USPS Announces 2012 Summer QR Code Promotion
On April 16, 2012 the Postal Regulatory Commission approved the 2012 Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion scheduled to run July-August 2012.
The 2011 Mobile Barcode Promotion was successful in generating awareness of how mobile technology could be integrated with direct mail. The Postal Service now wants to continue to create awareness of more innovative uses of mobile barcodes and encourage mailers to adopt "best practices" associated with those technologies.
The 2012 Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion will provide business mailers with an upfront 2 percent postage discount on Standard Mail and First-Class Mail, letters, flats, and cards (presort and automation only) that include a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode or print/mobile technology that can be read or scanned by a mobile device.
This promotion and last year's Mobile Barcode promotion are similar as they both focus on the integration of mobile technologies with direct mail, however, the two promotions differ in several important ways. The 2012 promotion will specify that the barcode or similar technology must lead the recipient directly to either: (1) a webpage that allows the recipient to purchase a product or service on a mobile device, or (2) a personalized URL, which leads to a web page that is unique to an individual recipient. Best practices such as directional copy and mobile optimization are also required.
Registration begins May 1, 2012.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A QR CODE, MOBILE OPTIMIZED LANDING PAGES OR PURLS PLEASE CONTACT MARYLOU PETERMAN, BUS. DEV. MGR AT mpeterman@rpimail.net
Make Your Print PRINTERACTIVE with QuickLink QR Codes.
Rogers Printing uses QR codes to help their customers turn their print into an interactive experience for consumers while helping them to expand the overall reach of their message.
QR codes are popping up everywhere. They are now in catalogs, on product labels, on posters, on billboards in Times Square, in magazine travel ads and many other places; this funny looking code that can connect your print materials to the internet. QR codes are 2D barcodes that take advantage of smart phone technology. Users with a camera phone equipped with barcode reader software can scan the image of the QR code causing the phone's browser to launch and redirect the user to the programmed URL.
A QR code can contain a lot of information, roughly 4,100 characters, but not all QR code creators incorporate URL shortening. Without URL shortening, codes with a large amount of data can become quite large in size and difficult for smartphones to scan. Rogers Printing's QuickLink Program uses QR Code shortening allowing a customer to use smaller codes, as small as one inch.
The sky's the limit when it comes to potential code applications. Our Design Department can design your QuickLink codes in such a way that still allows them to function correctly while maintaining your aesthetic standards and branding. Below are a few examples of how you might be able to utilize QuickLink QR Codes. Using a smart phone scan the QR Code sample below to see how it works.
WEBSITE:
Using QuickLink QR Codes can drive more traffic to your website. Put a QuickLink QR Code for your URL on all your marketing materials to make it easier for mobile customers to find you online.
Other uses include:
COUPONS:
"Virtual" coupons are a quick way to offer both online and offline discounts or rewards.
PERSONALIZED URLs:
Personalized URLs are proven to increase response rates; make them even easier to use. Include a QuickLink QR Code pointing to a personalized URL on your direct mail piece, and a customer or prospect can simply scan and click to get to their personalized website.
SIMPLIFY ONLINE ORDERING:
Use QuickLink QR Codes on catalogs, menus, price lists, and other promotional materials and customers will scan, click, and order online. E-Commerce was never so easy!
SCHEDULES:
Don't miss an appointment again! QuickLink QR Codes link schedules - whether transit timetables or event sessions - directly to mobile phone calendars. Scan, click, and view anytime.
BRANDED MARKETING MATERIALS:
QuickLink QR Codes give customers and prospects real world hyperlinks that connect your printed materials with online content such as video, audio, special landing pages, and much more.
TRAVEL/MAPS:
Make it easy for customers and prospects to get to your location. Include a QuickLink QR Code that links to an online map and they'll be at your door in no time.
For more information please contact Marylou Peterman, Business Dev. Mgr. at 800-622-5591 or email mpeterman@rpimail.net.
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Rogers Printing Inc. Earns G7 Master Printer Qualification
August 5, 2010
Rogers Printing Inc., Ravenna, Michigan is pleased to announce that they have earned the distinguished G7 Master Printer qualification. G7 standards are set by the International Digital Enterprise Alliance (IDEAlliance.) The IDEAlliance guides and publishes print media methodologies, specifications, and standards to advance best practices.
Rogers Printing Inc. also holds the distinctive position of being one of 14 graphic arts companies nationally that has been awarded G7 qualification on their proofing system, and lithographic sheetfed and heatset web presses. "These modifications have had a positive impact on our "proof-to-print" process and greatly improve the visual match between proofs and printed product. Many of our customers have a lot of other responsibilities that they must accomplish in addition to buying print. They need to rely on us to manage the process and produce a high quality product with the least amount of hassle, in a highly responsive and timely manner," said Marylou Peterman, Business Development Manager. "Our customers will benefit from the best color management available today," she added.
We are already getting very positive feedback from our customers," commented Jeff Selk, V.P. of Sales & Marketing. "The fine detail and color accuracy provided by the new proofs allows our customers to see potential problems with their images and files prior to the product going to press...they've been very pleased."
The benefits of G7 qualification go beyond an improved color matching system. "It also allows us to get to color faster and saves time in make-ready thereby reducing waste, increasing efficiency and helping us to be more environmentally friendly" he said.
The IDEAlliance's G7 Qualification is granted to print suppliers who have implemented a calibration process in order to achieve a close visual match from proof-to-press. The G7 Master Printer Qualification seal means that they use the most modern technology, techniques, proofing and press controls, and standards required to produce a close visual match from proof to print.
For additional information on Rogers Printing Inc.'s G7 Master Printer qualification please contact Brent Kantola, Electronic Pre-press Manager at bkantola@rpimail.net or visit www.rogersprinting.net.