Thoughts @ Amit Gupta » Marketing & advertising

Signs of India

Amit Gupta — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:53:28 +0000

You will be back . we guarantee it just above the return policy

What is QR code

Amit Gupta — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:14:42 +0000

There is so much buzz around the QR code recently. Frankly I initially thought its some feature available with Blackberry phone , when I purchased one last year.

So what is QR code ?

By definition its Quick Response Code and look like a square bar code. The information stored on the QR code can be decoded or read by Bar code reader and mobile phones. Qr code can be used to add contacts to list, display text, image or open a webpage by connecting to mobile web.

All mobile platform supports QR code by native applications or multiple free application available. Blackberry has build in a complete campaign around QR code. Ease of adding contact to BB messenger. I love the concept and ad.

Fast Tube by Casper

But the QR code can be used for more interesting use. Few examples :

1. Talking Resume (Combination of print resume and QR code redirecting to youtube ) . Watch the creative way to use QR codes on a intern resume. www.victorpetit.fr (Sup de Pub Student, Lyon, France).

2 . Profile Photo on Social Profiles (Business promotion by @mayank)

3. Link to download applications (Android Market ) – One click Download

Android market offers one click download to almost all applications. The same code can also be extended to print and online campaigns. Check out the QR code for Facebook app

And many more ….

Interestingly term QR code itself is a registered trade mark of Denso Wave Incorporated and Denso Wave owns the patent rights on QR codes, but has chosen not to exercise them. Kudos

One last thing and most important thing. How to get a bar code for you ?

QR Code for http://amitguptaz.com

There are ample of online QR Code generator which offer this service for FREE.

a) http://www.qrstuff.com/ Customize the foreground color of the QR code and get a printable code. The site also give option to get QR code on various products like mugs, t-shirts etc.

b) http://www.quikqr.com : Simple interface with option to create a QR code for a webpage

Go ahead get a QR code for yourself.

Update : A mailer today suggest one more utility

Safeguard your SIM card against misuse

Amit Gupta — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:32:32 +0000

There seems to be a perfect synergy in the marketing and sales department of cellular companies. Both departments are supplementing each other in growing the subscriber base (And possibly redcuing ARPU).

The telesales ladies pushes hard to sell complementary ‘Golden’, ‘Platinum’ and matching/similar numbers to your current Mobile number in ever sweet voice. I have recd two such calls since morning. Good I have recieved two call in morning itself and now I can chill (My average incoming telesales call stands at 2). I am sure you want to know how have I managed this. Follow these simple rules to avoid telemarketing calls.

‘Amit Gupta : With the amount of free numbers offered by Idea cellular. It seems I can run a telephone exchange.Tell them I am happy in my job’ via my facebook and twitter update.

On other hand, marketing team is generating demand for new sim card in very innovative way. My latest bill from Vodafone displayed the ‘SMART’ way of safeguarding sim cards in 3 easy steps (This is the most prominent and colorful element on the page).

1) Go to nearest Store
2) Break the card in two
3) Hand it over to store employee

and then what…get a new sim card or connection Can’t believe what is the message Vodafone is trying to deliver with this creative. I found this message very confusing and misplaced.

Grow Red Tail with Dabur India

Amit Gupta — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:29:57 +0000

I clicked this at a medical store market today. I was totally amused at branding of the baby product from Dabur India. Now what on the earth product called ‘Dabur Lal Tail’ from the Ayurvedic Expert for babies would convey to the parents. It is for child growth or growing tail for your child

Dabur could have aptly named it as ‘Dabur red Oil’ and also retained the name in devnagiri ‘डाबर लाल तेल’ to appeal to the loyal base and cash on the recall value.

They have done similar excersice for ‘डाबर लाल दंत मंजन’ when it was launched as as a paste variant ‘Dabur Red toothpaste’.

How to stop telemarketing calls

Amit Gupta — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:16:07 +0000

I just come across an Interesting email doing rounds.

Ten ways to stop those credit card sales, mobile companies, insurance calls from irritating you:

1 After the telemarketer finishes speaking, ask him/her to marry you.

2 Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment, and ask him/her, if he/she will give you his/her home phone number so you can call him/her back.

3 Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.

4 Tell them it is dinnertime, BUT ask if they would please hold. Put them on your speakerphone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.

5 Tell them that all business goes through your agent, and hand the phone to your five-year-old child.

6 Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up…. louder… louder… louder!

7 If they start out with, “How are you today?”, say “I’m so glad you asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems………….”

8 Tell them to speak very slowly because you want to write every word down.

9 Cry out in surprise, “Helen, is that you? I’ve been hoping you’d call! How is the family?” When they insist they are not Helen, tell them to stop joking. This works especially well if the telemarketer is really MALE.

10 Tell the ICICI call center guy to call on your office number – and give him the HSBC call center number.

TRY THEM OUT…