As sales and marketing professionals, we all know that customer retention is cheaper and easier than customer acquisition when it comes to boosting the bottom line. Though often underestimated, customer brand loyalty programs have always been a key to success.

Now, as the popularity of smart phones and SMS text messaging has overtaken Europe and Asia and is increasingly gaining steam in the US, retailers and companies of all kinds are using QR codes to build and expand their customer loyalty programs. The QR code’s two-dimensional black and white square design is really catching on and its usage is growing in the U.S. Many businesses have already adopted QR codes to help build their mobile marketing databases.

Two-dimensional QR codes are much more visually interesting and effective than the traditional barcode. Besides being a lot more hip and attractive than barcodes, QR codes are usable with mobile and social media, the web and traditional advertising, making it easier to capture those valuable repeat customers no matter which media channel they prefer.

Here are some innovative ways you can use QR code marketing to maximize your customer loyalty program for the highest level of sales success.

Mobile Coupons

Get people to opt-in to your customer loyalty program at the point of purchase, on your website and Facebook page by encouraging them to scan your QR code. Each customer that opts-in will be automatically enrolled in your customer loyalty program and added to your list of people who will receive your mobile coupons. You can even send each customer a unique mobile QR code coupon that records their specific customer ID. This, in-turn, will help you further personalize your offers.

Special VIP Customer Events

You can use QR codes to make VIP customers feel valued, giving them special access to exclusive in-store promotion or customer appreciation events. Get more people to attend the event by sending your customers an email or text message with a QR code that they can bring with them – either on their phone or on a printed sheet of paper -- to gain entry to your event. During the event, you can also further engage your important customers by strategically placing QR codes on the shelf at eye level next to certain products, giving them access to one-time discounts. It’s a fun way to boost your sales and cement your customer relationships.

Frequent Buyer Programs

If you sell your products or services at a physical location, you can use QR Code loyalty programs to reward customers who continuously patronize your business. You can provide each one of your customers with a QR code at the point of purchase. The next time your VIP customer visits your location with their mobile QR code, you can scan their code to first capture their information and then offer them a preferred priced. This works much like Safeway’s or CVS’s loyalty programs, which require you to scan your card at the check-stand.

QR codes can help you tip the scale when it comes to creating customer loyalty programs that really work.  QR codes provide people with a non-threatening way to automatically join your mobile VIP customer list – without you having to ask -- since people can easily scan an in-store display, email or web page. Most people always have their smart phone or cell phone near. So by taking advantage of mobile text marketing and QR codes, using software solutions like Trumpia, you will increase the likelihood that customers will engage with you. Then you will have a sure fire way to capture repeat sales and significantly expand your business.