The Friday Focus - QR Codes Explained

People often ask me what exactly a QR code is and how do they use it,  the answer is pretty simple.  Think of a QR code as an information barcode.  We know barcodes, we understand how they work and it is the same process with QR codes.

A Focus Group QR Code

To discover the message in a QR code the first step is to have a QR code reader installed on your smart phone.  QR code readers work in different ways so be sure to understand how yours works.  Some require you take a picture, others require you to activate the app and point your phone's camera to the QR code.

The information scanning a QR can return is completely up to those that created the code.  It can lead to contact information, like on a business card, it can lead to a website, or straight to a phone number.

The other question I get is how many people actually use the code.  People that are tech savvy are certainly using QR codes, and we're just beginning to exit the early adopter phase in the QR code product life cycle.

The website www.queaar.com did some research into the habits of QR code users and here's what they learned.  The most common user is a Mom of a family, typically looking for additional coupons or product information.


When trying to determine if QR codes will be around for the future, we can also begin to look at how the tool is fitting into corporate advertising and marketing campaigns.  The research reveals that 22% of the Fortune 50 companies were using the technology in their current campaigns.  We're also seeing more and more small to mid-sized companies integrate the codes.

Credit archrival.com

The news isn't all positive though as more research is also showing that just over 20% of college students are having a positive experience with QR codes with the most common barrier to entry being an unsuccessful scan attempt.  As the technology continues to move forward and people begin to understand how to scan the codes and the type of information you return to customers using the codes, you can expect the technology to be around for quite some time.











Have any questions about QR codes? You can contact Thomas Broadus at tbroadus@focusgroupms.com or by scanning this QR code.

Thomas Broadus | Director of Interactive and New Media with The Focus Group

The Friday Focus - The Politics of Social Media

In 2008 social media was becoming wildly popular. Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were all the buzz and people were coming to grips with the reach and the power contained within these new methods of communication.  Many analysts believe that Barack Obama's savvy use of social media played a major factor in his victory in the 2008 Presidential Campaign.  This win should have cemented the political importance of adapting to and utilizing these networks to interact and embrace Gen X, Gen Y, and the Millennials.

Now it's 2012, Mississippi just emerged from an historic election cycle and I'm a bit perplexed at how some politicians made an effort to reach these digital generations, while still seeming completely out of touch with how to actually use social media in a meaningful way.  I witnessed many Facebook posts and Twitter updates for candidates running in my district and for state-wide office, but often the messages were crafted in an ineffective format.  A post on Twitter read - "Visit our Facebook page to like" Candidate X, and once I visited Candidate X's Facebook page, the first post was "Follow us on Twitter" -baffling.  Instead of understanding how to communicate on these networks, often times politicians (or the folks running their social media outlets) were trying to drive likes and follows as a method to somehow out gain the other candidate.  While the breadth of network reach is important, it's not as important as getting your message, your points, your beliefs, and your agenda to the public.

For the first time the Internet has surpassed the traditional local paper as top source for political news.

Have you ever seen a candidate run an ad in a paper asking his constituents to watch his TV ad? Or have you ever watched a TV ad that directs a viewer to listen to the candidates radio spot?  Generally, no, these things don't happen because people understand how to use TV, radio, and print media.  Each outlet is unique and has different benefits.

It's the same for social media.  Investigate the network, understand the purpose, and implement interaction.

How long until the Internet surpasses network news and continues its rise to the definitive source for campaign news?  I imagine sooner than you think.

Twitter's CEO Dick Costolo

“I really think 2012 is going to be the Twitter Election,” Dick Costolo said on stage at AllThingsD‘s media conference in Laguna Nigel, Calif.

Costolo's sentiment is shared throughout other social communities. A new generation of political candidate is looming and they are very tech savvy. If you don't have the right team in place to help you manage the social waters, even if you have the better platform, there won't be anyone listening, tweeting, following, or liking.


Thomas Broadus is the Director of Interactive and New Media for The Focus Group
You can contact Thomas - tbroadus@focusgroupms.com | 228-832-3667

A Fresh Start on LinkedIn

The buzz for the professional networking site LinkedIn may not be the loudest and LinkedIn may not be the flashiest social network when compared to Pinterest and Facebook, but it should be an important part of your social profile.

Here are a few facts to get us started

• As of December 31, 2011 (the end of the fourth quarter), professionals are signing up to join LinkedIn at a rate that is faster than two new members per second. 
• As of February 9, 2012, LinkedIn operates the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 150 million members in over 200 countries and territories.
• Fourth-quarter net income attributable to the company was $6.92 million, up from $1.58 million for the fourth quarter of 2010.

This tells us LinkedIn is growing, it has a true global reach, and is having success as a publicly listed company.  

If you're creating a personal profile, think of it as your online resume and a place to network, find new employment opportunities and to keep up with others in your field.  LinkedIn will walk you through the process of completing your profile and encourage you to begin connecting with other users you may know.  It calls these other users "connections" and separates these connections by degrees.  A first degree connection is someone already in your network.  A second degree connection is someone that knows one of your first degree connections, but hasn't yet connected with you.  Here's an example of how quickly this can spread to a vast viral professional network.  At the time of this post I have nearly 200 first degree connections, but the entire breadth of my potential network is over 2.4 million connections! 

Now, shift gears to brand pages.  Brand pages on LinkedIn are a great place to share your brand's story with a professional and affluent online audience.  It can be a hub for sharing your company's products and/or services and a place where posting about industry successes doesn't seem as out of place as on Facebook.  My favorite feature about  branded pages is the opportunity to get feedback from your customers in the form of recommendations.  For business to business ventures, think about looking online in a place to find what others have said about a potential client.  Managing this functionality through LinkedIn can impact the future of how your company is perceived through peers.  Research is now showing 90% of consumers trust peer recommendations, while less than 15% are swayed by traditional advertisements.  

When evaluating which networks you should have included in your social profile, LinkedIn should meet all of your ROI criteria - it's growing, it has a deep user base and it's going to be with us for the long-term.  If you have more questions about LinkedIn, our team with The Focus Group is ready to help manage your complete online and social profile.

Click here to contact Thomas Broadus, Director of Interactive and New Media with The Focus Group