How Marketing with Barcodes is Still Relevant
Today, it’s difficult to perform any task without noticing a brand utilizing a barcode for marketing or promotions. From the cup you get going through the drive thru to the e-ticket you purchased for an upcoming concert, barcodes are becoming the universal language of a variety of companies.
Admail.net has supported the use of QR (Quick Response) Codes for more than 10 years, and is now excited to offer 3 of 9 barcodes for email marketing and beyond. While marketing trends come and go, barcodes have found a way to stay relevant despite an ever-changing digital landscape of ways to reach a target audience.
The 3 of 9, or Code 39, for email is one of the most universally recognized and read barcodes in the world. Implementing this marketing tool in your responsive email campaign and other content marketing efforts, means customers have instant access to your website, can view loyal customer promotions, or find needed information related to their account or case.
Why Use Code 39
Unlike some of the digital marketing trends that have come and gone over the years, barcodes are now more relevant and accessible than ever. Here’s how technology is making the use of Code 39 even easier:
- Modern smartphones are built with a barcode reader. Not too long ago, if you wanted to gather information from a QR code or barcode, you needed to download a separate app that would work for your specific type of code. Today, Apple products with an iOS 11 camera app are designed with a native barcode reader.
- Nearly everyone has the technology to read a barcode. The first QR code was developed in the late 90s. Even after barcodes in marketing had been around for a while, very few people had cell phones to be able to read the encrypted message. Roughly 81 percent of Americans now own a smartphone, giving them immediate access to read a Code 39.
- Barcodes can be used in nearly any type of marketing. While Admail offers one of the best responsive email campaigns available, there are several other marketing tools where you can use Code 39. Include the barcode on mailers, social media posts, your website, brochures, PPC ads and more.
- You can easily track the data. If you’re not measuring the affects of your marketing, you’re wasting money. When a barcode is scanned, it provides trackable data. With this information, you can better meet your customer’s needs. Developing unique barcodes for each marketing platform will allow you to see which platform attracts the most traffic.
As with your email marketing, any time you use a barcode, you must ensure the link is mobile-friendly. Nothing turns a potential customer away faster than a web page that isn’t optimized for a mobile device.
Uses of Code 39
Code 39 can be used for nearly any type of information sharing, but some of the most common uses include class action settlement notices, coupons, and retail incentives.
In a class action settlement notice, the plaintiffs’ law firm needs to share an abundance of detailed information at once. Code 39 is often developed in this situation to notify the recipient of his or her inclusion in the class, the proposed settlement and terms and conditions of the settlement, along with the claim process. Rather than printing those details on numerous mailers, the firm can create one email and let Admail digitally generate a unique Code 39 barcode for each Member of the Class.
Ninety-seven percent of consumers look for a deal when they shop. If you want to reach potential customers in an effective way, create a Code 39 that offers a digital coupon. Not only do you increase revenue, but you’re also growing your contact list for future promotions.
Other retail incentives can also be accessed via Code 39. A brand can offer membership to a loyalty program, free samples, bonus product with purchase, sweepstakes, or exclusive discounts. Since acquiring a new customer is five times more expensive than keeping a current one, offering retail incentives is a way to build your loyal customer base.
Find out how Admail can help you develop a strategic plan with barcodes at the center of your marketing and customer retentions. Explore your marketing options with our free QR Code Generator.