5 things you have to check before buying Bluetooth marketing hardware

Bluetooth Marketing Hardware

If you’re about to buy a Bluetooth marketing device, be aware not all of them are the same. Many startup companies will try to sell you a piece of software which will be a 1 month work of an average developer: the application which is simply finding mobile phones and sending files using 1 bluetooth dongle (7 connections).

So here is the list of 5 things you have to ask:

1. Bluetooth Device Detection Time.

How long does it take for a device to find Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone? If 60 seconds or more, customers will not wait.

2. Mobile phone/PDA Recognition.

Does it recognize different mobile phones? How large the database of devices is? This feature is crucial. It ensures you are able to send your customers pictures, music, games, applications readable by their mobile phones (or PDAs).

3. Remote control.

Are devices controllable via the Internet? What are the features of management panel? Does it provide you with all detailed statistics? Can you manage different hotspots and campaigns? What’s the price per month/year.

4. Number of concurrent Bluetooth connections.

How many customers may be reached at the same time? The minimum is 21-28. Some companies will offer 7 – this is pointless because it means they use 1 Bluetooth dongle both for searching and sending. Some devices support 35 or even 56 – it might be helpful in a very high traffic locations.

5. Customers and References?

Many companies claim to have a great Blueototh platform. Yet they do not provide any case studies, nor customers. It might be a good idea of checking that too.

Bluetooth Proximity Marketing: How It Works and Why It Works?

What Bluetooth marketing is

Bluetooth marketing is about sending people stuff to their mobile phones from a hotspot. People need to be in a range of 10-100 meters (standard range of Bluetooth Class 1 modules) and may receive files like images, mp3, 3gp videos, Java applications and games (.jar files).

What Bluetooth marketing is not

Bluetooth is not SMS. You do not send text messages – you send files, and what’s moreover people can accept or reject the transmission. So, surprisingly, it is not as annoying as SMS or spammy-alike emails which nobody seem to like.

How it works

When a person with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone gets close to the Bluetooth hotspot, it will send him a request for a permission for sending files (e.g. Do you want to connect with Porsche?) and once the permission is granted, the hotspot starts sending content previously configured by a marketer.

Professional Bluetooth transmitters are able to send files to more than 50 users at the same time. They can also recognize mobile phone type and a vendor to send mobile content specially matched to a specified handset.

When Bluetooth marketing does not work

In every Bluetooth marketing campaign people should be aware the campaign is running. Only 2% of people accept files from unknown source. Usually simple visual sign saying “turn on bluetooth” works and can boost reception rate to 20-40%.

What are the benefits of Bluetooth marketing for the marketers?

No cost per customer

Bluetooth communication is not controlled by telecom operators, transmission is completely free both for sender an a receiver. Since it is usually the marketing budget that limits possibilities, this type of marketing gives new powerful opportunities for marketers, as there are no cost per customer.

Measuring tools

Professional Bluetooth marketing platforms provide online tools for measuring content reception from multiple Bluetooth hotspot at the same time, allowing marketers to try different advertising strategies and to check results after a short period of time. The online management tools might be compared to internet ads (like Google AdWords), where marketers receive instant reports and can modify campaigns in every moment.

Permission-based

Since Bluetooth connections are anonymous and must be allowed by mobile phone users, there are no legal issues regarding the transmission. This makes Bluetooth marketing more universal, cheaper, easier to implement and seen by customers as less of a spam than SMS or email marketing.

New powerful channel

Bluetooth marketing is the first true marketing strategy that reaches mobile phones and uses their potential. Since marketers can offer sophisticated mobile applications like product brochures, cinema repertoires, event agendas, games, tools, mobile books – they have a new unexplored marketing channel with a very exciting options of providing their customers real value at no cost per person.

How not to spam and get a good reception?

To ensure the best reception, customers should be asked to turn on Bluetooth in their mobiles. Any visual signs like “Turn on Bluetooth!” will make them aware there are some free goods they can get (like discount coupons or mobile product brochures – much more convenient than printed ones) and will increase the reception. However uninterested customers should not be contacted to often and professional bluetooth marketing devices allow to configure the behavior of the hotspot which may be different in different situations.

More information

www.bluair.pl is a website of vendor & provider of Bluetooth marketing hardware devices and software tools currently used by marketers in 20+ countries.