If you haven't yet considered using QR codes (Quick Response Codes) in your lodge marketing campaigns, let me share a little story with you.

Last year a Korean grocery chain wanted to do a better job of competiting against their main competitor (which just happened to be the #1 grocer in Korea). However, this chain didn't want to increase their marketing budget to do it, so they decided to try marketing with QR codes.

Turns out, these little symbols LAUNCHED this chain into #1 in the country -- far ahead of their competitor -- in under a year.

How could a little symbol do that you ask?

Please allow me to elaborate.

Subways are a major source of transportation in Korea, so the grocery chain pasted giant posters with pictures of all their products on subway station walls. Passengers can take pictures of the items they want with their smartphones. Once photographed, the QR codes open an order page where people can place orders for whichever products they want, in the quantitities they want. They can also pay for the groceries right there, through their phones.

So now, busy people no longer have to take extra time out of their day to shop for groceries. They can shop in the subway stations while they're waiting for their trains.

But the grocery chain hasn't stopped there. The campaign worked so well with "subway" shopping, the chain ratcheted it up another notch. Now they're putting the posters up in office buildings, so people can shop on their coffee breaks or lunch hours without ever leaving the building.

VERY slick, VERY smart.

Here's an article at the SEO optimize blog explaining how to create and track QR codes.

So, how can you use QR codes in your lodge marketing
or inn marketing campaigns?

1. Put them on all of your print materials, including brochures, maps, etc.
2. Put them in yellow pages and other print ads
3. Print them on t-shirts and other promotional items you give away at special events and functions
4. Use them on trade show materials. Create a special, limited time offer that's only good during the trade show, then print the QR codes on booth posters, announcements you send to clients about the trade show and any other giveaways you're providing during the event
5. Now... spend some thinking outside the box for ways to use them—like the Korean grocery chain did

While QR codes haven't yet taken hold in the US quite as strongly as they have in Asia, they are making fast inroads. That's because they provide a quick and creative way to integrate offline and online marketing programs. They can be used on anything that can be printed, and in digital media too.

Are you using QR codes for your guest ranch, B&B inn, or sporting lodge marketing campaigns? Let's talk about it.

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Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

In a recent article in TripWire Magazine, writer Tara Horner, provides essential tips for social media inn marketing and lodge marketing. While not written specifically for lodges, guest ranches or B&B hospitality businesses, the principles apply just as well.

All in all, this is a well-written, helpful article. However, I do have to disagree with the writer's assessment that social media can be a great marketing tool because it's "free".

Not only is social media marketing not FREE, the costs associated with it can be significant if not approached properly.

When all is said and done, social media marketing is going to cost you in one of two ways: either in time, or in money.

If you try to manage your own social media marketing, plan to invest a significant amount of time into it—that is if you want to do it right and actually see increased sales from it.

If you don't want to invest your own time, you'll need to hire someone else (either an employee or consultant) to handle it for you and that's going to cost you money.

That being said, this article provides an excellent starting point for social media inn marketing and lodge marketing

One of the keys to building a business is through the use of advanced social media marketing tactics. Unlike traditional marketing techniques, such as postcards or print ads, social media does not have to cost a penny, thus increasing your chances of a high return of investment. Anyone can set up a Twitter account, a Facebook page, and a Google+ page for his business. Using these effectively however is an entirely different story.

Advanced social media marketing goes beyond the obligatory account setup and occasional posting. It means connecting both with people and leveraging the latest technologies, like search engine optimization, to get the most out of every post or update. With that in mind, here are some ways to take your social media marketing to the next level...

...you should integrate online and offline marketing so that your social media addresses will become as known as your company name. On business cards, postcards, in magazine ads, and even on billboards, include your Twitter name or mention your Facebook name. To really push your social media accounts, consider a Quick Response code that leads to your social media account, especially if the print media is advertising a contest or other event, relevant topics to your social media page.

Get involved in social media on a local level by adding your permanent business address to Google Maps and yellow page sites. It will increase your likelihood of being found much more quickly through search engines. How does this relate to your social media sites? People share and comment on map locations. Your Facebook page can include your Google map location. FourSquare is another example of where maps can be useful as people socialize by checking into locations and sharing on other social media sites. If you’re location isn’t listed, you’ll be missed out!

I included this last paragraph in this excerpt because even though your sporting lodge, outfitting business, B & B, or guest ranch needs to reach a national audience, having a presence in Google Places, and local and mobile directories will lend an air of credibility and solidity that's of paramount important for website visitors who do not yet know you.

See the original article for the rest of the tips.

Which social media inn marketing and lodge marketing techniques are you using now? How have they helped, or hindered, your marketing efforts?

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more

Strategic, Targeted Sporting Lodge Marketing, Guest Ranch Marketing, Inn Marketing - Social Media and Web Marketing for Inns, sporting lodges, guest ranches, campgrounds and more