Move Over QR Codes; There’s Some Thunder from Down Under

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While still reeling from yesterday’s announcement that Google killed the QR code, even more disturbing news will come out of Australia tomorrow (due to the time zone difference) about the future of our 2D friend.  For the unwashed, a QR, or Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional bar code that bridges the gap between the physical (printed) world and the digital world. 

I subscribe to an obscure Australian blog entitled G‘day Print. It’s a cutting edge blog devoted entirely to the proliferation of print in the land Down Under.  Recent topics described success stories using innovative printing techniques to increase attendance at local footy matches and green printing initiatives used in Fairy Floss packaging.

The latest entry that caught my attention was a digital code that was not only as innovative and fast as QR codes, but even more powerful than the up and coming NFC (near field communication) technology, called PDQ codes.  (After doing more digging, I found the PDQ moniker is only temporary, meaning Pretty Damn Quick).  The codes are flexible enough where size doesn’t really matter. They can be printed on the largest pair of daks, or the smallest of Australian rubbers. But the most amazing facts about these codes are that in addition to becoming as ubiquitous as QR Codes, they have the ability to be specifically targeted for different market segments, and they have the ability to function way out in the Woop Woop where there is little or no connectivity.

As a paid subscriber to the G‘day Print  blog (These mates are crafty with their pay wall restrictions), I was able to obtain some yet unreleased information about the first attempt at a targeted PDQ code.

So consider this…you have a code that is extremely easy to scan by phone, or if there is little or no connectivity, scan via THE HUMAN EYE, instantaneously giving you the immediate information you need to engage, react, or interact. The paid sneak preview of this code allowed me to view one targeted specifically for the health care industry, the outdoor game acquisition industry, and the higher-end retail industry. 

Imagine this:

The code for the health care industry assists medical professionals in immediate identification of a patient’s area of need.

The code for the outdoor game acquisition industry enables users to increase their effect ROI.

And the code used for the higher-end retail industry gives immediate notification of a more hip, cooler experience than your average discount retailer.

Amazingly enough, all of this is accomplished with a single code.

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 Paul Strack, CustomXM

If It’s Good Enough for Google…

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I admit it, when it comes to direct marketing, I’m drinking the Kool Aid.  After all, it’s what I do. It’s my livelihood.  So when I attend seminars on the benefits of direct marketing, it’s easy for me to get excited to learn about the opportunities that can benefit our clients.  Admittedly, I am somewhat biased.

And when I hear vendor partners like Kodak, Xerox, and even the USPS tout the benefits of direct marketing, even someone as jaded (and as old) as me can often lose sight of the fact that they are trying to sell me something. But when I take a step back and look at the facts it becomes obvious that today’s tools can combine for some incredible direct marketing campaigns.

Consider that according to a 2010 DMA study every dollar spent on Direct Marketing returned $11.73 in revenue. And the beauty of today’s direct marketing tools is that now, more than ever before, marketing budgets can be used to produce measurable results – orders, leads, traffic, etc.

What is it that is driving this direct marketing success? Is it about being social? Is it about being viral? Is it about being mobile?  Certainly this all comes into play, but more importantly, it’s about the data we now have access to via these channels.  Data provides us the opportunity to get personal with our clients and prospects.  Good marketing is all about conversations.  Good data, and the various channels we have, makes these conversations possible. 

But why take my word for it?

I recently received not one, but TWO direct marketing campaigns from GOOGLE.  Yes, the behemoth of on-line advertising sent me offers via DIRECT MAIL. 

One was addressed to “business owner”, but the other, using better data, was addressed to me personally.  And it followed direct marketing best practices: it was designed to generate a response; it has a clear and obvious offer; it calls for a specific action; and that action would be entirely measurable.

 

Will I accept the offer?  Probably not. I will continue to rely on our own Direct Marketing techniques.  After all, if it’s good enough for Google…

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 Paul Strack, CustomXM

Post Formats is a theme feature introduced with Version 3.1. Post Formats can be used by a theme to customize its presentation of a post.
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Here’s an interesting infographic showing the history of Print. And all on one page!

Visual Loop

Integrating Media Luncheon — All About LBS

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No, we’re not talking about some new religion or an old president. Our next Integrating Media luncheon is all about Location-Based Marketing.

Or Social Location Marketing.

Or Location-Based Services.

WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN? IT’S SO CONFUSING!

Which is why you need to come to our Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, March 2, at 11:30 at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.

If you’ve ever attended one of our previous events, you’ll know that we love to take the newest, most cutting-edge integrated marketing tools and help you understand not just what they are, but what they can do for your business. At this seminar, we’re going to be talking about all the new LBS services — Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl and more — and how any business can use them to increase traffic, market to various demographics and even improve operational efficiency.

We’re excited to have Simon Salt, author of the new book Social Location Marketing, stop here during his book tour to share his knowledge on the topic. As the CEO of Marketing Communications Agency IncSlingers, he has a lot of knowledge to share. And advance praise for his book has come from some of the most highly-regarded names in marketing and social media.

This seminar is $10 in advance, $25 at the door. But here’s the best part — if you are one of the first 25 people to register, and if you then attend, you’ll get a copy of Simon’s book free.

So register now. Why spend your lunch hour hunched over a boring bowl of soup at your desk when you can come enjoy a good meal, network and pick up some great tactics for improving your business?

Postformat Gallery: Multiple images with different sizes

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Indented Quotes and Images – beautiful

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Viva Las Vegas (and Print)

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This week I attended the PODi AppForum conference in Las Vegas. In addition to attending for my own edification, I was fortunate to be invited to present a 3 hour session on my experiences as a business owner involved in Social Media. Since speaking for 3 hours about anything seemed quite daunting, I was excited to have Amy Bradley-Hole (@amybhole) and Bryan Jones (@bryanjones) join me for this presentation. More on this later.

This conference was focused on the future of our industry. And much of what we heard is nothing new for our, or any industry.  But it did reinforce the concepts and goals where we need to continue to focus:

The economy is coming back, but not to where it was before the Great Recession.

Customers want speed, convenience and ease of use when purchasing products or services.

In order to be effective in marketing and sales, you must know your audience.

We are a mobile society, and this will continue to dictate our product offerings.

Super efficiency in business operations is a requirement.

The challenges continue, but so do the opportunities.

Now back to the presentation with Bryan, Amy and myself. Titled “Social Media for Business,” we took the attendees on a journey of how to use social media to tell your story, create and market your brand, and measure the results. All good stuff, no doubt.

But the highlight (lowlight, maybe), or most talked about part of the presentation, came during my portion. While advancing my slides, an annoying virus alert continued to display on the laptop provided. During one point in my efforts to clear it, a porn site immediately popped up for all attendees to see. I’ve never received such an ovation! Here’s a sampling of some of the Twitter commentary on that:

 

Oh well, what happens in Vegas, never really stays in Vegas.

Another title for our pretty cool blog

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Postal Rates to Change April 17

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At least they will wait until after the April 15th Tax deadline. (Or so I thought…I was informed that the April 15th tax deadline falls on a holiday, so it will be extended until April 18th.)

In an effort to introduce a “new climate” in customer relations, US Postmaster General Pat Donahue met with mailer groups today to inform them of impending postal changes.

Simply put, this means that effective April 17, postal rates will increase.

On the upside, these changes will not affect the prices for Express Mail, Priority Mail, or single-piece First Class letters. (Postage for these letters will remain unchanged at 44 cents for retail customers.) However, postcard rates will increase by one cent to 29 cents.

Other categories of presorted mail will see price increases as well.

Finally, the original May 2011 deadline for mandatory Intelligent Mail Barcode implementation is no longer in effect.

And of course, all of this is subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

For more information, or questions about how we can make your mailing campaigns more effective, please contact us and we will be happy to provide assistance.