POKEN Go Beyond Flash Drives

This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

The green argument for flash drives goes something like this: Flash drives are a great way to get a lot of information to clients without having the need to print and ship thousands of pieces of paper. (And if they are made from eco-friendly materials all the better).

For example, think about a large conference, say with 10,000 attendees over four days. Printing and shipping all the information, schedules, data-sheets, presentations, and white papers for such an event is a huge cost to the budget and the environment. Why not just put it all on a flash drive, in a format that all the attendees can easily store, carry and share?

It is a good argument, however the POKEN allows us to take the idea to the next level. POKEN looks like a flash drives and sort of work the same way, as a tool with which to share data. The difference is that when two POKEN touch each other they copy – for lack of a better word – each other’s information.

So take the same conference example. Instead of getting standard flash drives each user gets a 2GB POKEN PLUS preloaded with the events information, maybe mailed to them ahead of the event, or given out on the first day. That user is also encouraged to use the POKEN software to load their POKEN with all their contact information including stuff not on the average business card like links to their Blog, Twitter account, LinkedIn account, FaceBook page, MySpace page, YouTube site, etc. During the event two people meet, touch POKEN and all that information is shared. No scribbling notes on scrap paper, no need for emails. I am not making this up, take a look at the video.

Now think of it as an Ecopreneurist. First this is a way cool promo item. Brand the POKEN with your logo or your event’s logo and get them out there. Like a flash drive – for those that adopt the technology – no one is going to throw a POKEN away, so your brand will stick with your audience.

Second because the POKEN provides links to live data you can connect to your audience AFTER your event with new information. No need to update and send your latest information, brochure, datasheet.

If that information is posted to a link stored on the POKEN, that means your clients will have access to the information as soon as it is posted. Update your contact info, POKEN knows. Release new product footage on YouTube, POKEN knows. New coupons available to get clients to visit your retail shops, POKEN knows.

Way cool.

If you want to learn more about POKEN visit their website. If you are ASI or PPAI and want information on branded POKEN contact Nate Tangerini. If you are looking to purchase POKEN for your own event or any other purpose, please contact your local promotional items distributor or email info@proformagreen.com for samples and pricing.

Tags: event planning, flash drives, POKEN, proforma, proformagreen