You’ve seen them everywhere–on signs, in museums, in magazines and on business cards. Do you know what they are?
More importantly, do you know how you might use QR (Quick Response) codes to convey information to your customers and to prospects?
I noticed one of my clients, Stephanie Hofman, a Coldwell Banker residential real estate agent, has QR codes on everything she uses to promote her business. She agreed to share her knowledge and experience with this new technology.
Stephanie Hofman
Frances: When did you start using QR codes?
Stephanie: I started using QR codes about eight months ago. I just thought they were such a cool idea, and I’m always striving to do something innovative with my business and for my clients.
Frances: Do you create them yourself, and how did you learn how to do that?
Stephanie: The first one was created for me as part of a marketing campaign I was participating in through Coldwell Banker. I then went online to find a few different QR code generators, and just played around until I found the ones that worked best for me. I especially like the ones I created on BeQrious.com–my logo is in the center of the code!
Frances: How do you use them?
Stephanie: I now make sure to implement the codes on all print marketing (both for myself and my properties), on my for sale signs, on my website and blog, on Facebook, in my email signature, and on the back of my business cards.
I create codes to direct people to my website or the websites for my properties. I also have a code that’s a V Card, so people can download my contact info directly into their smartphone. I’m always looking for new applications for my codes!
Frances: Have you had any feedback from clients?
Stephanie: Basically, the response is that it’s a really cool idea. I make sure to point out the codes everytime I hand out a business card, and I highlight them on my website and emails.
A lot of people still don’t have code readers on their smartphones–I use Red Laser, which I downloaded from and App store on my iPhone–so I think it’s going to take a little time for people to really understand how these codes will benefit them.
Frances: Do you plan to continue using them?
Stephanie: I absolutely plan to continue my use of QR codes. I think they provide such a great bridge between the online world and print world. Plus, with the proliferation of smart phones (they outsell PCS!) we will become incresasingly dependent upon our phones for information.
The fact that someone can walk or drive by one of my listings, scan the code off the sign and instantly have all of that home’s information and photos literally in the palm of their hand is just incredible to me! I only see these codes growing in use and popularity.
Frances: Do you see applications for QR codes beyond your current use?
Stephanie: I believe there are no limits to how I can use QR codes to benefit my clients and my business. I’m sure there are a lot of things I haven’t even thought of yet, and I look forward to continuing to use them to make information more accessible to consumers.
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Stephanie makes sure her use of cutting-edge technology is accessible. For clients and prospects who aren’t familiar with QR codes, Stephanie offers an introduction to QR codes, along with a link to the necessary QR scanner. She gets double mileage out of the how-to lesson, because she’s showing poeple how to read her own marketing as well as gaining goodwill for providing a valuable lesson on how to scan QR codes in any context.
Check out Stephanie Hofman’s website and her blog, where you’ll find everything you need to know about North Shore living.
Related posts: Thanks to Mike McCurry’s posts on using QR codes at events, I learned how to make and use QR codes for my own website.
