| Car dealers have a new way to promote their | | | | entry in their cell phones. Retailers all know that |
| latest models while simultaneously distinguishing | | | | their customers will more than likely shop at |
| themselves in the ultra-competitive consumer | | | | many different locations before making a final |
| market - the cell phone. That's right, that | | | | decision, so it's very important that prospective |
| ubiquitous device that almost everyone owns, | | | | purchasers have the dealer's full contact details |
| already serves many functions besides just talk. | | | | handy when they are ready to buy. What better |
| Now, through some clever use of Bluetooth | | | | place to have that than in the buyer's own cell |
| technology, car dealers can automatically send | | | | phone. What's more, customers can easily pass |
| videos, coupons, and business cards directly to | | | | along this "e-card" via Bluetooth to their friends |
| the cell phones of customers as they walk into | | | | and family. |
| the showroom. | | | | Along with contact details, a video of a hot new |
| Dubbed "Bluetooth Marketing", the concept is | | | | car model could also be sent, or maybe details of |
| simple. A special Bluetooth server is set up in the | | | | a special financing offer. With a little imagination, |
| showroom, continuously scanning for the | | | | car dealers could really connect with their |
| presence of Bluetooth enabled mobile devices. | | | | customers in a fun and unique way. |
| When a customer steps into the showroom with | | | | Consumers appreciate the special offers they can |
| a Bluetooth enabled cell phone, the server can | | | | receive on their phones, and also the convenience |
| detect this and automatically send a prompt to | | | | of having contact details right on their phones |
| the user, asking if they would like to receive a | | | | instead of having to keep track of business cards. |
| message from the dealership. This message could | | | | And, people can always choose not to participate |
| be a video brochure, a special offer coupon, an | | | | in these campaigns by just answering No to the |
| electronic business card, or other multimedia files. | | | | prompts. |
| If the user responds with a "Yes", the file is | | | | Best of all, one of the biggest benefits of |
| transferred right to their phone. If the user | | | | Bluetooth Markeitng over other, more traditional |
| declines, the server remembers this and won't | | | | forms of promotions, is cost. Since all |
| ask the same user again in the future. | | | | transmissions occur over Bluetooth channels, |
| So, aside from the novelty factor, what's in it for | | | | there are never any fees associated with sending |
| the car dealer? Well, for one thing, it gives them a | | | | or receiving files. Once the initial equipment is |
| great opportunity to send customers their | | | | purchased, the campaigns are essentially free to |
| contact details, stored as a regular phone book | | | | run. |