QR Codes: A How-To Guide For Business Use

Are you capitalizing on the latest little bit of free Techie gadgetry that's all the rage? We’re talking about QR codes, which are one of the easiest (and cheapest) marketing tricks a business can take advantage of.

Click here for eight more low cost social media tips we posted a few weeks ago and sit back to bask in the warmth of a new piece of technology fun that doesn't cost a thing!

What is a QR Code?

QR stands for Quick Response and was created by the automotive industry to help track vehicles during the manufacturing process. A QR Code is a barcode that stores a web address of your choosing.

If you scan the one above, you'll go to our Facebook page where we just posted some fun photos from our Halloween costume competition. There are apps available in both the Android and the iPhone that let you scan a QR code to quickly go to a website.

Note: To scan the code, you’ll need an app like QR Scanner [iTunes link] for the iPhone and iPod touch, or ShopSavvy for Android devices.

Marketing uses for QR Codes:

·    QR Codes are being used at some grocery stores and restaurants to give you recipes and nutritional information about the food you're buying.

·    To give you access to coupons, both in-store and on the internet.

·    On business cards, signs and brochures. A simple little barcode allows you to give the info you need to on the card or sign and, with a single click, also help the person to visit the webpage of your choice.

·    On clothing labels (Macy's and other retailers are already using this) to tell you about that item and others you may like in the store.

·    On anything with packaging, to push people to a website, Facebook or review page.

Can I get a QR Code of my very own?

Of course! There are tons of free spots to generate a QR code. Bit.ly and Social Oomph are two of the easiest.

To use Bit.ly:

·    Visit bit.ly, write or paste in a URL address, click “Shorten,” and add .qr to the end of the generated bit.ly link (like so: http://bit.ly/tm90xj.qr).

·    Copy the modified link into a new browser window to view the QR code.

·    Once you see the code on your screen, you can print it out, send to your friends via e-mail, post on your blog, etc.

To use Social Oomph:

·    You need to sign up for a free account, whereas for Bit.ly, you could sign in with Twitter (but it still asks for your email address).

·    Once you're signed in, l00k at the left navigation bar - "Shorten URL" is the fourth choice from the top.

·    Click the Shorten URL shortcut and type or paste the address in to the "Long URL" box and click the Shorten button.

·    There's a box that says QR Code - copy the link out of there and follow all the same steps as above in the Bit.ly example.

From Wikipedia: Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is termed hardlinking or object hyperlinking. Click here for more details than you probably want on how to work QR Codes. :-)

UPDATE: In the last few weeks since we wrote this post, viruses have targeted QR Codes here and there. That doesn't mean they aren't safe but, just like email, watch where you click. More details here on how to avoid viruses.

Does this give you any new marketing ideas for your business marketing or advertising efforts? Are you already using QR Codes? What has your experience been?

BCWS would like to connect with you! Please come join us at:  

Our BCWS Blog or Our Website
On Facebook
BCWS’s Company Profile on LinkedIn
On Twitter

8 Easy Ways To Grow Your Social Media Footprint

In today’s economic climate, finding and retaining great people and great clients are two top concerns for any business. Social media is bridging the gap and helping businesses connect on both fronts.

Look at this article from Business Week back in 2008 – Social Media Will Change Your Business. There’s a fun recap at how far things have come since 2005. (Light years!) Now compare it to the L.A. Times article this week, Social Media Giving Small Firms A Boost, which cites social media as a portal to success for small businesses.

Below are eight low-cost tips to help you expand your current social media footprint. We'd love to hear from you in the comments section about how many of these you're already using.

1.  After-hours Voicemail If you haven’t added your Facebook address and Twitter username to your voicemail, you are missing out on some cheap easy marketing. Hundreds of people hear your voicemail each year and could be connecting with you online.

2.  Your website Does your company’s website have clear links to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Company page? What about to your blog? If someone finds your website, you want to make it easy for them to find the rest.

3.   Printed materials Do you have your social media information printed at the bottom of each letter and brochure you put out? What about on your business cards? It’s easy to make room in the address block for something so important. Try including this the next time you print any company materials.

4.   Email Signature Do you have all your social media icons in the signature blog on your email? It’s amazing how many people will click that link if you make it easy.

5.   Email marketing It’s a good idea to build an email list and use it for some email marketing. I didn’t say spamming. Once or twice a month is fine for connecting. Once a day is not. Be sure to include all your links as well as a periodic promotion. You’ll be surprised at the results. Tools like Constant Contact can track this for you.

6.   Signage at your workplace Do you have a sign up at your front desk or in your window telling your customers how to connect with you via social media? It’s likely you’re missing out on some contacts you could have made. When clients are waiting in your lobby, you’ve got a pretty captive audience.

7.   Business presentations Do you or other team members do any public speaking? Your social media contact information should be on each slide, in any handouts you provide and should also be verbalized by the presenter at the beginning and end of the presenation.

8.   Cross-promotion between platforms It’s a very good idea to be sure that your customers and potential employees can find you anywhere. The easiest way to do this is to list your social media information on each platform – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and your blog.

Remember, “Content is King” – nothing will replace good content. But Social Media is Queen these days and small businesses should cast their social media net as widely as they can.

Are there any social media marketing tips you’d like to share? Which platform has worked best for your business?

BCWS would like to connect with you!

Please come join us at:

Our BCWS Blog or Our Website
On Facebook

BCWS’s Company Profile on LinkedIn On Twitter

Build A Business Network With LinkedIn

We’ve been talking about Social Media here at BCWS and the question came up:

“Why do I need so many different kinds?”

You want to go to where your people are. It’s as simple as that.

As a rule of thumb, Facebook is focused on connecting with the people you already know. Twitter and LinkedIn are both geared toward meeting up with the people you want to know.

If you are using Social Media to build a network, you are simply going to do it faster on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Why LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is a very easy, passive way to build your social network with individuals that you might already know, as well as those you meet in the course of your networking events.

Through LinkedIn’s Status Updates, Reading Lists, Groups and the amazing Answer feature, you will have the opportunity to be a solution provider, which is golden in today’s world.

Getting started

1.    Go to http://www.linkedin.com

2.    Choose your LinkedIn account type

Note: Anyone can sign up for a free Basic LinkedIn account. Free accounts allow you to invite available connections, manage your own profile, join Groups and sign up for LinkedIn events. Free accounts do not allow you to send InMails (which allow you send mail to anyone whether you are connected or not), see all LinkedIn contacts or organize your contacts beyond a basic name listing.

For the LinkedIn users that want to use the application more fully or for targeted tasks like job recruiting, there are several other business options available for a monthly charge.

3.    Add connections

You can allow LinkedIn to check your existing address books for your current email addresses or enter your contacts manually.

It is easiest to allow LinkedIn to comb through your current address books for your various email applications. You will get a list of the people you know who are already using LinkedIn and can invite them to connect with you.

Note: If you don’t want to do this when you begin, you can return here later. This is the Import Contacts option that is located inside the People You May Know section in the upper right corner of your LinkedIn home page.

What do you do once you’re connected?

Listen

Listening in LinkedIn means watching the Status Updates that show on your home page each day and commenting on them. These updates are a treasure trove of conversation openers.

Read

In LinkedIn, there is an application to discuss and recommend what you are reading. When you use this application, it will update your home page. People will comment, and you can do the same on the books they recommend. Part of why so many people love books is because they are so easy to bond over.

Browse

Be sure to look around in LinkedIn. You’ll come across the greatest stuff just poking around. Explore the LinkedIn toolbar at the top of the page to see your Connections, Update your profile, or look for Jobs. Incidentally, all the recruiters we know say they find the best talent through LinkedIn.

Find Groups that have other people with the same interests as you.
Some people take an opposite track and join Groups with members that have knowledge you want to have.

On the right hand side of the LinkedIn toolbar, there is a search box that defaults to say “People.” Hit the drop-down and choose Groups. Type in your interest (i.e. financial planning, parenting or gardening). Trust me, you will find wonderful groups.

Other helpful tips:

·         All the usual rules of social media apply – spamming and lying are not appropriate.

·         You do not have to be introduced to anyone you are in a Group with. This is the perfect chance to go where your target audience is and rub elbows with them. We’ve all met amazing people this way.

·         Browse the People You May Know section on the right side of your screen every few weeks. New people show up in there based on things like who has joined LinkedIn or which searches you’ve run. I nearly always find someone I’d been wishing to have as a connection.

We’ll have more LinkedIn discussion over the next few weeks about Events, Answers and the Search capabilities. You can also feel free to ask questions about the program in the comments below.

In the meantime, are you already on LinkedIn? Do you like or dislike it? We’d like to connect with you! Please come find us at:

Our BCWS Blog or Our Website
On Facebook
On Twitter
BCWS’s Company Profile on LinkedIn

Ramping Up On Social Media

In today’s world of immediacy, social networking is a valuable tool for growing your business.

One of our 2011 goals here at BCWS is to put more time into our social media efforts as a team now that the tax season is behind us.

Several excellent articles have been floating around our offices over the last few weeks:

Are You Talking To Me?
This Wall Street Journal article give best practices for engaging with customers via social media.


LinkedIn Tips for CPAs
Are You Linked In?
Both these articles from the March issue of the Journal of Accountancy explain how CPAs can use LinkedIn to grow their business and stay on top of industry trends.

IRS Launches App for iPhones and Droids
This article from the December issue of Accounting Today discusses the launch of a Smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on the status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information.

An Insider’s Guide to Social Media Etiquette
Chris Brogan is a fantastic resource for using social media for business. Our team has found tremendous value in his blogs.

We enjoy hearing from you! What articles or resources have you found the most helpful?


We’d like to connect with you! Please come find us at:
Our Website
On Facebook
On Twitter
BCWS’s Company Profile on LinkedIn
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