You use both online and offline marketing strategies to boost the success of your business, but you know that people want to buy from people they trust, not machines or soulless companies. That's why I developed talking codes (talkingco.de) – an innovative QR code extension that allows you to place your personal messages at the interface between the physical and digital world in the form of augmented reality holograms. In this blog post, you will find eight suggestions on how you can cleverly use this tool for your marketing: from personal branding to customer acquisition and retention, event marketing and gamification to manifesting your marketing goals.
by Lukas Twardon
Since most people on social media and in the real world no longer want to be addressed by companies, but by personalities with charisma, the concept of personal branding is becoming increasingly important. It serves to create trust and develop an authentic relationship with the target group. Influencers, stars, and starlets, i.e. the masters of personal branding, do not hand out business cards, but possibly autograph cards, to convey a tangible, almost intimate presence. Now you can take this effect to a whole new level by transforming your business cards or autograph cards into hologram cards.
This is a great start to your marketing with AR holograms. So let me briefly explain how it works. In principle, the procedure is always the same:
Anyone who scans your talking code now gets the impression of a video hologram being projected live onto the code when they look at their smartphone display. Everything your users need (QR scanner and web browser) is already available on every modern smartphone.
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Whether you're designing a brochure about your product or service or creating a flyer for a fundraising campaign, the goal is clear: You want people to spend their money on something they care about. They want to understand who and what they are donating to or investing in. The best person to explain this is the beneficiary him/herself. However, to avoid having to constantly repeat the same story, a hologram can take on this task as a proxy. Just like in a real encounter, it is crucial where and when you approach potential business partners. How about a talking code on an event-related postcard for a public holiday or an anniversary, for example? This signals your personal interest in your customers and donors, which can significantly increase the success of your fundraising and acquisition measures.
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Event marketing is much more than just organizing events. It is the art of bringing your brand to life and facilitating direct relationships between stakeholders, including customers, employees, managers, owners, suppliers, and experts. So it's not just about presenting products, but also about showing the faces behind the company. This is where talking codes come into play, which could even be the common thread running through the entire event: On the invitation or admission ticket, an AR hologram of the keynote speaker provides a foretaste of his or her speech. On arrival in the hotel room, each guest is greeted by a hologram of the CEO. The chef recommends the right wine on the menu card – as a hologram, of course. And finally, a holographic version of the event manager appears on a giveaway and encourages guests to rate the event online. As you can see, talking codes offer numerous opportunities to showcase your company and its stakeholders as part of an event.
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After a successful sale, it is important to bind the customer not only to a product, but also to you and your brand. Without further measures, customers tend to browse the market again before buying similar products. If, on the other hand, a customer associates you as a person with the product, he or she may first check whether you offer what they want. You can effectively achieve this connection by using talking codes on the product packaging, label, or even on the product itself. For example, gain the trust of your customers by explaining the manufacturing process in person as an AR hologram, or authentically draw attention to complementary or similar items from your range. This not only creates an emotional connection, but also increases the likelihood that customers will return to your business.
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The world of print products offers a variety of ways to convey your marketing message. Whether in the form of catalogs, flyers, or ads in magazines or daily newspapers, you can use the haptics of paper to create a tangible brand. This physical interaction, paired with a personal approach, can engage potential customers and motivate them to buy. But be careful: If you only ever praise yourself and your product range, this can give the impression that the customers' needs only come second. To avoid this impression, you can integrate testimonials in your campaign. Use other customers as advocates for your product or hire famous persons to be holographic brand ambassadors. Simply include a suitable talking code in your print ad or PR text and your message will gain credibility and persuasiveness.
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It is also important in your administrative activities to always be open to customers' questions and concerns. However, making the initial contact is often the hardest thing for customers to do. You could replace your QR code in the letterhead with a talking code. This way, customers do not immediately land on the contact page after scanning, but you first appear as an AR hologram and can introduce yourself personally in advance. This creates a familiar atmosphere even before the first direct contact takes place, making it easier for customers to take the first step.
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Gamification is a creative method of actively involving customers and other stakeholders in your business and encouraging their interaction with the brand. Playful elements not only strengthen brand loyalty, but also create a unique experience. Live adventure games such as escape rooms and modern treasure hunts are on trend. Imagine the participants of a company event having to find a talking code to get the crucial clue from a hologram that leads to the unveiling of a new product. An exciting and mysterious experience that could lead them not only to the future, but also to the past: Maybe an old video recording of the deceased company founder exists that you could bring back to life as a hologram? No matter whether you gamify your event with AR holograms or initiate a prize competition from the product packaging using a talking code: The only limit is your imagination.
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Unlike the previous suggestions, the last idea is not about reaching your target audience, but about communicating with yourself. Although it may sound crazy at first, talking to yourself can be an amazingly effective way to reflect on your marketing ideas. A popular tool for this are so-called vision boards, dream boards, or action boards - collages of text and images on which you visualize and manifest your goals. Now imagine how inspiring it could be to leave your future self a holographic message as a talking code, so you never forget what goals you intended to achieve with your marketing. This method can not only serve to motivate individuals, but also to strengthen marketing teams. Last but not least, it allows you to test the use of AR holograms on yourself or a smaller group before implementing the concept on a large scale. Manifest your goals and create a powerful foundation for your marketing success!
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