Did you know that EmailDirect offers unique barcodes that can be inserted into your Email Campaigns?
No? Probably because the steps are pretty complicated. Oh wait! That’s just the steps to putting together my new Ikea dresser. Forget reading pages of instructions or thinking you must be versed in programming to produce variable barcodes that are unique to each subscriber. Check out our one-stop shop instructions on building a barcode here.
Clicking on the link too many steps for you? (I know, my time is way too valuable to be wasted on such things as well.) Let me force feed you the basics.
STEP 1:
Start out your barcodes with this URL
Step 2:
Choose the type of barcode you want. The most used are QR codes and 128 Barcodes. (All different types of barcodes are listed here.)
Step 3:
Insert the type of barcode after the initial URL above (With “?code=” to follow)
http://edsn.us/barcode/QR?code=
Step 4:
Insert the URL you want your barcode to redirect to. I chose EmailDirect.com (it’s my favorite website! After Pinterest of course.)
http://edsn.us/barcode/QR?code=http://www.emaildirect.com
Step 4 Part B:
Go ahead and test! Paste the code I just completed above into your browser to see it render.
Don’t want to have your barcode send people to a website? Perhaps you need to have a unique identifier when the barcode is scanned so you can track who has used it and who has not. (You know, for that free dessert, free shipping, free play at your casino, shall I go on?) Insert your database variables to create that unique barcode! The one below is for a database field called “Coupon Number.”
http://edsn.us/barcode/QR?code=[Database!CouponNumber]
Step 4 Part C:
Let’s say you have a few database fields that need to be included in your barcode and suddenly it is soooo long. Insert a specified width! (Applicable for certain barcodes, others have height options.)
http://edsn.us/barcode/QR?code=[Database!CouponNumber]&width=150
Step 5 FINAL:
Congrats! You have created a functional dynamic barcode for your subscribers. Remember that it will be an image, so you need to insert the above barcode as an image URL inside the correct HTML area. Like this:
<img src=”http://edsn.us/barcode/QR?code=[Database!CouponNumber]&width=150” />
Step 6 Optional:
Feelin’ extra crafty today? You can also choose what color your barcode will be. I know, I was #mindblown as well. For that portion, you really do need to read our Barcode doc. It explains it better than I can! Barcode Information
My marketing advice:
- QR codes are definitely a popular fad and continue to be used primarily to route someone to their website for more information.
- Code 128 and Code 39 are the more standard popular barcodes that are primarily used for dynamic information.
- PostNet Barcodes are old and outdated. Most will use the 128 Barcode instead. Don’t be old and outdated. (But you can if you need to. We support those barcodes also!)
Now go out and create trackable barcodes for your subscribers! Don’t have too much fun. Remember. This is work! *winkwink*