So, you want to know the hottest future trend to help your business gain a competitive edge, huh? No problem… while none of us have a crystal ball and can predict the next huge marketing phenomenon, it doesn’t take a stack of tarot cards and a cup of tea leaves to know that your business marketing stratagem needs to include a mobile plan. And that mobile plan should include mobile tagging – a relatively new marketing tool that just might be that next big thing to get your message across to the masses.
The mobile industry has seen staggering growth, already surpassing the three billion mark. In contrast, the internet is fewer than 2 billion. Mobile allows all previous mediums (telephone, print, audio, radio, TV, movies, internet and video games) to be combined in an instrument that fits right in your pocket. That’s one powerful mass communication device.
Mobile tags, such as Microsoft Tags or QR codes (QR standing for Quick Response) are a way for the code’s contents to be decoded at a rapid speed by using the camera on a mobile device, typically a smart phone. They provide a unique way for a company’s products to interact with its existing and future customers.
A tag reader (downloaded app) scans the image and takes the user to a specific webpage. A mobile tag code can be anything like a website, text information, SMS message or even a business card. The code contains information in the vertical direction as well as the horizontal direction, so it can carry hundreds of times more data than an ordinary bar code. This is why these types of codes are called 2D (two dimensional) barcodes, or matrix barcodes. These two dimensional barcodes can be applied to almost any surface and the information contained within them can be leveraged to create incentives and drivers that lead consumers along the purchase path.
The QR code is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., and while no one can predict just how popular it’ll become, it’s a good bet mobile tagging will be around for awhile. And since it’s still a fresh, unique concept – you should implement mobile tagging as part of your marketing campaign sooner rather than later.
So what are the benefits of using mobile tags?
One advantage is the element of mystery. Without a reader, a viewer won’t know exactly what the message is. It’s very tempting for someone that sees a giant mobile tag to find out what will happen when they scan it, which makes the viewer one step closer to becoming an actual customer. Of course, you can also tease someone into reading the mobile tag by adding simple text next to the tag that gives the viewer a call to action, such as “Want to save 50%?”, “Scan me now for more info” or “Win a wonderful free trip”.
Another advantage over typical printed ads is the elimination of long and cumbersome website addresses that take you to a specific landing page. For instance, if you’re walking down the street and see an ad for a website that shows funny clown videos. That might be just what your funny bone was looking for, but chances are you won’t stop to write the address down and chances are even greater that (if you’re like us) you’ll forget the URL by the end of the day. But if you have the tag to scan, they get immediate satisfaction. They scan the tag, and are on your website, or watching your video, or calling you with the direct dialer on the spot.

Mobile tags make print media come to life. It takes a flat print platform, be it a magazine article, advertisement, billboard, window cling, golf-cart, bag tag or even a bus-stop bench, to a whole new dimension. No longer are they waiting to get online, or relying on their memory of a website to get your information, they are scanning that tag right then and there for quick and easy access.

We recommend using tags in every type of training program as well. Placement on products, in technical manuals, product disclosures, sales and marketing materials, business cards, letterhead and other communication tools should all contain tags. Even your digital media can include tags. Wherever you need the opportunity to expand information, you should be putting a tag.

One innovative way to do this is through the use of customized tag sheets. At http://www.itagit.com, you can purchase a sheet of your customized tags, 64 on a page, and place those tags everywhere. On your leave-behind materials, your business cards, your product samples, brochures, practically everything you give to a prospect or customer can now be “tagged”, driving your customers and prospects to buying triggers you create in about 3 minutes. Get online and try these custom tags. Itagit sends them out within 24 hours of you submitting your order! And you can upload custom images as well. Your logo, your photo, product images – anything you have a digital image of – you can place as the background to your tag. And they cost under $10 to create the custom tag AND receive your sheet of tags!

Test them out – get your tags and get them in action. Improve your communications and your closing ratios with your customers. See It. Tag It. Share It.