We see two main factors that continue to hold back the growth of interactive print. The first I believe is a myth and the second an opportunity.

First we continue to see reluctances by publishers, especially newspapers, wanting to allow metrics to be part of their offering. They seem scared they will loose advertisers or advertisers will be able to leverage the cost they pay for an ad if their ad only gets a few hits in a given print publication. Though one would like to say print metrics and page views are one in the same they are not. Just like on the internet, there are millions of pages that get seen everyday, but not clicked on. But the ones that do get clicked on some metrics are provided, great! So if print publishers can break this mind set, or myth, and separate ad sales from the fear that metrics will erode sales, we believe then interactive print technology will really take off.

Secondly, publishing & editorial tools do not have interactive features as part of their front end offerings, thus making it a bit more expensive & cumbersome to add after the fact. This is mainly a technology issue, but more importantly an opportunity for the print publishing industry to capitalize on.

There are additional adoption and technology issues to overcome, but they are much smaller than these two I note above. GossRSVP and its partners are working to bring awareness to the myth above, and we welcome others in the print industry to join us to capitalize on the opportunity to bring interactive tools at the forefront of publication & ad creation tools.

By Roger Belanger,  Director, GossRSVP, LLC

It is always nice to get confirmation on what you are doing from an outsider. So is the case today from the “PrintSpeaks.co.uk” newsletter from the Editor Karen Charlesworth.  We appreciate her article in support of the Goss vision for making print interactive.  With the cell phone now the ubiquiteous device the timing is right and we are starting to see large advertisers dabbling with mobile sms codes and 2D bar codes in print.   

While 2D codes make interactive print elegant, we see them as the icing on the cake, with mobile text messaging being the workhorse today. Users of the GossRSVP Media to Mobile System get near 100% consumer participation utilizing our feature rich sms text codes.  Users fo the GossRSVP system can use just the text codes in their print products, or they can utilize the 2D bar codes to allow their customers the option of texting, typing or scanning the codes.   

Karen also notes “UpCodes are the subject of new promotional iniatives..etc.”  It is great to see both UpCode & GossRSVP Codes being related too within the same article.  UpCode our partner in Finland & GossRSVP are working together to further advance this technology with new initiatives forthcoming bringing value to our customers.

You can read Karen’s article at;  http://www.printspeak.co.uk/index.asp#editorial  and learn more about UpCode at www.upcode.fi

By Roger Belanger,  Director, GossRSVP, LLC

In the October-09 issue of WAN-IFRA Magazine, an article titled “Web tools for steering your audience” they note how search technologies have direct advertising returns. They note, “Advertisers are willing to pay more for ads that are likely to generate request for information about their offerings (CPL = cost-per-lead advertising), or direct transactions (CPA = cost-per-acquisition)”.

These mature adverting data collection methods imply consumer engagement. Without engagement, or someone clicking on their advertisement, the ad is just information or an ad promoting their branding. These lead generating technologies continue to be mainstream that all advertisers can relate to for the web, and advertisers are also realizing these same models can be adapted to print.

With GossRSVP technologies, advertisers can mirror the internet, where the printed product is the web and the cell phone is equivalent to the mouse. With over 5.4 trillion printed pages in North American alone, and mobile cell technology growth exploding lead generation via consumer engagement from print is a natural. Contact us today to learn more about interactive lead generation tools for print & other media.

By Roger Belanger,  Director GossRSVP

Standing on your feet for six days straight is not the kind of thing someone says is fun except if you are answering questions and helping customers and potential customers navigate the mobile market as it relates to Printers, Publishers, Packaging Companies, Marketing Agencies, Colleges Academia and College students. That is exactly what Print09 was, fun, for the GossRSVP Sales team and presenters of Media to Mobile solutions.

The number and the diversity of inquiries made each day fun and eventful. Our web based reseller application is allowing our Print Customers to “grab the revenue now”, that is the “mobile text ad revenue” mobile marketers would typically grab. Printers and Publishers have a hugh customer base and they are realizing third party mobile marketing vendors are knocking on their traditional print customers. GossRSVP Print09 presentations illustrated how Printers and Publishers can utilize their GossRSVP subscription account to provide interactive value elements for print while in addition providing their retail customers mobile services to complement their print ads.

While many print media pundits talk about printers needing to become multi-media service groups, not many solutions are offered.  Our customers are realizing their GossRSVP subscription tools are allowing them to do just that, become multi-media service providers to their traditional print customers.  After all, all customers have media options, and the more low cost options printers and publisher can offer their coveted customers, the more loyal they will remain, while they inturn understand just what it means by “grabbing the revenue now”!

By Roger Belanger, Director GossRSVP

GossRSVP is pleased to announce its one year anniversary while doing it in one of the worst down turns of the economy and the print industry in history. But at the same time the mobile market growth did not waiver much, rather it continued with double digit growth rates. This mobile market growth and buzz in the industry contributed to our 186% customer growth from December-08 to July-09, and continued strong interest in the GossRSVP Media to Mobile Solutions.

Our mix of customers, from small restaurants, ad & media agencies, printers and publishers, and custom API solutions testify to the scalability, the feature rich tools, and the reselling ability of the GossRSVP System offering. “They provide a wonderful platform, great customer service, and excellent pricing”, said Kathryn Solie, of Solie Mobile Marketing.

GossRSVP would like to invite you to learn how your business can benefit as a user and / or a reseller of Media to Mobile solutions by attending an upcoming Webinar or by attending Print09.

Prior to the Print 09, you are invited to join a webinar titled, Engaging the Customer: Integrating Mobile Marketing into Print, to be held on Tuesday, August 25 at 11:00 am.  For details and to join the webinar click on the following link: 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/921437410   Space is limited,  so reserve your seat now.

Print09 will be packed with many Goss & GossRSVP mini theaters to show & tell the latest Goss Print Innovations and GossRSVP Media to Mobile technologies. Various GossRSVP customers will have scheduled Media to Mobile Presentations at our larger theater. See the Print09 show daily for presentation topics and times, or opt-in to our show alerts, demo times and show specials now by texting gossrsvp to 64842. Hope to see you at Print09!

For a detailed GossRSVP brochure sent to your e-mail, simply click here:   http://www.gossrsvp.com/u.asp?id=rsvpbro  Or text rsvpbro to 64842 to supply your e-mail via your web enabled phone.

Roger R. Belanger
Director, GossRSVP

To assist print producers in leveraging mobile technology, GossRSVP now offers Media to Mobile and Print to Mobile Creative Services, Custom API Integration to existing business applications, White Labeled solutions, Enterprise Accounts, and Custom Short Code Integration of our system features under your brand.

Print advertisers and publishers must evolve and apply some level of electronic content distribution to mobile devices just to stay competitive & relevant in today’s market. But equally as important, they need to understand how their printed products can remain relevant to today’s digital consumer. Internet to mobile content distribution is one piece while the other is engaging consumers with their advertisers printed ads and products.

GossRSVP is providing Media to Mobile Solutions & tools to make printed products engaging, and ultimately a social network within itself. Integrating such tools upfront in creative & publishing software will drive the idea of consumer engagement as a forethought, as apposed to an afterthought. Without engagement, there is no data, no way to learn about your reader & few opportunities to enhance your product’s relevance.

For a detailed e-mail brochure on these new features, simply click here: http://www.gossrsvp.com/u.asp?id=rsvpbro  or text the word, gossrsvp to 64842 to access via your web enabled phone.

How Can I Get Candid Feedback from my Readers?

With GossRSVP “Media to Mobile Solutions”. Interact with your readers like never before with “2-Way Messaging”, unique “Send a 2-Way Alert” & “Phurls”.

Collect feedback or information from your audience. Build a phone number list, e-mail & home mail list for future promotions. The data collected will be posted in your account for viewing and exporting.

With the GossRSVP “Media to Mobile Solutions”, any print media can now also be a social network for publishers and advertisers to engage their readers for a much richer two-way communication than other social networking providers.

2-Way Messaging: (Request Feedback via sms & http)

Now any previously created or newly created code with GossRSVP allows feedback!  Get readers engaged and get immediate feedback on any printed piece using any of your codes. There is nothing extra to do. Advertisers can now allow consumers to give feedback on any ad, feature, editorial, etc.

Key benefits, a great way to acquire feedback, do marketing research and get the reader involved all at the same time!  Any print media can now have value beyond its stated offer or use.

Send a 2-Way Alert:  (constant mobile contact via sms & http)   

Send out messages to subscribers (text alert opt-in list) in your database and allow them to reply saying whatever they want! Subscribers will have one hour to respond to the message and can reply with messages up to 160 characters in length.

Key benefits, Reply messages can be sponsored by a third party as a great way to earn additional revenue. From an editorial standpoint, an editor can request last minute feedback on any topic and include it in the last press run. Etc.

Phurls: (phone urls via http)

A new method for collecting consumer information is with print to mobile landing pages. When a consumer acts on a text message offer, they will receive “the offer” and a web link to a landing page. This web link is known as a “Phurl” (a phone Url). It is used to collect consumer information in exchange for an incentive. The web link can be accessed directly from the phone if web enabled, or it can be accessed via a computer web browser

.

Key benefits, Allows advertisers to easily collect consumer marketing information in exchange for an offer or incentive. The landing page can be customized with your logo, and messaging. Add an additional Url to re-direct the consumer to your site or a 3^rd party site. You could also add the http address to one of your picture or video links or white papers as a thank you for filling out your form. Etc.

For a detailed brochure on these new features & more, simply click here: http://www.gossrsvp.com/u.asp?id=rsvpbro  and fill out the GossRSVP landing page via your pc. Brochure will be sent to the supplied e-mail address. Or text the word, gossrsvp to 64842 to access via your web enabled phone.

Additional info at:

sales.rsvp@gossinternational.com or call 1-603-743-5505

Roger R. Belanger

Director, GossRSVP

Traditionally, at the end of a print advertising campaign, savvy marketers turn to post advertisement analytics to gauge the results of their particular promotions. There are various tools available to get this information but none of them provide information until the promotion is over.

In today’s age of digital connectivity, finding out what did or didn’t work, after a promotion has ended just isn’t good enough.

As I indicated in last month’s blog, more than five trillion pages printed in North America* each year provide one-way communication when many of them could provide a much richer two-way communication experience including real time results. Instead of investing money in just post promotion analytics, why not invest a small portion of that money up-front and make your print interactive?

The GossRSVP system has many interactive features to engage consumers with your printed products. Utilizing these interactive features provide two-way communication and real time metrics. And now with the new GossRSVP Phurls (phone Urls & mobile landing pages) release, additional consumer metrics from print can be captured. Contact us to learn more about this new feature.

Don’t wait until your next print promotion is over to find out if it was effective. Integrate interactive features and gather real time metrics that you can use today.

Roger R. Belanger
Director, GossRSVP