QR Codes for Real Estate - Part 1

Welcome to our QR Codes for Real Estate Series. As QR codes gain in popularity and usage, we want to share some information about QR codes and ways they can be utilized in your real estate practice. Today is an overview of QR codes and the first of 5 ways you can use QR codes in real estate. Stay tuned the rest of the week as each day we share a new idea on using QR codes to bolster your real estate practice.

You can’t pick up a magazine without seeing them embedded in ads. Most of the print marketing materials in your mailbox each day contain one. Every big brand is using them, from Best Buy to Calvin Klein, to Google Maps. Those funny little square barcodes: QR codes (abbreviated from Quick Response code), encoded with text, URLs, or other data.

Although still considered “new” technology, QR codes have been around since 1994 (primarily in Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea) and are quickly gaining popularity across the world when it comes to promoting, branding, and marketing businesses. Relevant and immediate facts acquired from “reading” a QR code, facilitates convenience for the end-user when it comes to getting more information about your business or offer. No longer do they have to wait until they get home to look at your website to get the information they want.

Businesses can use QR codes to promote special offers, coupons, discounts, or build a list of mobile subscribers. They can be used to direct people to your website, online videos, Facebook page, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Specific to the benefits of using QR codes in your real estate business, rather than reinvent the wheel, one of the best resources we’ve come across about this was written by Chris at Tech Savvy Agent, reprinted, in part, below:

Just like with Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Mobile, Video and any other buzz worthy platform or new technology some will adapt it quickly and pick up market share, most will fail and simply use it because the other agents in their office are. So below you will find what in my opinion are the 5 best ways to use QR codes for real estate right now. I would never assume these are the only ways and would love you to add your own creative ideas in the comments below.

Quick note before we get started with the list. A QR Code is simply a bridge to a website that when scanned with a mobile device takes a consumer on a journey beyond the paper it is printed on. One of the major perks is that all of the scans are tracked and thus the ROI is fairly easy to detect, critical to any high level marketer. I also think there are 2 key things to consider when using QR codes:

1. The web page that you direct the consumer to MUST be optimized for viewing on a mobile device. Due to this I am recommending 3 sites that will cover all 5 strategies. The first is Vyoo.it which will create a mobile friendly landing page with all of the details of the property of your choosing including price, photos and of course your contact info. The second site is Goo.gl which allows you to turn any URL into a QR Code in seconds, again all scans are being tracked. The third is YouTube which is not only optimized well for mobile but will allow you to bring a video element to your QR code marketing. To make a long story short when I recommend a video be used as the destination simply go to YouTube and grab the URL of the video and then visit Goo.gl to generate the QR Code.

2. This is a new, rapidly evolving technology (visit Best Buy, public transit, hospitals, etc lately?) that requires further explanation than just slapping a weird looking icon on your print marketing. Anytime you use a QR Code be sure to in small text explain that it requires a QR Code Reader which can be downloaded for FREE to their phone NOW by visiting their app store. It is also critical that you provide a tiny URL as an additional option below the QR Code so that those who just can not figure out the whole scanning thing can type the shortened URL directly into their mobile browser and end up in the same place anyways. Both Vyoo.it and Goo.gl provide a tiny URL along with the QR Code making this very easy to execute.

One of the top 5 ways to use QR Codes for Real Estate:

1. Lawn Signs – This would be the most obvious usage in my opinion and this is where Vyoo.it will come into play handily. Consumers like to get as much information as humanly possible before calling a sales person (you BTW). By placing the QR Code on your sign riders you will be providing potentially the hottest leads, those driving around looking for homes to buy, with all of the information needed about that property instantly. Price, interior photos and community info are typically things that a lawn sign does not provide and by leveraging a QR Code you are really giving the consumer what they want when they want it. I know some Realtors would argue that there is no longer a need to call you if you give away all of that info through the QR Code on the sign. I would argue there is already no need to call you to get that information (think online portals like Realtor.com, Zillow and Trulia all of whom have mobile apps that provide those details). People work with people they like, they will like you more if you give them more of a reason to and stop holding back data that is easily obtained without you. Again, follow the guidelines I mentioned above by further explaining the technology and providing a URL alternative on the sign rider.