Inbound Marketing Agency Blog

U.S. Mobile Tagging’s Exciting Future

Written by Mark Parent | January 3, 2013 7:28:00 PM Z

 

The evolution of smart phones has changed the way people acquire and share information.

Information can now be placed in the palm of one’s hand, literally, in an instant. This presents both a challenge and an ease for marketers.

Mobile tagging helps bridge the gap between the physical and the digital worlds. QR Codes and NFT tags provide hyperlinked access to digital content, making them the easiest and fastest way to generate engagement.

Acting as a toggle switch between the physical and digital world, mobile tagging with QR codes and NFC tags can help marketers interact seamlessly more so than texting with short codes, mobile search by voice, or even simple URL entry. Tagging enables marketers to meet customers online no matter where they are and move them further down the path in their shopping process. There are a plethora of ways to use mobile tagging, so we'll just list a few here.

Popular Mobile Tagging Applications Include:

  • Product tags and packaging labels
  • Magazine and newspaper advertising
  • Signage (banners, posters and window decals)
  • Television
  • Direct mail
  • Stickers
  • Printed flyers, brochures and handouts
  • POP displays
  • Trade show materials

The Future of Mobile Tagging in the U.S.

The mobile web is growing at an astonishing rate. As telecommunications networks and mobile devices get faster, they offer new opportunities for brands to engage with mobile
consumers using QR codes and NFC tags. By interacting with their smartphones, consumers willingly leap into a conversation with brands like never before.

To get a glimpse of what mobile tagging with QR codes and NFC tags will look like in the future in the US, Europe and the rest of the world, one just needs to look at Japan. Mobile tagging has been used there by marketers for many years. As of July 2011, over 3 out of every 4 Japanese adults scan a QR code or tapp an NFC tag every day.

QR codes and NFC tags are used in Japan on everything from gravestones to McDonald’s menus to billboards. The fact is that mobile tagging is a part of everyday life in Asia. It is just a matter of time before it becomes mainstream in the U.S. Most experts agree that marketers who develop strong mobile engagement ecosystems now will be the market leaders of the future.

Looking for inspiration on the best ways to use QR Codes? Download our complimentary "Look Book" from the link below. It contains over 100 picture examples of QR Code placement by some of the world's most innovative companies!