QR Codes - Why You Should Use Them

QR Code for UnfussyWine.com

These little images you see everywhere these days are called QR Codes (QR stands for Quick Response).  They are one method of allowing for SmartPhones (Blackberry, iPhones, Android, etc) to read a URL and launch a web browser on the device and take the user to a particular piece of content or web page.

The benefits of this type of tool are quite obvious for those who are shopping for your product as these little images can be placed on shelf signage or on bottle to allow folks perusing the aisles to take a quick snap of the code.  That little action can then take the user to the web so they can learn more about your product or be taken to product reviews or fun content.

There are other technologies that may eclipse QR Codes in the coming years but as of 2012 these are an easy and inexpensive way to help promote your in-store products online.  The versatility of the placement of QR Codes is one of the real benefits for those using them to promote a wine or winery.  However, you need to be a little more sophisticated about how you use them.  Putting a QR Code somewhere for someone to use comes with a bit more responsibility than just sending them to your homepage.  The key component of this is that you have captured someone's attention enough for them to scan your code which means you need to give them a little more information about what you are selling to them.

You also need to consider that for most people when they scan a code they are paying to see the content you are sending them to view.  So, make it worth their while by optimizing the content as much as you can for mobile/tablet devices.  That means making sure your website is either mobile friendly or contains responsive design elements which judge how the viewer is looking at the content (i.e. mobile device versus regular computer).  If that is not possible then make sure that the page you are sending them to gets to the point as quickly as possible.  Video content should be as light as possible so that it streams easily.  Keep images small and focus on text.

It is such a great promotional tool that we feel you would be remiss not to leverage them as part of the product promotion you are doing on your bottles or in-store in some way.  You have an engaged consumer who just needs a little content and a little push to pick up some of your wine.  QR Codes are a quick and easy tool to give them that little push.

Keep on tasting!

Chris & Shannon