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Grapevine Communications Bridges Print And Digital Worlds With TAG Technology.

Grapevine Communications, Sarasota’s leading full-service advertising, marketing and PR agency, recently expanded their mobile marketing product offerings with the addition of customized TAG technology services.

TAG is a free bar code application available from Microsoft™ that bridges the gap between print and digital worlds by allowing information to be shared instantly through a mobile device such as a smartphone. The Microsoft app may be downloaded at http://gettag.mobi. By downloading the app, a TAG is scanned by the consumer and the bar code springs into action, automatically directing the browser to product or company information, entertainment, or a choice of unique interactive experiences, including promotions. That also makes it green, as TAG represents a great way to eliminate paper. Instead of printing, the information is received electronically.

Angela Massaro-Fain, President and Partner of Grapevine Communications, commented on the local Microsoft partnership, “TAG technology is exciting and, since it is so new, consumer education will be key to its success. We expect TAG will change the face of marketing as we know it today. Grapevine is fortunate to be located in Lakewood Ranch, selected by Microsoft as a nationwide pilot community for rolling out TAG technology. The plan is for TAG to eventually become incorporated in all advertising and signage throughout the Ranch.”

Massaro-Fain continues, “We are involved at the ground level of TAG-ing most of Sarasota. And Grapevine is already helping area businesses discover how they, too, can incorporate TAG into an existing marketing strategy. There really is no down side to this; for very little up-front cost, a business is able to deliver their message to a much wider audience who are asking for and receptive to receiving information instantly.” 

Business owners can place their TAG on advertisements, posters, direct mail, packaging, vehicle wraps, storefront signage, website, billboards, clothing – the applications are almost limitless. Consumers connect with any TAG’d business 24/7/365, even when the business is not open. They can go behind the scenes and quickly download coupons or rebates, scan a restaurant’s TAG to receive the menu or the daily specials, get recipes while at the grocery store or sign up for memberships. Not-for-profit organizations can benefit from this technology, too – as an example, a TAG included on direct mailings or in a newsletter may be set up so that recipients are automatically sent to a unique donor website.

Through TAG, consumers may:

• Instantly connect to a web site
• Receive a customized text message
• Auto-dial a phone number
• Save contact info and profile (vCard)
• Link to a :30 or :60 second video
• Connect to a virtual tour
• Download a promotion or coupon
• Access an information form

Although each TAG looks graphically similar, they are customizable. John Fain, Co-Owner of Grapevine Communications, commented, “Grapevine can help a business add their own logo to TAG, creating a distinctive look and easily extending their brand into the virtual world. Combine the phenomenal growth of mobile phones world-wide with the desire for highly customized user experiences, and we see TAG as the way of the future. We hear over and over that consumers are seeking more efficient ways to obtain their desired information, at even faster speeds. TAG really does put information at the consumer’s fingertips in an instant.”
 
For more information on Grapevine’s TAG services, please visit www.grapeinc.com and click on the TAG symbol on the home page.

Photo: Grapevine Communications Custom TAG