Tired of QR codes? Yeah, so am I

I feel like we’re just sitting around waiting for them to take off… waiting… waiting… and nothing.

I was never too impressed with them in the first place.  I’m not sure why, but when I first saw them I was rubbed the wrong way. I’ll run down my initial thoughts:

1. They’re Complicated

There’s nothing about them that screams “easy” (except of course the “marketing guy” pushing them) They look complicated, they’re complicated to explain, and they in and of themselves do not offer any direct benefit to the end user.

2. They’re Slow

It’s funny because whenever I hear someone talking about them its always how EASY it is and how FAST it is! I don’t see anything fast about it. They never work for me the first time, so I have to stand there taking multiple pictures. I then have to wait for the app to connect to the internet (assuming I already have an app downloaded) and then it connects me through the apps browser, not the main browser I use all the time.

3. You need a phone and an app

Maybe if you take your phone everywhere, never run out of power, and keep every QR code app you can find on it- you’re using QR codes. But if per chance your prospect doesn’t have a phone on him, there is little he or she can do to look it up later. There has been times I wanted to go to the site, but without an URL or phone number I was SOLsince I can’t draw a QR code and scan it later

4. Your prospect can only use their phone

Think about it. Even if they do scan your code, there is only so much you can ask them to do. If you want them to view videos or fill out long forms or browse several pages of a site, chances are they won’t be able to do all that from their phone. It is very difficult to open a QR code on your phone and then continue browsing from a computer later. Consider that if you’re using codes in your marketing.

5. They’re ugly

To me they say “Excuse me, but I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to your phone” Would you put a foreign language in your ad and write “Look this word up in a translator to get a special deal!” Just put the freaking deal on the ad! Don’t pay for ad space and fill with worthless dots.

Alternative to using QR codes

You’re probably wondering why I would bash on God’s gift to marketing like this. I guess because there is no demand for QR codes (except for more things for sales people to sell). I think the alternatives are a lot simpler:

1.URL with a file

It could be either a new page you created or just a redirect to where they need to go

YourURL.com/freeoffer

2. A new URL

Choke up the $10. Point it towards the page you want people to go. I’m sure you can find someway to be concise and creative.

www.FreeOfferFromYourCompany.com

At least then using these in marketing people who really are interested can at lease write it down and look it up later.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rules

I meet a guy who wrote a book on various exercises (kettlebells to be exact!) and after each exercise he gave QR code to a video demo’ing the exercise. I have to admit, it was a great use of QR codes. Mainly because it wasn’t for advertising. There are other reasons though:

1. It was in print, so you can’t really embed a video into a book

2. It was for the reader’s benefit, not theirs. The author could care less if you QR’ed or not.

3. It would have been easier than buying several URLs or making several re-directs.

4. The reader has the book with them. So they can go back for reference anytime they want. Unlike an ad that gets thrown away or a store window.

So use them if you wish, but these are just some warnings if you think its going to solve all your problems.

For the most part its virtually impossible to say whether or not a business idea will work or not. Some people rely on gut instinct, some rely on good data, and some rely on good intentions (and how much work they’re willing to put into it to make it work).

I often question people’s motivation to go into business for themselves (I question mine constantly).  I believe a lot of the time people don’t really want to start a business… they just want to have hope that something’s going to pay off in the end. When work gets bad, or when things get tough- there’s the idea “Well, this will all be behind me… when my band makes it big!”

Some people just view it as a hobby. They’ve conquered the corporate world, now they want to do something on their own.

While starting a business for personal reasons, or ulterior motives (do you REALLY want to be a travel agent? or just travel more?). There are a couple marks that make it easy to spot a bad idea, one in particular that I see pop up constantly…

“And then it goes viral”

If that phrase is written in your business plan… or even comes out of your mouth… STOP! Turn around, you’re going to wrong way. How about this one:

“It’ll spread word-of-mouth” or “Then everybody will be talking about it”

This one is even worse as far as expectations not meeting reality. Not only is it impossible to plan on something spreading “word-of-mouth” but most the time they’re not talking about how GREAT it is, but how much they HATE you!

Want to be the next Apple Computers? Expect a die-hard core customer base… and a whole lot of people who hate them for it.

I am thinking about about why I like writing.

Some people hate it, some people love. I definitely don’t love it. What I love is talking. A couple cigars, some scotch or craft beer, anything that allows everyone to get comfortable and open up a bit. Those are the moments I live for!

But writing will do for now. What I like about writing, is that the other person has to listen to everything you say. One thing I hate is being interrupted. If you’re going to interrupt me, you better have something darn good to say. Like an awesome point to add, or that my house is on fire- either/or.

But with writing, you can’t interrupt it. You can stop reading, which is another thing altogether. But you can’t cut off the writer mid sentence and interject the same thing you’ve been spiting out for the last 3 minutes while I’ve been TRYING to make a point!

You don’t have to read the whole thing, but you can’t make an argument if you haven’t.

So yes, I’ve found that if I want to make a point, I have to say it in writing

Lets talk about Fanpage Marketing for small businesses…

I’ll be more specific and talk about it regarding Real Estate Agents. Why them? Not only do I have the most experience in the real estate industry, but I’ve yet to see a market more competitive than RE agents. There might be a couple dry cleaners in your town, but there are hundreds if not thousands of real estate agents!

First of all when it comes to Facebook, you have to decide right off the bat if you’re in a “relationship” business or not. That will reflect your marketing efforts on FB. Actually, that will determine if you’re marketing on FB at all. If the answer is “NO”, then you should stay away from FB and stick to Adwords and Banner Ads.

Here’s the deal with fan pages though, most solo business owners (like real estate agents) have less “like”s on their pages than “friends” on their main account. That’s ok, but they are not getting the best use out of FB when with a fan page. They will spin their wheels trying to convince “friends” to like their page- but then never really see a return from it, why? because there isn’t anything you can do with a Fan Page that you can’t do with a  personal page.

I used to tell people to start a fan page because then they can talk about business all they want. Now I recommend starting a blog, and posting links to it on your personal wall. It will CREATE fans, not just ADD them.

So what is the point of a fan page? Use it when you have more “fans” than you have “friends”. (This is my unofficial definition of “celebrity”) And thanks to the internet anyone can be the celebrity of your town, industry, or expertise.

But Facebook Fan Pages do not CREATE celebrity and fans, it only REFLECTS it.

Think about Actors, Author’s, and Musicians, They can’t be friends with everyone who like their material, likewise, I’m sure there are artists who make great material, but I don’t want to be friends with.

If you’ve been doing business for a long time or you put out great content people enjoy consuming, you might have more fans then friends. I think you can figure it out, its not a good or a bad thing, just a personality thing. Some real estate agents I know have a large social base and do business with a fraction of them, or they have a large presence in an area, but are only friends with a fraction of who they do business with.

But think about your business and your goals and if a “fan page” makes sense. You can alway have one, but know your customers and your audience before investing time, money, and energy on it.

Thinking small-

Maybe its a personality thing over a business strategy, but something resonates with me when I see an amazing small idea. Don’t get me wrong, I love amazing big ideas- but they are a lot harder to pull off.

The Snuggie vs. The iPad. One is a revolutionary device that beat all odds and opened the door to the future of how we interact with computers in society, the other is a blanket with sleeves- both have made A LOT of money for the people involved

I want to shout out to Pud. I first discovered him by his viral video on YouTube of drumming in his office. Eventually I found out about TinyLetter.com. Which is a stripped down newsletter service. They were just acquired by MailChimp, which I think is huge since I love both services.

I just got an email from him announcing Bellbot.com. It plays a bell when someone goes to your webpage.

Why?

Who cares! The beauty of thinking small means you don’t have to figure it all out now. The programer doesn’t have to guess at every use for it, people will find uses for it. Use it for business (every time you get a sale or a lead) or for fun (every time someone reads this blog post). Or don’t use it at all. It took him 24 hours to make and deploy- he’s not living on the street if no one uses it.

This, like TinyLetter, finds opportunity in the details.  Maybe someone doesn’t want to pay for Aweber, or doesn’t need all the design of Mailchimp, TinyLetter meets the need with blazing simplicity.

Its the small ideas that will open the door to changing the world

Sean:  Hey Mitt

Mitt:  Hi Sean

Sean:  So I heard you make a lot of money doing nothing? Like $50,000 a day?

Mitt:  Well $56 thousand something-

Sean:  Can I have some?

Mitt:  Sure, how much do you want?

Sean:  Well, you’re just going to get another $50,000 tomorrow, so how ’bout ten grand?

Mitt:  No Prob

Sean:  Really?

Mitt:  Sure, What do you want to give me thats worth ten grand?

Sean:  I… I don’t really have anything worth ten grand…

Mitt:  Really? You don’t want to give me something or do something thats worth ten grand? Is there something you can pretend is worth ten grand?

Sean:  I have a phone… and its worth ten grand!

Mitt:  Cool! Why is it worth ten grand?

Sean:  What?

Mitt:  Why is it worth five hundred times the cost of another phone?

Sean:  …It used to belong to Abraham Lincoln? I was kinda hoping you’d just give it to me?

Mitt Romney:  Here’s a dollar.
 

Here’s some business/life advice- Break the rules, but not the law!

Sounds good, but let’s look into it too much.

What is the difference between “rules” and “laws”?

Rules aren’t necessary, but we make them anyway. We give ourselves rules, we give others rules, usually made up for whatever reason and we follow them (for whatever reason).

Sometimes rules are fun. In fact, lots of people make up rules for fun. People get together in empty fields with a round object, make up a buch of rules- and then go home feeling better (as if life doesn’t give us enough rules to follow) Isn’t the definition of a game just a list of rules?

Sometimes rules are not fun. You have to have a special degree to earn so much money. Its unwritten, but entirely real, and waiting to be broken. You don’t do anyone a favor by following those rules. You have to break them.

So what is a “Law”?

Laws aren’t fun. “Laws” often become one person forcing their will on another. The difference is that laws are made up, but ARE necessary. Laws are simply rules we all agreed to follow to maintain some civility in our everyday lives.

One way or another, you agreed to follow the law so that in return you can live in a civilized society, your freedom is in direct conflict with the law, but you agreed to give it up- to make your neighborhood a better place.

If I’m waiting to turn left at a traffic light and you decide to run the red light- That’s messed up.

You agreed not to go when the light is red. Now, you’re going- not cool. At one point we all agreed to go when the light is green, and to stop when the light is red- now you’re doing the opposite.

You didn’t just break the law, you lied to me which is why it’s not cool.

Although it is entirely possible to go through a red light (sometimes), you don’t, because you agreed not to.

And you honor your agreements, right?

I feel a matrix coming on… Since I seek out every opportunity to build a matrix, I think I will:

Or at least that’s just how I see it.

Wait, is he serious?

…eh about half

I was thinking about the blog while driving yesterday. The term “half serious” came to mind. Despite the obvious contradiction, I loved the way it summed up my perspective on life, sense of humor, and the experience just about anybody who knows me for longer than 15 minutes will have.

So here is the current theme. Maybe it’ll fit, maybe it won’t- we’ll see!

I’m pretty excited about blogging again… well I guess never “stopped” blogging. But I’m excited about blogging on SeanDeminski.com again.

I took some bad advice a while ago from the internet marketing arena and for a bit was convinced that it was much more lucrative to run a ‘theme’ blog over a personal blog. There are two very practical problems with that:

1. You have to constantly blog about one topic

2. Social Media has since become more prominent, which emphasizes “personality”

Of course for some a topical blog works well. Copyblogger is one example that comes to mind. The key is to either LOVE one thing, or have several writers and editors manage the site (as Brian Clark does in this example). Obviously, I like topical blogs, EighthnoteMarketing was a marketing business, but gradually becoming a publishing business (especially since the line between the two are becoming more and more blurred).

As I really nail down the projects I’m committing to, and the ones that I will fold, I’ll update you more on what I’m up to.

But back to the subject, with so many things possible these days with technology, it drives someone like me crazy with options. I didn’t blog on seandeminski.com, because I didn’t know Sean Deminski well enough. For now, despite that lack of knowledge- this blog is keeping me sane.