Microsoft Tag is an interesting way to add a new dimension to your current business. By creating a tag, you can connect your audience in the real world to a virtual experience via their mobile phone. Creating tags is free and scanning tags is possible from just about any phone with a camera.
We’ve previously discussed what place mobile barcode technology has in the future. It’s obvious that it’s useful, but we haven’t seen many popular services or brands take advantage of it. Microsoft may change that by putting a familiar name and some free tools behind tagging technology.
With Tag, you can connect your brick-and-mortar business with the infinite possibilities of the digital world. Rather than hoping potential customers remember your website or relying on the telephone game that word-of-mouth sometimes becomes, you can provide a direct conduit to your product or service. Tags turn inanimate objects into interactive experiences that let your products sell themselves.
Creating Your Tag
Your first step is to actually create a tag. This is simply the bit of information that you want to give people access to once they scan the tag.
- Tag Title – This is the name of the tag
- Tag Type – You can choose URL, Free Text, vCard, or Dialer
- Tag Notes – A few details about your tag (I don’t believe these are shared with the user)
- Start Date – When your tag should go live
- End Date – When you tag expires
Depending on which tag type you choose, you will be able to add additional data to your tag. For instance, the vCard type lets you upload a vCard to distribute and the Dialer type lets you specify a phone number that the user will be connected to.
The most popular option here might be the URL because it can possibly provide the richest digital experience, but having option to specify Text or connect the user to a phone number expand opportunities without relying on a data plan.
Once you’ve created your tag, the next step is to actually render it. This simply means printing it out for display at your location. All tags should follow the implementation guidelines before rendering so that you can maximize your efforts.
Scanning Tags and Usage Scenarios
The end user simply needs to grab a tag reader and start scanning. Then, the magic happens. Microsoft provides a set of tools that lets you track daily scans, so you have a way to track your results. Here are a few scenarios where Tags might be useful:
An automobile company might want to place a Tag on a billboard as a way to advertise their latest models to potential customers. Passengers and pedestrians could scan the tag as they pass by.
A film production company might put Tags pointing to a movie trailer on a poster at a movie theater, guiding the customer to more extensive information and interviews with the movie stars.
A video game company makes special custom Tags to be used at its trade show booth, allowing gamers to scan the Tag for custom in-game gear or clothing.
A sports drink company might choose to display a series of Tags for a product on the jumbotron in a stadium during a game, providing the fans with a collection of “secret phrases” throughout the game that enable free products or discount coupons.
What do you think about Microsoft Tag? What scenarios would you use it in.