code application that combines two destinations into one QR Code.   There are other innovations on the horizon and you will see QR Codes included in a multi-channel mix -- web, email, SMS, social and print.  Innovation will keep QR Codes alive, fun and profitable.

Communitization

Marketers are learning more about the power and influence of a community that can essentially like or unlike your brand in seconds.  QR Codes are an ideal way to reach out to communities and connect people.   The city of Dayton, Ohio, recently launched a Scavenger Hunt that included the use of QR Codes.  When communities start engaging in activities that involve QR Codes, adoption of their use will happen much faster. 

Summary

Four essential elements, education, utilization, innovation and communitization will be required to keep QR Codes alive.   Each of these elements are building blocks for the others.   Look at the structure of a QR Code.  It is basically made up of a series of different building blocks, like Legos (they have an application too).  We need to work together to strategize, plan and execute successful QR Code campaigns that people will remember, revisit and recycle into new innovations that will be building blocks for future marketing, selling and learning opportunities.

Existing QR code generators provide one destination for delivering a variety of mobile content but lack the ability to provide a two-step action that is necessary to capture leads.  QRCombo adds another layer of “quick response” by combining both processes into one QR Code. Self-produced or professional mobile video content can now be linked to popular lead capture forms generated from cloud applications such as Salesforce, ExactTarget, Marketo, Eloqua and PayPal Mobile.

The Florida Wildlife Foundation has linked a short animated video with their PayPal mobile page using QRCombo. They plan to print the QRCombo code on business cards, brochures and outdoor panels to communicate their appeal for supporting the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN).  During the video, the viewer is prompted to "rescan" the QRCombo code if they wish to support the FYCCN programs through a donation.

Webinar Resources offers a FREE 10 Day trial of the QRCombo application. To learn more about QRCombo, visit http://mobexme.com/QRCombo to see live applications or to start the Free 10 day trial.

Webinar Resources is excited to host guest speakers from Brainshark and Glance Networks at our next Webinar Wednesday event.  This group of experts will show you how to create, share and track mobile content that even small businesses can manage and distribute.

Here's your chance to "Meet the Presenters" and the team behind Webinar Wednesdays before the webinar.   Scan the QR code below to begin.