Have you wondered what those little black and white boxes are on ads these days? Quick Response codes, more commonly known as QR codes, are barcodes that consumers scan with their smartphone to immediately direct them to a web page or a carefully targeted landing page. By leveraging advancements in technology and the popularity of smartphones, QR codes are bridging the gap between offline and online advertising.

QR Code Tips
To be an effective tool, the QR code destination must be compatible for mobile viewing. A common issue today is that companies jump on the QR code band-wagon without understanding the true dynamics of mobile marketing. The QR code must be a convenient and appealing method for users to get more information. There also needs to be a clearly defined incentive to scan the QR code. QR codes should never be used as a stand-alone tool as its purpose within a mobile marketing strategy is to connect the online and offline mediums, provide additional information and incite immediate consumer engagement.

QR Codes in Action
OLAA client St. Francis Medical Center launched a three-month integrated advertising campaign in late June. The campaign promotes the hospital’s Family Life Center and brands the “Sweet Beginnings” experience that St. Francis offers to new mothers and their babies.  Mobile marketing is a key component of the advertising strategy. The campaign includes a QR code as part of the call to action which leads to a mobile website that introduces “moms on the go” to “Sweet Beginnings” with a unique online experience that differs from the hospital’s main website. The mobile site creates an additional benefit to the user by offering a new and convenient means of accessing information. The mobile site also offers moms the option of viewing in English or Spanish.

The mobile site is promoted via a QR code, which can be found on mall banners and print ads. Traffic is also driven to the mobile site through radio and text campaigns. A mobile strategy utilizing a QR code was implemented for this campaign due to the relevancy with the target audience of young mothers. The incentive to use the QR code is clearly defined with a label of “For Moms on the Go,” which reinforces that the destination is optimized for mobile and relays that the site provides key information for expecting moms.

The QR code is synced with Google analytics, which allows for tracking and quantitative results, such as the number of scans the QR code has received. As the campaign moves forward, St. Francis is receiving a positive response and is making a powerful impact on Sweet Beginnings patients.

Want to see how these little boxes can make a big impact on your business? Contact Orange Label today.

Did you know that more than 70% of web users watch online video every week? And that 75% of smartphone owners watch video on their phone, with 26% watching videos on their phone every day?  This level of engagement proves that video is not only attracting audiences, but is also sought out as a key platform for receiving information.

Many brands understand these facts and are taking advantage of this opportunity to visually and verbally share their message. Whether a nonprofit organization, B2C company or a B2B service provider, the benefits of online video are powerful.

• Storytelling: Videos provide a creative outlet to share your brand’s story in a personal and compelling manner. Simple or complex stories can be shared concisely, making it simple for audiences to connect to a brand and become engaged.
• Education: Related to storytelling, the video platform lends itself to demonstrating how a product works or explaining the benefits of a service.
• Website Performance: Videos act as an interactive component of a website that keeps visitors on pages longer, which enhances lead conversion. In addition to users, videos also positively impact SEO as search engines include video listings in search results. The more listings, the higher the traffic and as a result, a greater number of leads.
• Increased Reach: Whether posted on a company’s website or through social media channels, users can share an online video with their own network. When sharing gains traction, a video has the potential to become viral and reach a greater audience than ever anticipated.

 
Orange Label client, Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect at University of California, Irvine, understood the power of video and used this as a vehicle to launch “Ageless Alliance,” a social justice movement to eliminate elder abuse in our society. With the assistance of the OLAA team, Ageless Alliance produced two 3-minute videos and three PSA’s.

 
After previewing one of the videos that portrayed the impact of the elder abuse epidemic, the U.S. Administration on Aging asked UC Irvine to launch Ageless Alliance nationally and share the movement’s videos at the White House symposium recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 14, 2012. Since then, the videos have been shared across the nation and the movement has received hundreds of new members online. To view the Ageless Alliance videos, visit www.agelessalliance.org.

 
To learn how your message and website performance can benefit by video, contact Orange Label today.

It’s summertime and for many people that means, sunny weekends by the pool, lighting up the grill and a much needed vacation.  However, for the ardent wave or swell enthusiast the season may be marked by summer doldrums due to overcrowded beaches.  Not all is lost fellow ocean dwellers; we all know that with persistence and “local smarts” open beaches and swell abound to satisfy all of our H2O cravings.

 
The same can be said about today’s ever evolving and competitive marketplace where companies can be easily lost in the crowd with no “market swell” in sight.  To stay afloat, a comprehensive web strategy has become essential in keeping prospects and customers engaged and your company relevant.

 
Orange Label client and thriving brand leader, Coordinated Business Systems recently launched its own mobile website as part of their integrated marketing strategy.  By utilizing a mobile platform, Coordinated empowers its prospects and clients through a streamlined design, focused content, mobile forms, click-to-call phone numbers and informative video.  By expanding their digital capability Coordinated not only offers a powerful mobile experience, they differentiate themselves as a savvy industry leader.

 
And finally, speaking of “swell” responses, earlier this year at the ImageSource Magazine 2012 Perfect Image Awards, Coordinated Business Systems was presented the award for Outstanding Use of Website Technology.  The newly launched mobile site synergistically aligns with Coordinated’s award winning main site, yet is specifically designed to leverage the abbreviated needs of smart phone web surfers.  Orange Label was honored to have designed and programmed both.

To view Coordinated Business Systems’ full or mobile website, visit www.coordinated.com from your device of choice.

Orange Label Art + Advertising is committed to our clients’ success. We believe that it is our purpose to empower our clients such that they lead their marketplace and experience a growing demand for their product or service. This month, we recognize Orange Label client Seattle Talent as a THRIVING BRAND LEADER.

Seattle Talent is a premier management, development and placement facility committed to attracting and fostering young, inspiring talent in the acting, modeling and singing industries. By maintaining relationships with top agencies and scouts, Seattle Talent elevates their young stars to the highest level of opportunity in each talent category. Being a thriving brand leader in the fast-paced, highly competitive entertainment industry would be a challenge for any brand, but for Seattle Talent, it’s been an opportunity to be recognized as a top acting and modeling school in the Northwest.

Seattle Talent has combined the power of a brand refresh with the impact of an integrated mobile advertising campaign to achieve thriving brand leadership. By implementing a rebranding strategy that encompassed a sophisticated logo, modern color scheme and font treatments that reflect a high level of reputation, Seattle Talent has positioned themselves as a distinguished leader in their industry.

Using the momentum and excitement created around a new brand identity, Seattle Talent also launched an integrated digital advertising strategy. This includes a consumer-focused mobile site, direct response-driven landing pages and a comprehensive PPC campaign. Since the launch of their mobile site and digital campaign, Seattle Talent has experienced dual success with increased lead generation as well as the elevation of their brand to a level that matches their distinguished reputation as a thriving brand leader.

Want more? Contact Orange Label today to learn how your brand can thrive.

Orange Label client, Recovery Now TV, is dedicated to helping those seeking recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol. With a digital-focus in effort to reach those who need help from any location, Recovery Now TV launched a mobile website earlier this year that encompasses treatment center information, ways to instantaneously connect with support staff, inspiring videos sharing stories of triumph over addiction and more.

Recovery Now TV’s mobile website was recently awarded a Platinum Award, the highest distinction in the 2011 MarCom Awards. This recognition honors excellence in marketing and communications and confirms their position as the leader in the digital realm of their industry. To Orange Label, the acknowledgement demonstrates THRIVING BRAND LEADERSHIP.

Want more? Contact Orange Label today to learn how you can thrive.

Are you or your customers always “on the go”? Mobile websites provide a valuable opportunity to reach users who are actively seeking out your company and information from any location. Have you launched a mobile-friendly site? If not, you are missing an opportunity to connect with your customers in a powerful way.

Why Mobile?

• Did you know that 60% of mobile phones are SMART phones? This number continues to grow, and its users perform 25% of ALL online searches. Even more, 1 in 3 mobile searches are local, meaning prospects are actively seeking companies near them for a variety of product and service needs.

 
• A customer-focused mobile website creates a competitive advantage when selling products or service. The medium allows for a simplified design with focused content, so that users get what they are looking for in a streamlined manner. The ability to contact customer service directly with mobile forms, place online orders and click-to-call phone numbers also add to the user experience.

 
• A mobile website creates opportunity to run Mobile Advertising Campaigns. Google Adwords and Facebook Advertising provide cost effective PPC models that specifically target mobile or tablet devices. Most advertisers don’t realize that the PPC ads that they see on their phones are in fact different than what they see on their desktop computer…completely different competitive field as well as a different PPC bidding range.

Want more? Contact Orange Label today for more tips and tactics to enhance your mobile presence.

As consumers are increasingly relying on their smartphones to seek out information, having a presence on the mobile web has become an important element in a comprehensive web strategy. Orange Label client, Recovery Now TV strives to be the leader in their industry in the digital realm and as a response to this shift, recently launched an integrated mobile campaign.
 
To engage with a mobile audience, Orange Label launched Recovery Now TV’s  optimized mobile website this month that detects when users are visiting from any smart phone. This enhanced website includes key features such as treatment-related videos, an informational blog, links to treatment centers and contact information with a click-to-call phone number, in a streamlined design that is easy to navigate from a small screen. A cost-effective mobile PPC campaign was launched in conjunction with the site, to drive activity and generate leads.

The inclusion of a mobile campaign has already proven to be a valuable addition to Recovery Now TV’s digital strategy (created by Orange Label Art + Advertising), as the launch has already resulted in facility admissions.