Now you can take it all with you. And when we say "all" we mean everything! We have a great find today, and I want to share it with you. You probably know the basic use for flash drives; portable storage. Flash drives give you all the power you need to transfer, store, and share your pictures, music, and data with ease. Basically, you just plug in the USB Drive and you're off! But a very small percentage of distributors are actually selling the value added side of things. It's one thing to sell a regular flash drive that does basic storing functions, but it's another to really take advantage of the power and innovation of the drive itself. In this entry, I'd like to cover some of the truly innovative abilities that flash drives are capable of. I'm hoping after reading this, you'll have a new-found knowledge and drive to offer these sorts of offerings to your customer.
1.) Data Loading of Information
Preloaded information is by far the most general use for adding value to the flash drive. Loading a little informative file or program onto the drive is a great way to inform the user of the product about a particular product/service the company offers when handing these out at trade shows/seminars/training or any general use event. And the best thing about this service is that most of the time, you can usually get 10-15MB of data loading included for free using some of the special programs. This way you can always offer this ability to your client and you can always add a little value to the initial order without having to hike up the cost of the product. Usually this service is offered in most cases using production level programs or specials.
2.) Locking Information onto the drive
This consists of the same basic function of loading data onto the drive at the production level, but adds a locking feature. Basically, it's taking the data and locking it down to where the user would be unable to delete or alter a set number of files on the flash drive. This is a great service in the event someone is offering their catalog and does not want the receiver of the product to delete the files off. It still operates like a regular flash drive, the remaining space can be used for regular storage, but that specific portion of the flash drive is locked down with the files so that they will not be able to be removed. For companies that use flash drives to explain a product or service, they might want to take advantage of this service to ensure the information is always on the drive. This service is provided for a small up-charge in some cases.
3.) Autorun Information from the drive
Getting a little more innovative, the autorun function gives you the ability to automatically run an application / file / video as soon as the flash drive is plugged into the computer. For a graphics company, they may want to display their powerful graphical interface and display a short video entry every time the drive is plugged in. A CEO might want to have a short little audio or video address to the employees of the company. The ideas can go on and on, but the basic feature of the product is the ability to automatically perform a function. In some cases, the user would like to automatically pop up a URL address, so every time the drive is inserted a website pops up. In other cases, the user would like to run an application. There are so many functional uses here, and we'll be glad to help you think up a custom solution for your client. Again, this service is provided for a small up charge in some cases.
4.) Provided Password Unlocking (SECURE DRIVE) - And Encryption
Let's face it, security is a huge deal to most users. The ability to have an open flash drive with confidential information is cringing to some. This is why we offer the ability to secure the drives. SECURE DRIVE places an interface onto the drive that makes it password protected. When the drive is inserted, the first thing they see is a password screen. The drive will not unlock unless their password is entered in correctly. This is a great value added ability for government clients, clients who store confidential information on the flash drives, or anyone who is interested in securing their information safely. In some extreme cases, the ability to encrypt the device is asked for. This is the ultimate security solution. By providing a 128bit encrypted flash drive application, it ensures your clients (even if the hardware is tampered with) information is safe and tamper free. This service adds an up charge to the flash drive and is quoted per cases basis.
5.) Free Portable Applications!
Just because the client does not choose to use any of the value added services offered standard with most orders, you can still recommend open source applications to get more use from the drives. A great service I personally recommend is using portable applications. Portable applications can run really neat programs like Open Office, Firefox, portable music players, and even games right on the flash drive without having it on the specific PC or Notebook.
A great general resource I like to use is called PortableApps.com and can be found at the link there. So mention this to them and you can add value, without adding costs. These free open source applications are great ways to take the flash drive to the next level. There are literally hundreds of flash drive options available. And the next time you come in contact with a client that might want something added to the flash drive, consider offering some of the services. These small things can really enhance the product and make it truly innovative. For more information on a custom solution for you or your customer, give us a ring and we'll get creative together.
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