Marketing Tip: Get a Free QR Code for Your Business
Google makes it easy to get a QR Code. Any URL you create can be shortened and given a QR Code. QR stands for Quick Response, it looks like the image to the left, square, 3 distinct corners and crazy black and white pixel-art in between. QR Codes became popular in Japan after Toyota developed them as a new way to ID their cars.
I was in Sam’s Club the other day looking at cameras. I saw the QR Code and scanned it with my Android phone for more information about the camera. Think about it, there is a very small footprint for retailers to display products. QR Codes can provide information without taking up valuable shelf space (and saves a lot of trees, too!) In the near future, I suspect all mobile phones will come standard with cameras. Free code-reader applications can be downloaded to any smart phone, but I suspect they will eventually become standard, too.
Why do you need one? Well, for one…it’s cool. And you can come up with all sorts of fun things like adding a recipe to a food product, a coupon to a sales item, a free white paper with a report, or video installation instructions on product packaging. Anything you can put on your website can be directed to via a QR Code. QR Codes work well on any printed item, including, postcards, business cards, flyers, vehicle graphics, billboards, etc…
Google also provides free usage reports for tracking how many times the QR Code has been scanned. Yes, it’s free. Another reason we love Google and how they will eventually take over the world.
Other companies are competing with Google to develop their own codes, but I’m banking that Google will have QR Codes around for a while. Even still, you might not want to print 50,000 brochures just yet. For now, get a free QR Code and experiment. And, don’t forget to print and test the code first to make sure it works 
Here’s how to get one:
Instructions for Using Google’s QR Code Generator
- Go to Google URL shortener at goo.gl
- Shorten your URL
- Select details
- Right click on image and save the graphic (make the name very descriptive in case you get several)
Rock n Rib BBQ Festival
New Cooking Stage is a Delicious Addition
The 2011 Rock ‘n Rib Festival presented by Rib Crib BBQ & Grill welcomed 41,024 visitors to Downtown Tulsa for championship barbecue from seven award-winning pitmasters from across the nation. The four-day festival also featured live music from 17 bands, beer and barbeque, a children’s play area, free mechanical bull rides, and the new Curtis Culinary Stage.
The Curtis Culinary Stage
Our client, Curtis Restaurant Supply, was invited to sponsor a new cooking stage attraction at the Rock n Rib BBQ Festival. The new Curtis Culinary Stage was located near festival entrance and featured live cooking demonstrations from national award-winning pitmasters and local celebrity chefs. SMG, the BOK Center management company, is a client of Curtis Restaurant Supply, and owners David Hillin and Jay Gulick were happy to participate in the event as a thank you to SMG for their continued business and support. Secondly, this was an opportunity to gain exposure to an untapped Curtis market segment, the general public.
The cooking stage was a new attraction to the festival so there wasn’t any rules, processes or plans. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on who you ask. If you ask me, it was a very good thing. The SMG/BOK center event personnel were creative, enthusiastic, and flexible. Together, we were able to create a successful first time event that we were able to learned from to make the next year even more successful.
The BOK Center handled the festival promotion with a multitude of media. However, we added to the promotion by partnering with www.TulsaFood.com to run several fun contests and chances to win some cool kitchen goodies and prizes. The contest information was cross-promoted on the Curtis website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as Tulsa Food’s website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages, beginning the week of September 12th. Curtis gained exposure as well as 120 new Facebook fans.
Curtis owner, David Hillin, was one of 10 judges determining the winner of the rib competition from all the championship vendors. He rated the ribs on different components like taste, texture, and sauce. It was a tough job but someone had to do it!
One of the greatest challenges was lining up the chefs to conduct the cooking demonstrations. Local Curtis clients were recruited as well as the national pitmasters. The chefs were all very gracious and excited to be included in the event. However, there were two chefs that dropped out at the last minute. We were able to find replacements by taking advatanage of the onsite pitmasters.
Besides the tornado evacuation on Saturday night, our client was pleased with the exposure to an untapped market demographic and to be able to give back to their client, SMG / BOK Center.
STAGE EVENTS SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 15
6:30pm – BBQ 101: How to choose the Right Meat – Pitmaster Pat Nelson of Big Boned BBQ Company
7:30pm – BBQ 101: Preparing Award-winning Pulled Pork – Pitmistress Donna Rice of Desperado’s BBQ
8:30pm – BBQ 101: How to Properly Use and Apply Dry Rub Like a Pro – Pitmaster Jon Bigalk of Willingham’s BBQ
Friday, September 16
5:30pm – Tasty Sides: Local celebrity chef demo – Chef Zane Kelley of Main Street Tavern
6:30pm – Competition Secrets: How to make award winning ribs – Pitmaster Brandon Manly of RibCrib
7:30pm – Gourmet Grilling: Peach-Chipotle Barbecued Salmon & Beef Brisket “Parfait”- Chef Devin Levine of BOK Center
8:30pm – Grilled Pizza: Local celebrity chef demo – Chef Cody Stell of In The Raw
Saturday, September 17
5:30pm – BBQ 101: – Texas-Style BBQ and Grilling Tips- Pitmaster Dallas Green of Cowboys BBQ Company
6:30pm – Competition Secrets: How to make award winning brisket – Pitmaster Brandon Manly of RibCrib
7:30pm – Cool the Heat: How to Make a Limonana and other BBQ Drinks – Bartender Stuart Stewart of Cosmo Cafe
8:30pm – Competition Secrets: Pitmaster Dan Johnson, Johnson BBQ, Chesapeake, VA
Sunday, September 18
12:30PM – KidsQ: Cooking with Remmi, the culinary kid – Chef Remmi Smith
Bixby High School Soccer Website
Bixby High School Soccer did not have a website. In fact, the soccer program is large and impressive, boasting one of only two dedicated soccer stadiums in green country. As a mom of an incoming freshman goalie, I scoured the high school website looking for information, to find almost nothing except a schedule. So, with the help and talent (think pro bono) of my wonderful web programmer Brian McCullough (thank you Brian), we built a new website for the program.
You can view photos, learn about the coaches, track standings and even blog about the game on our new Facebook page. Varsity and JV boys and girls schedules are both included and we guarantee to post scores within 24 hours of the game. The newsroom has all the scoop for parents like me, including tryout dates, upcoming meetings, schedule changes, banquet and senior night information.
It was our pleasure to build the website for the Bixby High School Soccer teams. Check it out!
GO SPARTANS!
Debra Laizure
COMPANY NAME CHANGE
Why the Name Change?
Summit Management Group, Inc. was incorporated in January 2002. Our goal back then was to start a management consulting business offering executive level services including strategic marketing, mergers and acquisition consulting, and industrial and environmental consulting services.
Early on one of the partners moved to Texas to teach at a university. In year two, another partner had an incredible opportunity to purchase a local company and has since moved on to purchase and grow several other companies. Summit naturally evolved into a marketing communications company and has flourished ever since.
Many of our clients wonder about the name. Are we a property management company (no)? Are we SMG, the BOK center folks (no)? An insurance agency (no)? An advertising agency (yes)? So with the urging and a gentle push from our amazing clients we have updated the company name to Laizure Marketing and Public Relations.
We have a new name, new website and some new products like Internet marketing and social media services. And we have partnered with industry experts to develop the Inventor’s Consortium, a resource area to help inventors take their ideas to market.
Our new website was built using WordPress so we can stay in touch. We’ll be jumping in head first with blogging and social media (Twitter, Facebook) so stay tuned. Or better yet, click one of the icons to the right and follow us. We’ll be posting information you can use including local business news, media specials and marketing tips and tricks.
So thanks everyone for the push. Laizure Marketing and Public Relations is here to stay.
Lone Wolf Wurst Meat Website / Blog
The making of German wurst meats is a Wolf family tradition that began in 1886 when William Wolf came from Germany to America. His proprietary blend of spices and lean meats is still going strong. His descendants are continuing his legacy with Lone Wolf Wurst Meats, a family business located Nebraska.
The family needed an informational website to sell the product. Also included is a social media blog to capitalize on sausage lover’s, BBQ fanatics, and gourmet grocery stores and delicatessens. Check back often for delicious wurst meat recipes and news.
Lone Wolf Wurst Meats website
Website – http://www.lonewolfwurstmeats.com
Blog – http://lonewolfwurstmeats.com/blog
Try some wurst meat today. It’s Howlin’ good!
Customer Service via Twitter & Facebook?
Social media is a two way street. It is a great way to get information and news out to people you want but it’s also good customer service. How does it make you feel when someone says something nice about you? Pretty great, right? And you remember the compliment. In fact, you will probably remember the compliment if you ever need something in the future….
Facebook business pages (or fan pages) make quick testimonials easy. By “friend-ing” someone you can be up on their latest news and they are up on your latest news. You can also give them an occasional “shout-out” to let them know you are #1 thinking of them, #2 care about their business, #3 are interested in a long-term relationship, because you are going the extra mile to make their business a success.
So be a friend (Facebook) or follow (Twitter) your customers today. Then write something to uplift and promote their business. They will appreciate the kind words, and appreciate you for doing it.
Is Social Media a fad?
Do you still think social media is a technological flash in the pan? That it’s for teenagers and is used only for entertainment? Click Here to learn more about the social media revolution.
Then call us at (918) 366-3342 to see how we can increase your business through social media and search engine optimization.
