The easier it is for your customers to locate their images online, the better your sales will be. CCS has developed and tested two unique systems to improve the way you display your images and make the process easier for your customers.

PhotoMatch Barcode Scanning and Time Stamping are the systems we have found successful. These two methods/systems will differentiate you from competitors by making the viewing and ordering process easier.

Time Stamping and PhotoMatch Barcode Scanning can both be used at, big events with hundreds or thousands of photos, events where people don’t know each other, private parties, Proms/Dances, Greek events and sporting events.

The PhotoMatch System provides an easy and reliable method for roving photographers to match customers to their photographs. Photomatch works with almost any digital camera by using a non-tethered bar code scanner to tag the images. It is a simple and easy process.

At the event, you:

• Take the photo,

• Scan a perforated card with a locator number- you can scan the same card multiple times and you can have multiple cards per each image.

• Collect an email from the subject on one half of the perforated card

• Give the other half to the customer for them to locate their picture when they get home

Once you are back in the office:
The emails you collected are entered into a spreadsheet exported from PhotoMatch that includes the unique locator codes and roll/frame data. The emails are then broadcast using CCS software programs. With the use of one of our editable templates, the email will contain a direct link to their images.

The PhotoMatch system consists of scanners, software and synch cords. The scanner costs $240.00 and includes a scanner/camera synchronization cables and the software. This synch cord allows you to synch any digital camera with a synch port or hot shoe adaptor to the software, thus eliminating the need to tether to a computer.

The second option CCS has established is Time Stamping and sorting. CCS has found the Dymo DateMark timestamp machine. It prints any combination of date, time and seven different messages: Stamper prints four or six digit date/time/message. It has a programmable security code that prevents tampering and ensures stamping accuracy. The timestamp operates on one 3 volt lithium battery (included) and four AA batteries (not included). This machine can be modified by the lab with a belt clip and card guide for ease in using.


This timestamp can stamp on a website card up to eight times per card. This allows you to shoot multiple images throughout the night of one person and they will only have to keep track of one or a few cards.

The time stamp machine should be used in conjunction with the Time Sorting option in QP2. Using this option, QP2 will sort and display your images from all rolls/folders by the time they were taken. When customers go to view their images, they can look at their website card to see exactly when their images were taken. They then can choose to sort the images by time and will easily find their images in order.

Both PhotoMatch and the timestamp/sorting feature are great ways to guide your customers to their images as quickly as possible! If you have any questions about these two gadgets, contact the Customer Development department at 1.800.336.4550.

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Using Facebook

Micha Mikailian, founder and CEO of eBoost Marketing in San Diego, California says, “With the rise of social media, the transparency of information is increasing and companies are not able to hide behind their branding experts any longer,the successful companies of the future are going to have to establish a sense of community with their customers, listen to their concerns, and get them involved in the company.”

This quote rings very true in today’s Greek and high school markets. You have to learn to speak the Facebook language of high school and college students to communicate with Generation Y. Facebook is the 6th most trafficked website in the world and the 2nd most trafficked social media site in the world. It has more than 80 million active users and is the No. 1 photo sharing application on the web. There are more than 14 million photos uploaded daily and more than 6 million active user groups on the site.

Facebook is “a social utility that connects you with the people around you” and more importantly is the best way to stay connected with the youth of America. They check their Facebook accounts on a daily basis usually multiple times a day. It’s so popular among students that they have transformed the word into a verb. Walk on any college or high school campus and you will hear Facebook mentioned all day long and will most likely hear someone say “I’ll Facebook you later!”  

Below is a sample of the Norman Party Pics Page set up to communicate with the campus organizations.

How to Facebook:

• It is easy to create an account, all you need is a username and an email address and you are quickly connected to millions of students. Once you have created the account for you and your company, start updating your page. Upload your logo as your picture and put all your contact information in the required fields of the page. As soon as the page is created, you can begin “facebooking” and adding “friends” to your account. Friends are your connections for personal accounts. You can view your friends profile, send them a message, and write on their wall for all their friends to see. The best thing to do is go through your contact lists and potential contacts and add all of them as your friends.
  

Facebook Messaging:

• Facebook allows you to message your contacts, friends and potential contacts whenever you want. They check Facebook before email messages therefore, this is the easiest way to get in touch with your student contacts.

Facebook as a Booking Tool:

• Facebook is a great tool in finding out upcoming events and advertising special promos. You can browse through your network’s upcoming events to see what’s going on in your area. Most fraternities, sororities and school organizations post events about upcoming philanthropies and large parties. Norman Party Pics® has picked up several campus activities just by seeing them on Facebook and contacting the organization.

• You can also create events (special promos for your company) and invite all your contacts to attend. This will help get your name out to your customers and hopefully will generate more business.

Facebook allows you communication tools that you have never had before! IF YOU AREN’T ON FACEBOOK YOU SHOULD BE!!! Contact the customer development department for more information on how to set up your own Facebook account!