Reports of the death of QR codes are greatly exaggerated!

Some readers will recognize this quote as paraphrasing Mark Twain’s humorous retort after newspapers falsely reported his death.  The quote could be equally applied to QR codes in the North America and Europe today.

QR (Quick Response) codes were first created by Toyota as a two-dimensional black and white bar codes for inventory tracking. They are now widely used in various contexts in China and Japan and apparently enabled $1.65 trillion in mobile payments in 2016.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Codes come in various shapes and colours and represent text and numbers, including website URLs.  A QR code is read by a scanner downloaded to a smart phone, which either triggers an action or leads to a destination site.  As a consumer, you might make a purchase or SMS donation, go to a social network or access additional information or a video.  All with no internet connection.

For businesses, QR codes can be used on a variety of real-world items such as clothing, signage and packaging.    Business contemplating adopting QR codes should make it easy for customers to undertake actions without excessive reading or typing.  And a QR code at an airport, subway station or theatre makes more sense than a billboard on the highway, as smart phone users in the case of the former can easily and safely pull out their phones and scan the code.

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.com

For various reasons, QR codes were not widely adopted in the West and many observers predicated their total demise in recent years.  But there are strong indications that this is changing.  In 2017, industry leading Apple installed an active QR code e-reader in the camera app of its phones.  WhatsApp allows users to confirm a contact’s identity with a QR code.  And 34% of US smart phone users have scanned a QR code.  Juniper Research predicts that 5.3 billion QR coupon will be redeemed by mobile by 2022. 

And QR codes will also benefit consumers, non-profits and small businesses still using email in the immediate future (or as long as the tool is in use.  Some analysts have predicted that social media will prevail.)  Codes for sending emails will help read and monitor newsletters, email marketing and emails’ performance rates.  And consumers can scan a coupon and redeem in-store or on-line.

Get your own QR Code!

Have you ever scanned a QR code in the airport or to redeem a coupon?  What was your experience like?  Does your phone have an active QR code reader?   Can you see other applications for QR codes?  If you are interested in getting our own QR code, click here!

Twitter  QR codes are back.  Or were they ever absent? https://bit.ly/2njp8Un

Facebook  QR codes are back.  How you can maximize business and other opportunities    https://bit.ly/2njp8Un

#TRUMP TWEETS TOO MUCH!!! So Say American Seniors

67% of American seniors say President Trump tweets too much.  Hardly surprising, you might say.

According to a 2017 study by the highly regarded Pew Research Center, the use of technology and social media by seniors in the United States reveals some interesting trends:

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

• 4 in 10 seniors now own smartphones, more than double the share that did so in 2013
• Internet use and broadband adoption among those 65-69 with incomes of $75k+ is 94% compared to 51% respectively for seniors generally
• 32% own tablets, which rises to 62% of younger, better educated and higher income seniors; while
• 34% of seniors report using social media (rising to 56% for college educated) representing a 7% increase from 2013.

Clearly, US seniors are adopting communications technologies at an impressive rate, even more so among younger, better educated and higher income seniors.

While these findings are undoubtedly interesting, they did not tell us how seniors use the internet and how they use social media.  Which is why SJ Insights launches its digital /social media panel.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Among the highlights of the early findings are:

Photo by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.com

87% log in to Facebook twice a day or more

50% are very concerned that they are reading “fake news”; and

67% believe that President Trump should not be using Twitter to communicate as often as he does.

 

And why exactly are seniors using social media?  Various organizations concerned with seniors’ well being have suggested the following:

• Seniors benefit socially, mentally and physically, including reported elevated moods, increased participation in healthier activities such as cooking healthier recipes, lower blood pressure, fewer instances of diabetes and less smoking

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

• Keeping the family together by sharing messages, photos, video chats …
• A greater sense of community by allowing seniors to make plans with others and combat loneliness for those who are housebound
• Giving the family peace of mind by allowing adult children to check in with their parents on a regular basis
• The convenience and savings of shopping online; and
• The comfort of entertainment.

But some precautions should be taken.  Adult children will want to be sure that their loved ones are not falling for phishing scams.  That they are not connecting with untrustworthy people in chat rooms.  And that they don’t spend too much.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

What observations and conclusions can be drawn from these studies?

• The use of technology among seniors is increasing. And in ten years, today’s younger seniors will be the older ones.  And they will be social media literate
• Most important studies on this topic are undertaken in the States. More work is needed in Canada
• More study is needed to determine whether the initial observations and hypotheses hold true
• There is a large market for social media applications geared to seniors which has probably not been fully exploited; and
• The benefits of social media literacy among seniors may have implications for the amount and type of care given to some seniors. And some adult children may be more comfortable living slightly further away from their aging parents.

Let me know what you think     

Are you caring for aging parents?  How social media literate are they?  Are there applications you would like to see developed for seniors? Should we be doing anything to foster the use of social media among less educated, lower-income and older seniors? Do you think current trends are positive or do we have reason to be concerned?  Are you aware of any Canadian studies on this topic? I look forward to hearing from you.

Twitter  #Hold the Tweets Donald!!  Seniors and Social Media https://bit.ly/2KsSKbj

Facebook  What you need to know about seniors and social media https://bit.ly/2KsSKbj

7 Common SMS Marketing Mistakes You Could be Making By Henry Cazalet — Technopreneur

Free-Photos / Pixabay Since SMS marketing burst onto the scene in the late 90s, it’s matured. It’s no longer viewed as a new and edgy concept adopted by a few forward-thinking tech start-ups. Most companies have tried SMS in some capacity and many have well-established SMS strategies as an integrated and essential part of their […]

via 7 Common SMS Marketing Mistakes You Could be Making By Henry Cazalet — Technopreneurph

SMS Fundraising: Is it really the answer?

Many consider SMS to have eclipsed more traditional methods of marketing such as direct mail, voicemail, social media posts, newspapers or TV.  Although SMS is primarily used to reach customers for commercial purposes, it is apparently being adopted increasingly by non-profits for fundraising purposes.

Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

But how does SMS really work?  And is it effective?

What’s it all about?

SMS is an acronym which stands for “short message service”.   Simply put, they are text messages sent to a phone by a phone or computer.   Generally, all that is required is a catchy keyword (like SUCCEED or BUILD) to punch on a keypad, a short code number (like 33333) and a link to a secure and mobile-friendly donation page that donors use  by using their credit or debit cards.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Proponents trot out all sorts of arguments and statistics to back up their claims.  Service providers such as the Canadian TTAG Systems, Mobile Cause and Zip Give say their platforms make it fast and easy for donors to give to non-profits of all types and sizes.   The system does not require registration.  Texting is discreet and quicker than making a phone call. Messages can be delivered even if the phone is turned off or out of range once service has been restored.

And fees to the non-profits are low.  In addition, text messages are a useful tool for reaching existing and potential donors with customized content.  Donors can be apprised, for example, of progress being made at school by their “own” foster child, thus engaging donors and ensuring lasting loyalty repeat donations.

And 90% of the population have mobile phones.  Americans send and receive 32 texts per day.  98% of text messages are opened.  94% of smartphone users 70 and older are sending text messages on a weekly basis. 76% of supporters appreciate text messages and reminders, which encourages donors to come back and give again.  SMS is second only to web donations in the USA, although it is worth noting that SMS is not popular among Boomers and Matures.

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

One use of  the SMS approach is where UNICEF is using test messaging to raise money for the children of Syria during the bloody and costly civil war (http://childrenofsyria.info/).

Photo by şeyhmus Çakırtaş on Pexels.com

So, what are the drawbacks?

I have ton confess that I have never engaged in an SMS non-profit fundraising campaign, but as someone who has undertaken more traditional fundraising, particularly grants, I can offer some observations.

Before launching into these, I should say that my interest is as a non-profit fundraiser on behalf of non-profits in developing countries, where realities are quite different from what we experience in Canada.

Photo by Dazzle Jam on Pexels.com

In no particular order:

• the non-profits utilizing the service providers mentioned above are usually required to have their own subscriber lists from which solicitation can be undertaken. While American service provides argue that non-profits have  the authority to send text messages without receiving permission, I would need to investigate this in the Canadian context.
• asking a developing country non-profit to develop a subscriber list of  Canadian phone numbers would be challenging but one could investigate having a Canadian partner act on their behalf to undertake this.
• traditional means of promotion (such as media advertising, e-mails or direct mail) are  still required to reach potential donors in Canada not already on subscriber lists.  Or a Jumbotron will have to be used at a concert of sports venue to promote the campaign.  All of this will cost money up front, which developing country non-profits often do not have.
• the non-profits may not have the expertise or budget (likely upward of $5,000 per annum) to maintain the fundraising campaign once it has been set up.
• non-profit fundraising for a non-Canadian organization would not entitle donors to any tax benefits, which may be a significant deterrent; and
  

  Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

• the size of donations from the SMS approach is often relatively small ($5-$50) compared to funding potentially available through traditional granting sources, although admittedly the latter are difficult to obtain.  This would suggest the need for a comprehensive approach to fundraising utilizing various platforms.

From a technical perspective, Tiesha Whatley has identified various problems, not the least of which is that SMS technology can be easily attacked.  In addition, too many messages at once can overpower control panels and hinder users from receiving phone calls.  There is often a cost-per-call to users.  And there is frequently a long hold time before receiving messages. 

The above observations are drawn after a quick analysis and some very basic research.  But even some techies seem to recognize that the platform is not unanimously supported within the fundraising industry or might even be outdated. A Tech Soup Canada guru recently wrote in a somewhat apologetic and qualified tone, “Although there are many misconceptions around SMS marketing it still (sic) an effective and affordable tool to reach donors.”

What do you think?  

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Over to you now.  Have you ever used SMS as a donor or fundraiser?  If so, what was your experience like? Do you think SMS is an effective fundraising tool?  Could it be used by a developing world non-profit for fundraising among Canadian      donors?  Let me know what you think.

 

Twitter:   Fundraising with SMS:  How effective is it?  https://bit.ly/2LXUbQz

Facebook: Do you really want to fundraise with SMS?   https://bit.ly/2LXUbQz

Do social media enable or hinder political movements?

 

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Message

Submit

Δ

This is an important question given the increased and evolving uses of social media in political developments around the world. These include the fomenting and reporting on unrest during the Arab Spring, continuing demands by bloggers for human rights in China and the ongoing demonization of minorities in Myanmar by the Buddhist majority.

Egypt 2011 (UIUC Library Guides)

We might also ask whether social media are inherently democratizing or whether they serve the interests of state organizations, dictatorships and intelligence agencies?  Or do they boost politicians in liberal democracies who feed off conspiracy and nativism?

Presidential Assent  (The Blaze)

 

A simple answer or sitting on the fence

These questions have sparked considerable debate and almost everyone has an opinion.  The truth is probably that there is credible evidence on both sides of the debate on the effect of social media on political movements and the answer will only be determined by assessing different cases and examining the circumstances. We might conclude that while social media can enable alternative ways of doing things, they may also reinforce pre-existing norms, values and institutions.

Why should we care?

These issues are of immediate interest to many of us.

Firstly, as citizens of Canada, what impact might social media have on the 2019 general election?  Should we be devising  and enforcing various regulations related to the use of bots, for example, as they might be used to automatically post inflammatory or nonsensical posts, disrupting political discourse while promoting populist views?

As global citizens, examination of these issues provides a very helpful window through which to interpret developments and reach conclusions.  How much was Donald Trump able to influence the outcome of the last federal election by constantly framing the debate, then reinforcing opinions by his constant references to “crooked Hillary” and “fake news” in the social media?

As travellers to out-of-the-way destinations, referral to social media posts would help to determine whether to visit or depart from a country undergoing social/political unrest.  This is potentially a very useful application as Global Affairs Canada Travel Advisories are often so alarmist that travellers would be reluctant to leave home at all!

Kidnapping, extortion, home invasion, robbery, sexual assault and other forms of aggravated assault are carried out by criminals acting individually or as a group. Assault, armed robbery and carjacking are serious problems … A large percentage of the population … is armed…  Guns and other weapons, such as machetes and knives, are frequently used. If you are threatened by robbers, do not resist; injuries and deaths have occurred when victims have resisted. (2017)

Finally, those of us who work as volunteers in developing countries, assisting non-profit organizations seeking funding, a balanced assessment of differing perspectives on the security and political realities would help us (and, ultimately, potential donors) determine whether conditions in a specified country are conductive to delivering aid at all.

Canada’s New Feminist Development Assistance Policy in Action (Macleans)

A call to action!

What do you think?  Should we be concerned about the role of social media in influencing international developments?  Are they forces for good or bad?  Do social media cause division or amplify it?  Depending on your answer to these questions, give some thought as to what each of us can do to help remedy some of the misuses of social media. Get in touch!

Twitter:  Impact of social media on political movements  https://bit.ly/2u5LPiC

Facebook:  Does social media enable political movements or hinder their formation?  Why it matters to you!   https://bit.ly/2u5LPiC