QR code marketing has a tendency to be mocked in certain mobile marketing circles. While the codes certainly have their benefits, it is the handful of people using them improperly that are giving naysayer’s ammunition for their arguments.

Are you one of these people? Are you putting QR codes out there and not seeing any results? If so, there are several reasons that could be to blame. Want to know why no one is paying much attention to your QR Codes?

They’re too small. Chances are that if a user has to hunt for the QR code, they won’t scan it. The whole point of a QR code is easy access to online information. Having to hunt for the code on printed material or packaging negates the ease they were intended for.

They’re placed where no one thinks to look.  We’ve seen QR codes on the backs of toothpaste tubes that were no larger than an inch or so. We’ve also seen them placed in odd places in magazines. Similar to the above error, your QR code should always be placed in a location that is easy to identify.

You’re not providing information about it. Many people are getting very cautious about scanning QR codes because hackers have figured out how to use them to their advantage. If you have a QR code on a simple piece of marketing material, it is a good dies to provide at least a sentence in regards to where the user will be taken and what benefits will be offered when they can the code.

Your printed material gives them no reason to scan. If the QR code is placed in the midst of a boring and drab brochure, flier, or add, it likely won’t get scanned. The printed material that coincides with the QR code should be interesting and encourage the user to scan. Otherwise, it’s just an unattractive black and white box in the middle of a similarly unattractive promotional material.

Are you guilty of any of these errors? If so, you should re-evaluate your approach to QR code marketing. Read up on evolving trends or contact us today to let us help you get back on track.

While social media certainly has its perks and has made getting in touch with our audience much easier, we’d be naive to say that it doesn’t have a downside as well. It goes beyond social media, too; simple things such as e-mail and chat programs have caused some to rely too heavily on such tools. When we rely too much on the digital realm, it makes us rusty when it comes to a good old face-to-face encounter.

Some psychologists even fear that this next generation of workers may have absolutely no social skill at all outside of Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

If you find yourself relying far too much on social media and in fear of real-life face-to-face meetings, here are rules of thumb in regards to first impressions and the art of selling your message effectively.

• Not sure how to dress? Play it safe and dress professionally. It is always best to be over-dressed than under-dressed. In fact, it can often pay dividends to be the best-dressed person in the room.
• Keep personal space in mind. No one likes to be crowded. You don’t want to be the guy that others remember as the “in your face” type. It’s off-putting and, quite frankly, can be rather creepy at times.  Some people also see this as being intrusive and rude.
• Awkward or not, do your best to hold eye contact with the person you are talking to. It shows that you are genuinely interested in what they are saying. If you are speaking, it is generally okay to look away from time to time but if you are mostly listening, maintain eye contact when possible.
• Don’t talk fast or make unnecessary jokes. In fact, if at all possible, get the other party to speak first. Take note of the speed of their speech and try to match them. Studies have proven that this makes the other party fell more comfortable than someone that speaks faster than them.

Sure, this all sounds simple but most people don’t even think about these sorts of things. But the truth of the matter is that even in a highly digital world, a good old fashioned handshake and conversation can work wonders as long as you know how to manage it.

Everyone has a song that reminds them of their first love, or maybe a song that really captures the spirit of summertime. Some people even have songs that they consider their own personal theme songs (we’re talking to you, Mr. Eye of the Tiger Played on Repeat).

But what about work?  There are a few songs that have become staples of the working public and their feelings about their professions. Here are some of the obvious and not-so-obvious choices that many employees have turned to at least ones in the course of their careers.

Workin’ for a Living – Huey Lewis and the News: A song about working hard with that catchy and sometime pop-frantic tone that only Huey Lewis could deliver…what’s not to like? The line that really drives this song home for most working people (particularly in the small business community) is: “I get my check on Friday but it’s already spent.”

She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summer:  If ever there was a women’s empowerment song for the workday, this is it. If you want to see just how serious working class ladies take this song, try to catch one signing the chorus and then check out they steely gaze in her eyes when she hits the “…so you better treat her right,” line.

9 to 5 – Dolly Parton: This song would have been equally powerful if a man had sung it, but there’s something about that southern twang in Parton’s voice that lets us know that she’s experienced it all before—and not only did she work from 9-5 but she worked hard.

Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck: Whatever If you can claim you’ve never had this thought run through your head, you’re probably not the most honest person in your company.

Working for the Weekend – Loverboy: Sure we hate ourselves for mentioning this overplayed and generic 80s tune. But it’s a perfect fit. And sometimes on Friday morning, it’s the perfect kick in the rear to help us finish out the workweek…unless, of course, you’re actually having to work on the weekend. In this case, the song probably just annoys the hell out of you.

How about you? Are there any songs about work that strike a chord with you?

If you work in a small business environment and are in charge of handling all of the content creation, you already know that it can sometimes be a challenge to come up with new ideas. Keeping your content fresh, unique and above run-of-the-mill can be tricky. After all, if you are doing nothing more than recycling the same old topics, people will eventually notice (namely your audience and employer).

So what can be done to keep your content fresh, exciting, and new? Try these three strategies to keep those creative juices flowing.

Google News Alerts: There are some small business owners that use Google News Alerts to keep tabs on what the public is saying about them. But you can also use it to help keep you up to date on the latest industry news and hot topics. You can set up your Google News alerts to flag any keywords or specific group of words to alert you whenever they pop up. This gives you the inside track of the most recent industry news, ensuring that you’ll be among the first to write about it.

The Same, Only Different: Earlier, we mentioned not recycling the same dl content that has been done several times before. Notice we did not say “don’t recycle the same topics that have been done before.” If you can find new ways to approach topics that have become tired and predictable, you have an edge on your competition. A word of caution here, though: if you are going to do this, make sure you have a great idea and twist for the topic. For instance, if you can’t just write an article of 5 Ways to Get More Facebook Likes and get away with it. But if you can add something very specific to it—such as how to use the weekend to build your Facebook likes—you might be on to something.

Think Outside of the Box: If you have a weird idea, run with it. As long as it has something to do with your industry or central interests, most people might appreciate it. Thinking outside of the box and presenting new material that others haven’t quite dared approach doesn’t make you desperate…it makes you an innovator.

What are some other ways you have found to make sure your company is keeping its online content fresh and interesting?

Everyone is getting into video these days, if for no other reason than to hope that one of their videos goes viral. For small businesses, this can be a life-changing occurrence—if you can get it to work.

Just ask Michael Dubin.

Dubin, owner of Dollar Shave Club, started his company in 2010, basically going broke when he created a website. Then in 2012 he created a video for his company as a promotional tool. The video is simple, straight to the point, and has no real bells and whistles.

So how did it go viral? Well, those that have seen the video know why. The video is hilarious. It features a large stuffed bear, cutting packaging tape with a machete, random background in-jokes, and a tagline with an expletive (literally…it’s bleeped out).

The video became so popular that he was given an investment of $10 million from a capital firm, sensing that Dubin’s little company had the potential to give giants like Gillette a run for their money.

In terms of the video going viral, Dubin is mostly modest and attributes his good fortune to luck. But looking at it in terms of trying to study it for viral tips, there are a few things to take note of.

First of all, there was the element of surprise; no one had ever heard of the company, making the video that much more powerful. If the video had have been created by a well-known company, it wouldn’t have had the same sort of appeal.

There is then Dubin’s personality. He comes across as an everyday sort of guy, working out of a warehouse (in actuality, he works out of his apartment). He also lets you know straight away that he can save you money and that you’re getting ripped off by paying so much for a simple item. The mastery of it comes in the humor and subtlety in which he delivers the information.

While these tips are certainly not a tried and true formula for how to make a video go viral, they certainly won’t hurt. Like Dubin claims, much of it is luck and timing.

Have you ever had a video go viral, even if only for a moment? What factors do you think helped you achieve viral status?

The chances are pretty good that if you poll 10 people on the street and ask them to define social media, you’re going to get at least 5 different answers.

Some will tell you it’s a waste of time. Some will tell you it’s invaluable. Others will tell you it’s a great resource for information while some will say it’s a great place to trash celebrities. Without a doubt, names such as Facebook and Twitter will be discussed.

Truth be told, the names of the platforms really mean nothing. As a small business owner, social media needs to be more about connecting with your audience. You are not technically updating your Facebook status or sending some tweets. You are engaging with people and building relationships for your business.

If this is a shock to you, then you are probably handling your social media presence all wrong. Not sure if this applies to you? See if any of the following make you feel guilty and then re-evaluate your social media approach.

• Are you tweeting regularly and getting no responses or retweets? This means no one know who you are and don’t see your value. You need to fix this promptly.
• Similarly for Facebook, are there any comments to your posts? If not, find out why. Try thinking like a consumer rather than a business to get better results.
• Take a look at the links you are sharing. If they all lead back to your website, that’s a big mistake. Rather than automatically thinking of how to lead people to you, share information they might find valuable. This makes you appear like someone looking to share knowledge rather than gloating all of the time.
• How often are you referring to others on Twitter? The less you see the @ in your last hundred or so posts, the more you need to change things up. Always help promote others if you expect the same.
• Is your voice on all platforms consistent? If you’re being studious and professional on Facebook and LinkedIn but funny on Twitter, you’re going to cause brand confusion.

Feeling guilty yet? The good news is that it’s easy to change these things up.
What are some other ways you have found to drastically improve your social media presence?

Back in the 80s and early 90s, having a mascot for your brand was all the rage. However it became so popular that not many stuck. But those that did stick around for a while have gone down in infamy. One of these is the much beloved Spuds MacKenzie.

Spuds was Bud Light’s mascot during the late 80s—a well-trained and widely appealing dog that appeared in many of the beer company’s advertisements. Like any mascot worth its salt, Spuds was responsible for Bud Light making money off of much more than just beer—toys and shirts were flying off of the shelves during the height of Spuds’ popularity.

Pushed by endless posters, ads, and even a commercial spot during Super Bowl XXI, Spuds was flying high for quite some time.

However, too much fame can be bad. The friendly-looking bull terrier started to come under fire by several people and organizations. Senator Strom Thurmond accused Budweiser of sing the mascot to grab the interest of children. Mother’s Against Drunk Driving made a similar claim and the issue was even pushed to court—where there was no hard evidence found to support the allegations.

Perhaps the oddest bit of controversy came from Christmas ads that features Spuds in a Santa costume. The ads stirred some folks in Ohio, as such a practice is illegal (although it isn’t clear whether it is illegal for Santa to appear in beer ads or to dress a dog as Santa).

Spuds MacKenzie ads died out in the early 80s and the dog herself (that’s right…a her) passed away in 1993.

It’s worth noting that not many “flesh and blood” mascots have made it big since the era of Spuds MacKenzie. This is because digitally animated characters are easier to handle and see to have wider appeal.

Just as the GEICO, Aflac, and E-Trade mascots how they are doing these days.