When to use a QR code

QR codes (or quick response codes) are similar to bar codes, but arranged in a square pattern. They are faster for readers to process and can hold much more information in a much smaller footprint. While they’re not new, they have ebbed and flowed in terms of popularity throughout the years. There is temptation sometimes to slap a QR code on everything, but when is it really best to employ a QR code?

To encode LOTS of data

My biggest aversion to QR codes is that humans can’t read them. And while most of us carry around a smartphone that doubles as a QR code scanner, not everybody does. If I purchased a billboard advertisement for Dijon Marketing, I would just put “dijonmarketing.com” at the bottom. That way everyone could read it, remember it, and Google it. I always argue against QR codes for encoding simple, short, memorable data.

If, however, I wanted to send you directly to a targeted advertising landing page, that might have a very long and confusing address. Or if I’m really doing things right, I have probably wrapped that complex URL with even more complex tracking codes. And maybe I then used a URL shortener in addition, making it even less human-friendly. In that case, I might employ a QR code that users could scan, but still put my domain along the bottom for those that don’t want to.

To link to a static location

I would also caution against creating QR codes that link directly to a very specific location. Think about the life of a QR code on a sticker somewhere. It may long outlast our current URL structure. If things change, it’s best to have your QR codes all pointing to easy to maintain addresses. You could employ 301 redirects to jump users from a generic QR landing page directly to the long/complex address you want them to find. If you plan to have lots of different QR codes then having an organizational structure around their destinations will make your life much easier in a few years when you need to make major changes to either your website or your messaging.

To be a little playful

One of the great things about QR codes is that aside from a few key requirements, they can be largely customized. Colors can be adjusted. Logos can be embedded. And if you don’t mind alienating a small subset of people who aren’t carrying a phone, it can be enticing to want to scan the code to see what lies behind. Maybe it’s a menu, maybe it’s a 50% off coupon. Maybe it’s on the side of a building 20 blocks away but I can still scan it with my phone. In that case they are a cool, techy marketing tool to drive a little bit of interest with the little bit of inherent mystery that comes with them.

Now that you’ve got some boundaries about when to use a QR code, try some of these free online generators:

• https://www.qr-code-generator.com/
• https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/
• https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/

What is a WordPress Child Theme?

There is typically only so far you can go with the adjustable attributes of an existing WordPress theme. Eventually, almost all developers find themselves needing at least small tweaks to what was provided. While WordPress is open source and any theme you’ve downloaded is perfectly open to be edited, doing so is not a best practice. Instead, a child theme is the preferred way to adjust a theme.

The advantage of a child theme is that it lives separate from the source files of the parent theme. That means when a new update gets pushed out all of your edits won’t disappear. That could be a very bad thing to have your customizations overwritten every time the theme is updated.

A child theme could be 100% exactly the same as the parent (though, then you wouldn’t need the child). It can have minor adjustments from the parent. Or it could be wildly different just using the parent as a framework. Regardless of how different it is, preserving even small changes will keep you from wasted time.

Basically any file that exists in the child theme will overwrite what is in the parent. That means you may have just one file in your child theme and WordPress will know you want to use all of the other files directly from the parent. The exception is functions.php, which will run in conjunction with the parent, not instead. So if you needed to add just one function that is an easy way to do it.

There is a specific syntax required for the child style.css file. This is what links the child to the parent. You can see more about exactly what that file must contain in the WordPress Developer Help Files.

The next time you find a theme that does ALMOST everything you want if only it had one minor change, you will know to ask around to find someone who can help you develop a child theme for the most robust and technically preferable way to get exactly what you need.

Continuing education with Udemy

One of the best things we can do for ourselves, our careers, and our hobbies, is to be continuously learning. And one of the best places to do this is at Udemy.com.

I will start by saying that this is not a sponsored blog post. I’m not affiliated or compensated by Udemy in any way. I’ve just found their platform to be filled with fantastic eLearning content. And trust me, I am extremely critical when it comes to bad content being mislabeled as “eLearning” when it is, in fact, recorded webinars.

I have taken two courses so far with prices ranging from $12-$19, they certainly don’t break the bank. They are split into manageable chapters so I can keep track of my progress while spending an hour here, 30 minutes there. They come with instructor led videos, downloadable assets, and self-paced content.

One thing I am especially guilty of is learning something, and then mentally checking it off. Javascript, CSS, web design, WordPress – check, check check. While all around me things are changing, new features are added, new best practices are shared. And if I stay stagnant, stubbornly doing things “the old way” the only one who suffers is me. So I’ve pledged to spend this year taking courses over topics I feel like I already know well. Honing my skills or finding new shortcuts to success is my goal. But as soon as I run out of courses in that effort, I’ll start picking new ones to learn.

With over 155,000 courses to choose from, there is definitely something for everybody. Check it out today!

What is progressive profiling?

Progressive profiling is a method for building a robust and complete customer database. You may want to know lots of different bits of info about user, customer, donor, or volunteer. Examples are email addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, interests, open schedule times, and more.

Imagine the first touch point you have with an organization. You like their message and would like to stay in touch. So you click to join their mailing list. Only, before you can click “submit” you have to fill out 2 pages of information about yourself. What’s the most likely outcome of that scenario? Your users will give up halfway through the process and you’ll miss out on a new email recipient. This could be considered friction in the process. Asking for too much data up front will result in you getting no data at all.

The only thing you need to know in order to add someone to your mailing list is their email address. If they are willing to give it, then take it and move on. You can then progressively profile them for the remaining information.

• In order to sign up for an open volunteer position they need to provide their first and last name associated with their email address.
• The first time they log into your Volunteer Management software, a pop up asks them for their cell phone number.
• Send an email 3 weeks after they’ve signed up asking them to populate their physical address to receive snail mail.

The basic idea is to take what you can get. Require only what is absolutely necessary. And never miss an opportunity to ask for more while making it easy to add just one additional piece of data at each touch point. What you’ll find by asking for less is … you get more!