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Location: Fort Worth, TX | By now, we've all seen those weird code blocks on trucks, retail establishment windows, and even on business cards. They're called QR Codes and they can have any information in them you'd like. Usually they contain a website address. People walk up to them and scan them with a smart phone and instantly are directed to your website. I was the first person in the US to obtain a copy of a soon to be released design program. It costs over 4,000 bucks but I got it free because I'm friends with the author of the software. With this program I can take your information and convert it into a QR Code. I'll then send you a file you can take to any sign shop and have vinyl decals made for the rear window of your vehicle. You can have the decals made in any size for wherever you'd like to place it. You can also use the file to have it printed on a business card or poster. QR Codes were all the rage a year or so ago and then tapered off. They're still widely used because anyone with a smart phone can't resist the urge to scan them. Just like the band logos and business card layouts, I'll do this for you for free as an activity for me that (as FILLHIXX said) will help keep my mind out of the bell tower since I have so much free time on my hands being retired at age 58. Something to consider as a marketing tool. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Been using QR codes for awhile and there are also free QR code generators out there, but however you get one, they are a great tool. Thanks Dave for offering your service and the lesson/reminder.
One of the BIGGEST marketing mistakes people make is they taint their marketing decisions by basing them, either by accident or on purpose, on their OWN habits. You can get real creative with QR codes. Print one up at a decent enough size to be seen and have it on facing the audience on your monitors. Put it on the corner of your poster. Put it on anything that will be seen by a potential fan. It's not that it shoots them off to your website, it's that it shoots them off to your website or facebook presence and they don't have to remember anything. With about 4 clicks you are saved to their favorites if they are interested. If you send them to your facebook page, well that's just gorilla marketing at it's best... they land on your facebook page, they share that they are at the venue, and all of their friends just heard about you from a verified source... their friend... how cool is that?
Again.. thanks Dave.. Just thought folks might want a little more "in depth" on what exactly they can do, and I just hit the tip of the iceberg. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | Wow. That has to be the most awesome follow up reply to anything I've ever seen posted on a forum. I had no idea anyone could utilize a QR Code as concisely as you described. I also had no idea there were QR Code generators available for free. I did a very quick research into them and learned some of them are kind of not so reliable with their resulting code. If after Mr O's incredible pep talk about QR Codes, if you want one message me with your info. The software I have to generate is doesn't just do these codes, it's the most all around graphic design program available for professional designers. Your QR Code will be correctly created by the world's best software for it. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Am I the only one here that has absolutely NO idea what you guys are talking about? |
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Location: Flahdaw | muzza - 2012-10-08 8:28 AM
Am I the only one here that has absolutely NO idea what you guys are talking about?
Are you seriously trying to tell us that you don't have a QR Code? Freakin' neanderthal... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I have regretted my inability to speak a second language, other than a few words of German, but Geekspeak is not a language that I wish to learn. I often miss out on the latest fashions, in part because I live out here in the wilderness, but I don't recall even a hint that "QR Codes were all the rage a year or so ago..." |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | Mark in Boise - 2012-10-08 11:56 AM
I have regretted my inability to speak a second language, other than a few words of German, but Geekspeak is not a language that I wish to learn. I often miss out on the latest fashions, in part because I live out here in the wilderness, but I don't recall even a hint that "QR Codes were all the rage a year or so ago..."
On a sign industry forum I've been on for going on ten years there was a lot of threads about it a little over a year ago. There were a few tv commercials about scanning them with a smart phone too around that time. It was just one more way to be instantly be connected to information. You can use them to link to websites instantly and to promo videos and such. Imagine someone attending your concert, liking you, and being able to scan your code and find your tour schedule on your webpage. They have a useful place in a total marketing package, something most people don't develop enough anymore. They think if they have a webpage and Facebook page everyone will magically be able to always find them |
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Location: Flahdaw | So much of that "new media" crap is just that....crap. We have 2 great websites, are on LinkedIn, Facebook, advertise, do newsletters, are linked thru others websites, as well as to national associations. To this day 99% of our business is still referral, the same as it was 20 years ago, before ANY of that stuff was even around. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't have Facebook. I did text someone yesterday. I am so ashamed, but the other guy started it and wouldn't answer his darn phone. I really had hoped that I would die before I ever texted anyone. We were able to meet for golf and dinner and have a face to face conversation like humans, which almost made up for the texting. Except I was tired because the United robot called me at 3 and 4 am to tell me that my wife's plane was going to be on time. Many of these technological "advances" are just plain stupid. There are too many people that already "magically" are able to find me. Most are trying to sell me something. One very useful technology tool I use is a spam blocker, but it has too many holes in it.
Bob, even though I don't know what business you are in, you seem like the kind of person I'd like to do business with.
Edited by Mark in Boise 2012-10-08 12:53 PM
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Location: Miami | +1 on BobG. I have a website, a facebook page, a YouTube page, and a Soundcloud page, but 99% of my gigs are also from referrals. Nevertheless, that 1% over the years does add up to a dozen gigs or so, and having a QR code looks like another free way to land a possible gig or two, so why not? You never know where the next big gig might come from.
(BTW, to me a gig at a local sports pub IS a big gig ;-)
Edited by Jukebox Joe 2012-10-08 1:31 PM
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Location: Flahdaw | Mark in Boise - 2012-10-08 1:49 PM
Bob, even though I don't know what business you are in, you seem like the kind of person I'd like to do business with.
In other words, you'd like to SUE me.....
Edited by BobG 2012-10-08 1:45 PM
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | darkbarguitar - 2012-10-08 12:40 PM
So much of that "new media" crap is just that....crap. We have 2 great websites, are on LinkedIn, Facebook, advertise, do newsletters, are linked thru others websites, as well as to national associations. To this day 99% of our business is still referral, the same as it was 20 years ago, before ANY of that stuff was even around.
Hence the reason why I've never had a website to advertise my interior decor custom hand lettered signs (think the fake nautical signs in Red Lobster) and my pinstriping. Several years ago, even tho I was a pinstriper there, American IronHorse Motorcycles had me design their website. They saved a fortune over paying an outside source. I designed the first ever online point and click to design a bike. Complete with selecting wheels, paint scheme and pinstripe color. I set it up to email the factory with all the production codes from the bike design. Before long Big Dog had copied it outright. I authored that part of the website in Flash, which is a program I love. Of course, since Adobe bought out Macromedia they are phasing out Flash. All this new media is crap. Real pertinent info still travels from one human being to another and always will. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The QR codes are not about referrals or getting biz/jobs....they are a quick and easy way for people to "remember" you, your website, etc. Beats the hell out of trying to write down the bands website on a napkin or the phone number of Bobs agency or Marks law firm and then promptly forgetting and wiping your nose with it.
Dave.....very generous offer! While I do not have a need at the moment I have been thinking about it....so who knows. I might take you up on this a bit down the road. Thanks from those of us not mired in the 19th century. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I should have been more clear. This new stuff has it's place, and for SOME businesses it's essential. But for MOST businesses, word of mouth, referrals, knowing someone, cold calling, or just being in the right place at the right time is how you end up successful.
I will say that the Yellow Pages USED to drive a lot of people to businesses doors, but hardly anyone uses the phone book anymore. I don't. I google everything. Being on the front page of google IS important to generate new business and customers. That is the most important new technology for any business these days. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Funny, you don't look like a Sue online......
All advertising and marketing is just an attempt to effect Word Of Mouth. All the different bells, whistles, and glockenspiels are and attempt to get people talking about something or, even better, take an action.
Just doing something because it's cool, new, or someone told you you should is not great marketing. Using a tool to accomplish a desired goal IS good practice. Miles' ideas are good ones, sending people to a web presence you already have (and maintain!?!) while at a gig is a great idea.
It allows your fans to bond with you and share their opinion. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I agree with all of you, at least those that I understand. I was just jerking some chains. As Bob says, a lot of this new stuff is crap. The new Facebook will probably be tomorrow's MySpace. And Bob, I'm on the other side. I defend people who get sued and, although I was talking about buying whatever you were selling, you did remind me that you really need a defense lawyer on retainer. I'll even reduce my rate for travel time to Florida because I'm desperate. The check bounced from my last client who got my number off a snotty bar napkin. |
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Location: Flahdaw | This is (finally) an interesting discussion.
If you take my little Youtube channel as an example of a new business, it is a good lesson on building a business in this new, web-based environment.
1. Developed a product (learned some songs over the years)
2. Made some test samples of product (did some recordings)
3. Test marketed products on the web (posted videos to Youtube)
4. Product sold and additional products requested (people liked the videos and suggested new ones)
And that's where it ended for me. I have over 1200 subscribers and about 600,000 views BUT!!!! But, i never did anything else. Never promoted myself (other than add it to my profile on a couple of forums)Understandable, 'cos I wasn't trying to "build up" anything.
Now, what would, or should, a REAL business have done. Certainly created a Facebook page, as well as LinkedIn. Linked websites such as Reverbnation and MyMusic. Business cards, t-shirts, magnetic signs on cars, hats, mugs, blah blah blah. Oh, and a QR code.
My point is that the web is pretty powerful if I can get all those subscribers and I didn't do really ANYTHING....what could I have done if I really tried? Those people found ME, I didn't even TRY to find them. It doesn't translate to any income or SALES (my wife constantly reminds me) but it's still pretty amazing. I wish I could come up with something that WOULD sell on the internet, 'cos it certainly works.
Edited by BobG 2012-10-08 2:39 PM
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Location: Tennessee | While all the marketing stuff is interesting to talk about and imagine "what could be", it still all about whether you can play and whether people like what you're doing enough to tell their friends. You can have the best web presence, marketing plan, QR codes, flashy outfits, and the right guitars ... but if you suck it's all worthless.
Spend your time and your money on getting the music right. If you do that, they'll find you. Once you've got something worthwhile, get a manager (or friend, partner, etc.) to handle the rest of this stuff so you don't confuse what your purpose really is.
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Bob, next time your wife tells you that you spend too much time and money on guitars and you need to start making a return on your investment, tell her the same thing about her dresses and shoes. There, I gave you some free advice. Note--I don't do divorce work, either. |
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Location: Flahdaw | Ah, I get it...I say that to my wife, she beats me to a pulp, you offer to defend her. Hey, you DO have an internet based business! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | You're too negative. If it turns out she gets rich from those dresses and high heels, I want a percentage for my idea. We'll call it my Preferred Internet Marketing Percentage. |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Hehehe....Mark's a PIMP |
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | Well...I have a website (my son set it up), and I'm on Facebook (my son set it up). I just WON'T do Twitter and I couldn't text to save my life. I have a very basic Virgin flip phone with one extravagance (a camera) that I never use. The phone is in case I break down on the road - and that's about it.
Most of my and my band's gigs come from referrals and word of mouth and people who come up to us when they hear us playing.
HOWEVER -
All that being said, I'd be interested in getting these codes, just to have them out there. Dave - what do I need to do?
Edited by rick endres 2012-10-08 8:54 PM
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | I just tested it out by creating a qr code for OFC. My wife scanned it with her smart phone and it took her straight to the website. Too cool. All anyone needs to do is send me the url to their website and an email address I can send the file to. Probably best to PM me for this instead of posting all your info on the board. Only 1 url per code works. If you have multiple websites you'll get multiple codes. |
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Location: Miami | Just got mine. Thanks, Dave! I look forward to displaying it on different items and see if I catch anyone scanning it. |
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Marketing Your Band
