QR codes — “quick response” codes — are ubiquitous, but they are an often overlooked way to market your college or university. These codes are the small, black-and-white squares that you can scan with your smart phone or tablet and get more information. Most businesses use them to provide exclusive discounts and insider information, but you can use them to promote your college or university in a number of different ways.

Here are just a few ways that you can get started using QR codes to promote your college or university, helping you to create more brand awareness and drive admissions:

Add QR Codes to Your Business Cards and Literature

Promotional materials are a great place to include QR codes. Whether you are at a recruiting fair or you are sending out information to prospective applicants, you can include the codes on your materials that will lead to special web pages with more information about your school.

Using this method also allows you to conduct A/B testing. You can put different QR codes on different items — business cards, brochures, flyers, and so on — and then lead to a different website for each. You can track which ones were most successful by which URL gets the most traffic. This will allow you to see which of your marketing efforts are most effective and to tailor your methods by demographics.

Create “Easter Eggs” on Your Site

“Easter Eggs” are hidden features or bits of information that users stumble upon usually in a video game or a DVD. They create another layer to the experience, increasing the satisfaction of users. You can use this same concept on your website.

Place different QR codes on pages throughout your website, and link each to new or “hidden” content that they won’t find anywhere else. This might be fun trivia about your school, a virtual scavenger hunt, or even a fun game that you have created. These hidden gems will enhance the experience on your site and show students that you are a part of up-to-the-minute developments in technology and pop culture.

Use QR Codes to Create a Guided Tour

You can incorporate QR codes into signage and printed materials throughout campus to create a virtual guided tour. Post signs with the codes on doors or at the front desk of each department. Students can scan the codes to get information about that  part of the college and to get directions about where to go for the next stop on the tour.

Not only can using the QR codes this way help you to reduce your need for volunteers or paid tour guides, but you can also fit much more information into the tour in a shorter amount of time.

Promote Your Faculty and Staff

On each web page for your faculty and staff members, include QR codes that will link out to more information about their credentials. This can include links to their published work, information about their current research, or photos or videos of them in action in the lab or in the field.

With the use of QR codes, you can create an interactive experience that showcases your faculty and staff in their best light.

Enrich On-Campus Services

The experience you create for your current services will help you to promote your reputation for prospective students, as well. You can use QR codes to enrich the services you provide. For example, QR codes posted in the library can link out to library services or catalogues. Codes posted in the cafeteria or student union can provide information about current and upcoming menus. You can also use codes to promote on-campus events, clubs and other activities.

By using QR codes in this way,  you help students to realize the full spectrum of possibilities that are available on campus. By creating a better student experience, you promote your reputation for prospective students, as well.

There are many creative ways to use QR codes to promote your college or university. These are a few of the best ways to get started promoting your brand with QR codes, but you should explore and experiment with many different options to make the most impact.

Do you use QR codes to promote your school? Share your best strategies in the comments!

Photo Credit: QR Code Stickers by scott_bl8ke

This post was written by Alexis Bonari