QR code opportunities in real estate
What to know about potential uses vs. problems
By Gahlord Dewald, Tuesday, March 29, 2011.
QR code.I just couldn't resist it any longer. Every time I go to a conference or open my Twitter stream someone is talking about them. You know what I'm talking about: QR codes. Sometimes the conversations about them get really involved.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, QR codes (QR stands for "quick response") are those square "bar-codey" things you see popping up on business cards, signs and other printed real estate materials. These things were designed for use in warehouses and look like it, too.
When you run into someone who has just blown a wad of cash implementing some sort of QR code solution, he or she usually starts with something like, "These are really big in Japan."
Here's the basic breakdown of how QR codes work in a typical real estate setting:
- Real estate professional pays someone for a bunch of QR codes to print on printed stuff like business cards or signs.
- A customer sees the QR code -- in the real world, away from their laptop -- and scans it.
- A Web page opens on the customer's phone.
Please note that the following must be true for the customer to scan and interpret a QR code:
- Customer possesses a Web-enabled phone.
- Phone has a camera.
- Phone is capable of running apps.
- Customer has downloaded a QR code-reading app to the phone.
- Customer knows that there's a QR code on the printed stuff.
- Lighting is such that scanning the QR code is possible (example: if the code is on a sign this is all happening during bright daylight hours).
You can see some of the issues here. But my problem with QR technology really doesn't have that much to do with the sliver of the homebuying public who can readily make use of it.
It's in the missed opportunity.
Opportunity No. 1: Own the platform
Among the bottlenecks in creating a QR-enabled customer is getting the customer to download and use a QR reader -- the software that is essential to make the camera and phone turn into a QR code interpreter.
There are something like 200 different apps for the iPhone that let you read QR codes. Which is the best one? How does the customer decide what to get? All the time spent thinking about this is time not spent thinking about finding a house.
The opportunity in QR codes isn't in putting the bar codes on all printed matter. The opportunity in QR codes is in owning the QR reader software.
What if there was a real estate-specific QR app? This could be as simple as rebranding one of the existing QR apps to be about real estate and then marketing it as such. Then, whenever real estate consumers see a QR code on a sign -- anyone's sign -- they may choose to use your real estate QR app.
If you really want to own the platform though, you'll have to get more involved than simply rebranding an existing QR app.
Opportunity No. 2: Own the interaction
Current usage of QR codes is mostly limited to opening Web pages. They're just a fancy way of opening a Web page that places a lot of criteria on the customer.
But QR technology isn't limited to opening Web pages. All the tech does is turn a physical image -- the "bar-codey thing" -- into some numbers and letters. Those numbers and letters could be anything.
If you own the platform, the QR code reader could be used to alert you to which specific customers were looking at which specific QR code. Here are some ways to own the interaction once a customer scanned a QR code into your own QR platform:
- Save the property to a profile (that can be shared with an agent).
- Display a list of similar properties (show me houses like the one just scanned).
- Connect directly to customer relationship management software for tracking and response.
- Initiate a showing and add it to a calendar.
By hooking a QR reader app directly into your customer relationship system or your website profile, you can deepen the level of service you provide to customers. This goes beyond opening a Web page for the consumer to bookmark or email to themselves or forget.
Opportunity No. 3: Own the narrative
Once you've got a handle on creating a more meaningful experience than showing a Web page, you could go deeper still. The series of locations that customers scan in will tell you something about their interests in terms of property or price or neighborhood or whatever.
You can use this data to create a path for the visitor's next on-the-street outing to look at property. You could partner with neighborhood businesses to get their establishments into your neighborhood QR reader software. You could use QR codes to personalize the narrative of location for your customers.
QR technology is definitely in its infancy. Whether it gets off the ground or not, who knows.
But if the primary benefit of going through the steep technology and conceptual requirements is simply a Web page -- even if it's a Web page with ... (wait for it to download, please) ... video -- then who cares?
It's an additional tool for a listing presentation, at least, I suppose.
Gahlord Dewald is the president and janitor of Thoughtfaucet, a strategic creative services company in Burlington, Vt.
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Submitted by Joseph Sheehan on March 29, 2011 - 3:56am.
I created a QR code that a customer can scan and will link them to a website where they can dowload a QR scanner and... Oh, wait... That isn't going to work... :-/... Nevermind :-)
Submitted by Brett Keppler on March 29, 2011 - 4:39am.
I don't get these codes. You are wasting valuable marketing space in hopes of reaching like the 1% of the population that uses QR codes. I just post a short web link. It does the same thing and helps brand me. How does a black and white checkerboard brand you? Am I the only person who thinks these codes are silly at the moment?
Brett Keppler
Broker/Owner for TREO, Realtors
Go to TreoRealtors.com to see the QR code that will take you to TreoRealtors.com
Submitted by Limeyboy on March 29, 2011 - 4:55am.
Morning Gahlord,
I couldn't agree more. I think at present these are a long shot, lots of potential but the list of assumptions on the behalf of the buyer are a big limiting factor.
If these get so big that QR readers become native apps or say if google goggles reads them they maybe there's a big future.
I wrote a post on them here:
http://www.limeyboy.com/blog/2010/11/qr-codes-real-estate/
Have a great day.
www.facebook.com/limeyboy
Submitted by Jay Seville -- Arlington virginia condos on March 29, 2011 - 5:09am.
I think they're waste of time. Probably less than 1% use them. I use 3 android batteries a day with 3000 unique visitors to my website and I use a QR code personally probably 1x/3 months. So it's accomplishing nothing in the RE marketplace.
jay (owner)
JustNewListings.com Realty Inc.
Submitted by Austin Office Space Advisors on March 29, 2011 - 5:16am.
I think the whole point in using QR codes is to generate leads. Since they are new you have to figure out how to make it as easy as possible to understand and use as most consumers are new to all of this. If the user has a bad experience they will go somewhere else. If you don't understand the technology yourself than I would suggest you don't use QR codes. Your prospect needs to be only 1-2 clicks away, so if they have to download a software, take a picture, receive some text, then have to insert their phone and email address there is a good possibility QR codes generate too many steps. At the end of the day all the prospect wants to know is how big the space is, what it looks like, and how much it costs.
Submitted by RealEstateCafe on March 29, 2011 - 5:35am.
Brett,
I like your landing page, particularly the buyer testimonial about saving $40,000, but don't see a link to your QR codes on http://treorealtors.com
Can you post a more specific link online, or send on to me using the email address below?
Bill Wendel
The Real Estate Cafe
Serving a menu of money-saving services for "do-it-yourself" homebuyers & FSBOs since 1995
617-661-4046
realestatecafe@gmail.com
http://Twitter.com/RealEstateCafe
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 6:09am.
A quick up front note, regular column readers and those who know me will know how much I dislike "best practices." However, my editors are awesome and they know if they put "best practices" in the headline you'll read it. ;)
These aren't best practices. In fact, no one is doing any of the stuff I'm talking about in this column. But they should be best practices. :)
Thanks for all the thoughts on this topic.
///////////////////////
Joseph: That needs to be a cartoon. It's hilarious.
Brett: I couldn't agree more. Versus the current usage of QR I think your method would be better. That's why I wrote this column describing more useful things to do with QR. I hope you get a chance to read it.
Limey: Ceding the reader application to the manufacturers and large internet corporations will also cede the value. Unless the use will be as just another commodity bullet item.
Jay: Nice battery life. ;) I agree, current usage of QR is not very compelling. Which is why I wrote this column. I hope you get a chance to read it.
Austin: I think you've described the problems with QR very very well. The thoughts I put into this column are intended to address some of this. I hope you get a chance to read it.
Bill: ;)
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Joe Manausa on March 29, 2011 - 6:36am.
Good article Gahlord,
Couldn't you use something like bit.ly to "own the interaction?" at least you would know when/where a QR code was being used.
Joe Manausa
http://www.manausa.com/real-estate-qr-codes/
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 6:58am.
Joe: You can (and probably should) use bit.ly to create QR codes due to tracking capabilities.
However, to really own the interaction it becomes important to make the interaction more than "load web page" and into something more meaningful and useful for customers like "add to existing saved favorites profile" or something like that.
If all QR is being used for is loading web pages, then any short URL tool is probably more effective, as noted by previous commenters.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Susan Stynes on March 29, 2011 - 7:16am.
Nice article Gahlord.
QR codes are really cool concept with limitless potential which are indeed in their infancy.
The ideas of where it can go from here are interesting to say the least. Certainly tracking features added to QR codes will make them more valuable.
Joe Manausa, perhaps offering the end user a "reward" for using the QR code vs. a website will entice them. What if QR codes can be tied to local venues which offer the user of the QR code a freebie?
Ex: On my listing sign, "Scan here for more info and a free coffee." The listing info pulls up along with a coupon code for a free coffee at the Cafe a few blocks away. Or, combine something like Groupon with QR use?
Submitted by Craig Baker on March 29, 2011 - 7:30am.
The "Best Practice" is obviously to use a short URL with tracking capability in conjunction with a QRCode.
The true benefit of 2d bar codes is that they allow the user skip over the agonizing and error prone step of typing a URL into their mobile device. Even a short URL is relatively tough compared to waving your phone in the direction of the code and going straight to the resource.
This author derides the wide availability of bar code reader apps as a negative aspect to the technology when it is just the opposite. Who cares which one is "best" as long as it functions? There is no opportunity in owning the qrcode reader softwre - the true opportunity is in routing the code through your application where you control the content and the visitor experience.
Craig Baker
http://www.usahomesearch.com
http://www.mtnhomes.com
Submitted by Brian Rich on March 29, 2011 - 7:42am.
Thank you for posting this!
Someone out in the WWW is paying a TON of money to push QR codes, even though there's really not any reason for the Realtor or the consumer to use them right now.
Unless Google/Android or Apple starts shipping all phones with a pre-installed scanner app, QR codes will continue to be a waste of time and money for the average Realtor with very, very little return on their investment. Case in point - The Home Depot just signed a two-year partnership with a company that creates similar style codes for their products, but they aren't QR codes! This means QR code scanners won't scan them, and customers will have to download a different app to be able to scan the codes at Home Depot than the app they use to scan yard signs or flyers for Realtors.
Do we really want to live in a world where you have two have two different bar code scanners on your phone just to get access to a website or coupon? Seriously now.
Once this technology either dies off or evolves far beyond where it is now, we can talk further about the subject. But right now QR codes are very costly to maintain on a large scale and with the inhibiting steps you pointed out for the consumer, it just isn't realistic to expect these to blow up in some major way in the foreseeable future. Agents would be MUCH wiser investing their time in Facebook ads, effective blogging skills and social networking in general.
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 7:46am.
Craig: Challenges in typing URLs are definitely real. Wouldn't disagree there. I have also yet to see a QR reader load by simply waving a phone over it--due to lighting, camera and operator issues. This will undoubtedly improve over time though.
Routing the code through your application and controlling the experience requires that you own the application. Though you could smash it together with URL variables I suppose.
Owning the QR reader is the primary strategic opportunity. Unless you wish to pursue QR as simply another marketing bullet list commodity. Which is probably fine too.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Michael Parent on March 29, 2011 - 7:46am.
QR codes will only take you so far however, it does put you outside the box from all the traditional marketing that agents seem to stay stuck in. We can only do so many flyers, ads, postcards, etc. I feel our industry should be engaged in new innovative ways of communicating to the public. Will QR codes get us a ton business, absoultely no, however, it will get you noticed for those that understand them. Look at the recent ad Calvin Klein ran, it was just a QR code & nothing else, they want those that understand it to be their new customers. It's time to change the way we are all use to doing business & evolve into what the next generation will expect from us. This isn't your Mom & Dad's Real Estate world anymore!
Submitted by Brett Keppler on March 29, 2011 - 8:11am.
Bill,
My comment about having a QR code on a website linking you directly to that SAME website was a joke. Albeit, apparently not a good one - I was going for the "clever" aspect.
Brett Keppler
Broker/Owner for TREO, Realtors
www.BrettKeppler.com
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 8:11am.
Michael: Using QR specifically to address to the technology-aware audience is probably the smartest use of the technology in the current environment.
I haven't see that happening in practice though. Instead I've seen a lot of real estate practitioners talking about something that's big in Japan to customers.
Certainly there's a "differentiation" point to be made. But it's a fairly short lived one. This season, maybe next season too in slow-to-adopt markets. It isn't a strategic advantage though. It's an advantage which counts on your competition not getting a sales call from the same person who sells QR stuff to you.
Owning the platform, experience and narrative is a strategic advantage. Difficult to duplicate. Probably difficult enough that only the aggregators will attempt it.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Mike Sparr on March 29, 2011 - 8:20am.
Gahlord,
Very good arguments indeed but one thing to keep in mind is that in mobile, America typically follows trends that occur elsewhere in the world. Japan has near saturation already with QR Codes and it's picking up throughout Asia and Europe.
I helped bring technologies in mobile worldwide during my days at Nokia in Helsinki and was texting a soda machine in my office to purchase drinks 10 years ago and we're just now seeing similar interactions here in the US. About 5 years ago at Goomzee we began offering REALTORs text message at-property lead capture and at the time about 35% of Americans used text. Now over 90% use text.
QR Codes are following a similar trajectory so it will take time for mass adoption and soon I'll share some things we're doing to help REALTORs speed things up. To date, if an agent wants to incorporate mobile into their marketing strategy, they need both text message and QR codes and cannot rely on QR alone. At Goomzee we integrated text, QR, mobile IDX into one solution so mobile web pages automatically built for properties and consumer can text or scan to get info. Furthermore, we register the device using a patent-pending process and deliver leads for all QR scans, just as we do with text message requests.
In a few weeks I plan to announce another free tool we'll provide REALTORs to solve some issues you mentioned here (keeping the platform) so if you want a first look, email me at mike [at] goomzee [dot] com and I'll keep you in the loop.
Thanks for shedding light on "the buzz".
--
Mike Sparr
Goomzee.com
"Connecting buyers and sellers"
Submitted by Mike Parker on March 29, 2011 - 9:15am.
Mike Parker
mparker@theblackwatercg.com
If QR code fell in the forest with no one to see or hear it, would it matter?
Consumer product advertising may make great use of QR codes, but as Gaylord so correctly points out, it's a stretch for real estate.
If only people would realize that one process or feature in one industry may not translate well to another industry, a lot of 'technology' that confuses home buyers and agents could just be filed in the "not that important to me" box, life would be so much more efficient.
Online marketing is NOT about adding every high tech development to one's arsenal; it's about knowing those that reach consumers and that consumers want.
QR codes work great for soft drink companies and many other entities, but I don't think the consumer will take them to their hearts when looking for homes. I could be wrong, but just for giggles, ask three of your best clients if they would use a QR code to be taken to a website landing on their mobile phone when looking for a home as anything more than a novelty. That will give you a better idea of it than anything.
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 10:06am.
Clearly I hit on something here. ;) My commitment to responding to as many comments as possible will stretch this one out a bit, so my apologies in advance.
/////////////////////////////////////////////
Brian Rich: Home Depot's development of their own app is a step in the direction of developing strategic control over the technology. It makes sense because it lets them understand more about their customers and delivered a more tailored experience. Or it lets them do better evil marketing. One or the other. This is much much smarter use of the tech than anything I've seen in RE to date.
Mike Sparr: Nice resumé. Also, good to see you are working to aggregate the location/possession technologies into one app. That's beyond most of the commodity-marketing tactics currently being deployed. I would love to see data on your projects. Good luck with the patent!
Mike Parker: I haven't seen any data to suggest that QR works well for improving the business of CPG. Not to say that it doesn't, but just that I haven't seen the data and certainly wouldn't assume that it is. Though the lighting conditions of grocery is more similar to warehouses so that eliminates much of the technical disappointment in QR today.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Barrett Powell on March 29, 2011 - 10:11am.
Unfortunately there is a lot more to doing many of the things you suggest than just "owning the scanning technology". You have to own the network and back end systems that will scrape your mobile device for all the information you want to pass to a broker to make the process worth while.
AT$T has already been blasted for this gross misuse of privacy. Before you leap, you better really know what your doing. And you better have permission before you pass someone's information with that click of the scanner app.
QR Codes in of of themselves are neat at best. The real value is in combining QR technology with other useful technologies like say...LBS. Let someone check in at spots they like, and use QR to "Like" specific "Things" and learn more about them.
In a purely "Opt-In" environment let me use my location and likes to build a more complete profile of who I am and I can share at my discretion with whoever or whatever site I choose. This allows me to get a better experience.
Again, the problem I have with technology in real-estate today is we seem to have people finding interesting technology and then trying to find a problem that doesn't exist to solve with it. Instead, we should be looking at problems first and then find solutions for those problems. And you start with the masses first and then work your way out, not with the outer fringes. There has to be a compelling business and economic reason for doing. Show me one instance where QR Codes have increased real-estate sales or commissions.
There is not a single problem in real-estate that QR Codes alone solve.
All that said, I use them but for specific task and reasons.
Barrett Powell, Broker/Tech Consultant
Southern Advantage Team
WBP Software & Consulting
http://BarrettPowell.com
wbarrettpowell@gmail.com
Google Voice 919-533-9730
Submitted by Marta Walsh on March 29, 2011 - 10:25am.
I like QR codes. If I am driving past a house with a sign out front with a QR code on I will almost always stop to scan it. Sadly I find most often the QR code goes to the agents homepage not a listing specific page.
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 10:27am.
Barrett: If you own the app and it's directly connecting to your online real estate profile, then the QR app suggested in the column is little different from using the Facebook app to access Facebook.
Your notes re: privacy invasion might be useful for Mike Sparr above in this thread however. Though I imagine he's worked through that.
Your thoughts on using QR to interact with the internet of things makes plenty of sense (especially since that is the original use of QR in the first place). Your thoughts on solutions looking for problems makes even more sense.
Requesting an instance of where QR has increased sales or commissions, while an important question, is just calling a dog a dirty name and hanging it. The most efficient return on investment always occurs at zero investment. The current executions of QR are doing their best to approach zero investment, which lead me to write this column.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Nadine Larder on March 29, 2011 - 11:28am.
Sorry Gahlord,
I have to disagree with pretty much everything in your article about QR Codes. QR Codes meet people where they are...on their mobile phones. Realtors who aren't using QR Code technology...(WHICH IS TOTALLY FREE) are missing out on tremendous opportunity.
Landing pages with listing information on it along with web forms to collect email and contact information is just another creative way to collect leads. Another hook in the water to catch fish. Google Analytics makes it VERY EASY to track traffic and effectiveness.
Printing QR Codes on marketing materials allows Realtors to track interest not to mention the effectiveness of a marketing pieces based on how many times the QR Code is scanned.
We have a FREE QR CODE generator on our website. They take all of about 5-10 seconds to generate and the only thing limiting you when it comes to QR Codes is your imagination. Click the QR Code on the home page. It is way to easy, it is free and it should be on every marketing piece that goes out, including for sale signs.
http://www.printerbees.com/qrcodes.html
P.S. QR Codes is searched over 600,000 times per month on Google, double from a year ago...I think it is here to stay. The only question will be, who will implement first...you or your competition.
Nadine Larder
PrinterBees.com
Http://www.printerbees.com
Submitted by Katie Cosner on March 29, 2011 - 1:15pm.
It took me longer to get my name to show up correctly after registering here, than to download a free QR code app to check this out, honest. The app is for the Droid, and is pretty simple. It decodes, and creates codes as well. I used a current listing, just type in the website, and it generates the code. It can be saved as a couple different file types, and shared via normal routes. Decoding worked the same, just open the file & go.
This is the first I've done anything with QR codes, but this is cool. It's similar to the tinyurl thing, which I luv, and use all the time.
It's not going to be so much about the personal brand on that inital website hit. It probably isn't so much now. This isn't meant to be in a negative light, but too many people go to a generic website to begin their home searches, R.com, or a big corp site. Having the yournamehere . com actually visible on ads, isn't & won't be as important. Being able to, and proving we're not living in the stone age tech-wise, way more important.
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 1:54pm.
Nadine: Just because something is free doesn't mean it's worth pursuing. Is your printing service free too?
Katie: Good points.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Mary Baldwin on March 29, 2011 - 2:31pm.
Just started using QR codes, and I think they're a way of setting yourself apart. Think back to all new technology; it takes awhile until you get to the tipping point where it becomes mainstream - remember the hoopla over answering machines and fax machines - obviously dating myself.
Mary Baldwin
www.marybaldwinhomes.com
Sherman Oaks
Submitted by Nadine Larder on March 29, 2011 - 2:56pm.
Thanks Gahlord,
Our printing services aren't free because there is cost associated with it. However, there is NO CHARGE for us to create/generate QR Codes for our clients on the marketing materials we print for them. :-)
And...we absolutely don't charge for what we can offer our clients at no charge. Makes for good business. :-)
Nadine Larder
PrinterBees
http://www.printerbees.com
Submitted by Lee Williams on March 29, 2011 - 3:12pm.
I use QR codes in my Open Houses on the property fliers (you have to print these up anyway) and on a neighborhood listing board. All links go directly to a video or to a listing specific page with a call to action. I track the clicks using Goo.gl and the conversation these instigate give me plenty of time to get contact info and determine needs. People are curious and once they download the app and scan for themselves it make it easy to show spouses, coworkers and family the cool property video of my listing. If their kids have cell phones they usually do most of the work for me.
I do agree that there are a number of really cool RE specific app developers working on Location Based Serviced with IDX. Perhaps it will be Mike Sparr's tool to reinvent the Sunday home tour. I see it coming.
Stefan Swanepole says Realtors are usually 3 years behind new technology. Cell Services have 1-2 year contracts. in Q2 of 2008 10% of all cell phones in the US were app-enabled. In Q3 of this year we will see 50% of all mobile phones will be smart. Asia and Europe have higher smartphone rates so QR code use is higher.
I see QR codes in every magazine I open and with Best Buy using them on their price tags, early adopters are beginning to get it. No guarantees yet but I think this technology has legs. Especially in Real Estate.
Lee Williams
http://BestoftheSouthBay.com
Rancho Palos Verdes
Submitted by Stew Keene - Realtor on March 29, 2011 - 3:35pm.
OR codes will eventually be a convenient way for consumers to gather up information, for sure.
I have seen some bad use of the codes though. One being realtors that think having that as their FaceBook profile picture is appealing or beneficial in any way.
These QR codes are for information gathering sources and should be used as an addition to the current and proven methods of advertising, not as an only source.
As time goes by, these will become more and more familiar to the consumer just as Facebook and Twitter have done, but until then I wont pay for them when I can go to Bitly and have them made for free :o)
Stew Keene
Home Smart Realty
ABR GRI ePro CNE MRE AHWD
www.stewkeene.com
480-220-7491
stewkeene@gmail.com
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on March 29, 2011 - 4:06pm.
Nadine: Generating QR codes is certainly not something worth charging for. But it also isn't the challenge or opportunity in the technology. How the the codes are used, the specific strategy, extends beyond taking possession of printed material containing QR codes. This is why there is so much flawed execution and missed opportunity.
Lee: QR use is definitely increasing. Pretty much every marketing department is getting excited about the "wow" factor of them. Sort of like the flash page-turn effect on the web circa 2009--remember all those digital magazine things?
It will be interesting to watch how consumer behavior changes and if marketers adapt to that change. This will determine whether QR is a fad or whether it has staying power.
For those who can deploy QR strategically, it won't matter if the general QR technology is a fad because they will have created an opportunity that didn't exist before--and provided a service that real estate customers truly need and want.
Stew: The number of poor uses of this technology are legion. This is why I wrote the article. I believe it will take more than familiarity or exposure to QR to make the tech stick though. Which is why I explore the ideas of interaction and narrative in this column.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Ron Bouknight on April 2, 2011 - 9:12am.
And while we're talking about technology, I think this whole Internet thing is a fad that is too expensive and too complicated to have a long term impact on real estate.
OK, just kidding of course. The point is that we aren't sure what will work and what will simply be a great solution for a non existant problem. I've started putting QR codes on my sign posts instead of flyer boxes. I'm waiting to see how effective it will be. But if I get a sign call asking me "what the heck" is that funny black and white dohicky on my sign, thats OK. I now have a live lead on the phone, which is, after all, the ultimate goal.
Submitted by Peg Delp on April 2, 2011 - 11:09am.
QR Code are Great! I use google to create them because let's get real, google isn't going anywhere! I use them in brochures, signs, ads and more. I think it is a shame that this article has a negative slant. The 20 something crowd is a large and growing segment of the buyers. Guess what, they are totally tech savy! In a short period of time there will be nothing but smart phones being sold and more and more people are getting very comfotable with using and applying apps in their everyday use. Nearly everyone I know has heard of ITUNES, you can get just about any APP known from their site. Free download for QR CODE READER. Pick up any magazine or newspaper today and you will find QR codes in articles and advertising. It is a fantastic way to pass along additional info to the public in a tiny postage stamp size space. Talk about a GREAT $$ SAVER FOR REALTORS and when I get a lead from this source it is usually a superior lead! It is excellent for the consumer and for us as Realtors. I personally use my QR code reader at groceries stores, department stores, etc. to find additional info on products. I think they are wonderful!
Peg Delp, GRI.,CRS.
Assoc. Broker, Realtor
Gringle, Doherty & Wheat, Inc.
Delray Beach, FL. 33483
www.PegDelp.com
pegdelp@aol.com
Submitted by Jim Somers on April 2, 2011 - 11:22am.
First of all, you greatly overstate the degree of difficulty in installing a QR reader. If you know how to search an app store and install an app, you know how to install a RQ reader.
Second, your emphasis on smart phones is misplaced. The best use of QRs will be on ipad like devices, a fact that Apple recognized when they put cameras front and back on the ipad2. Would you rather access information on an iphone screen or an ipad screen? What you show the viewer is up to you.
Duh.
Submitted by Gahlord Dewald | Thoughtfaucet on July 7, 2011 - 7:03pm.
Ron: My response on people who use QR because "It starts a conversation" is that if you need that to start a conversation then sales might not be your bag.
I do agree that people need to try out things and test and play. Absolutely. But keep a strategic focus as well or else you are only adding to the commoditization of your work and brand.
Peg: I think QR can be wonderful also. I'd like to see the data that backs up your claims re: smartphones and knowledge of the general populace.
Jim: Please point me to the nearest RQ reader and I'll install it pronto. ;)
I agree with you re: iPad. Any data experience will be much richer on the iPad. But certain user behaviors will be better and more common on the iPhone.
G. Dewald | Thoughtfaucet
Let's Make Things People Like
Submitted by Ed Neuhaus on July 27, 2011 - 1:32pm.
QR codes fail to capture leads unless you have a simple and free lead capture system. Check out this video on how to set one up. http://goo.gl/jqVgZ
Submitted by Dejan Nenov on August 12, 2011 - 8:46am.
Your post is right on in terms of the three major opportunities you describe. I would like to invite you to take a look at a Mobile Website + QR Code service that we put together specifically to address these issue. http://www.ProductScape.com
Our concept was to make it very easy to crate a mobile website - just fill in a few fields in a form - then tie it to one or more QR codes and provide analytics. Within the mobile site itself provide as many channels to connect to the Realtor as possible - Call, Text, Email - and price it so that that cannot be an objection - $2/mo per listing.
Please tell us what you think?