Tuesday, November 24, 2009

And The Winner Is...

The “Big Gun” tattoo of Randy Eubanks of Suncoast Marketing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida won his organization their very own branded online ordering site for the “coolest business cards on the planet” by AccuLink and their latest storefront at B2vCARDs.com . Randy was one of many value added resellers that participated in a promotion presented by AccuLink at the recent Print Solutions Conference held in Chicago, IL this Fall.

In advance of the trade show AccuLink mailed a folded self mailer with a removable tattoo attached displaying a 2D code to all registered attendees. The mailer described the new technology associated with 2D codes (also known as “QR” or “Quick Response” codes) as well as the launch of AccuLink’s new and unique B2vCARDs. The incentive to come visit the AccuLink booth encouraged attendees to display the most creative application of the tattoo and receive a branded B2vCARDs.com storefront for the winner. After censoring and reviewing the results of the participants it was determined that Randy’s impressive biceps and unique design deserved the winning prize. B2vCARDs.com is an online storefront for business cards that transforms the common business card into an interactive and dynamic sales tool. When entering B2vCARDs.com the registrant enters whatever profile information he/she would like to pass on to another’s address book (also known as a vCARD). The registrant also may enter a URL of choice that he would like to direct their contact to. This URL could be anything from a Linkedin profile, a home web site or a Youtube video – literally any URL desired. B2vCARDs.com then transforms this data into scannable 2D Codes that interact with application enabled cell phones. The principle behind this new 2D code technology is to instantly connect browser enabled cell phones (with cameras) with the internet and, in this case, vCARD profile information. When the vCARD 2D code on back of a B2vCARD is scanned, the participant’s smart phone instantly uploads the card’s contact information. If the other URL 2D code is scanned the participant is directed to a web site that can be a static landing page, a video or even an opt in page to gather survey information.
“2D codes will revolutionize the value of printed media from this day forward” claims Lindsay Gray, vice president and co-owner of AccuLink and founder of B2vCARDs.com. “The old school business card is now a commodity – our B2vCARD technology now makes those cards obsolete. Imagine the value to a salesman who can witness a contact scanning his card and knowing from that moment forward all of his vital contact information is stored in his prospects CRM system. Not only is this a great ice breaker but it is a convenient utility too!”.
AccuLink has only just begun researching 2D codes and its many applications. In fact, the benefits to marketers are where the AccuLink focus is now. Since 2D codes connect printed material to the internet, AccuLink is offering turnkey marketing services that begin with the creation of unique 2D codes that guide participants into web based “opt-in” sites where responses are measured, collected and reported back to campaign managers.
Rose Ehrecke, Chief Project Manager at AccuLink, states “the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) is limited with conventional advertising channels but with 2D codes we can measure each individual scan as well as gain access to an individual’s cell phone. 2D codes can be the “Holy Grail” to CMOs in search of mobile marketing solutions. We now have paved a way to access the emerging consumers who view their cell phones as their primary entertainment, information and communication device”.
Lindsay closes by saying “we are excited about the results of our investments in research and technological infrastructure here at AccuLink. We are equally excited about the opportunity to partner with our value added resellers so that we may all enhance and improve communication services to our customers”. The future of print certainly seems to hold many promises limited only by one’s imagination. Whoever said “print is a mature industry”…?