Apps

QR Codes, text messaging, apps and the smartphone boom have all changed the marketing world drastically. Think about how many times a day you check your phone, whether there is a text or not. According to this article, texting is the second most used feature on a phone (the first is checking the time).
SMS texting has been around for over 20 years now, and isn't going anywhere soon. Recently, there has been a huge boom in group messaging apps, conversations around images, embedded chat functions and cloud integration.
Texting has become a huge part of the marketing world. Marketers are beginning to get a hold of numbers and market via text messaging.
Another huge player in the marketing world is applications, or "apps." There are apps for anything and everything now, including copycat apps for most popular ones. People are constantly on their phones, whether it be checking the time, using an app, texting, or searching the web.

Perhaps the newest addition to this category is the QR code. They are simple to use and generate, but sometimes not always the best way to market.
this article gives tips for the best practices for using a QR code in marketing. These best practices may also be used for texting as well.
1. Make sure it serves a purpose. Think about if your QR code or your text actually serves a purpose. Don't just slap it up because you think it works.
2. Don't link to a desktop site. QR codes are MADE for phones. The linked content needs to be made for mobile optimization.
3. Think about placement. a bus or a train probably aren't the best places for QR codes since people won't have time to stop and scan it.
4. Use a URL shortener. The longer the URL, the more dots the QR code will generate.. which then makes it tougher for smartphones to read them.
5. Tell users what they stand to benefit. scanning a QR code is not easy, it is kind of a chore for people to pull their phone out and scan something. Make it worth it!
6. Test it. Make sure it works before you place it on marketing materials.
7. Track it. Be sure to track uses to see if it is something your consumers are using.

It is amazing to see how far technology has come and how it affects marketing. We are lucky to have all these new options, but sometimes more is worse. It can become stressful, but it all comes down to knowing your audience and knowing what works for your brand.