Friday Feature: Mingle360 Is The New Business Card
As I sit here typing away at my computer, I can see about 5 different piles of business cards I have collected over the last few months at a number of conferences I have attended. I always say to myself I will get around to entering them into my contacts or database or follow up with that note on the back, but for some reason that task always seems to get to the bottom of the "to do" list and I don’t get around to doing it until much later. Sometimes the contact information itself has even expired it has been so long. Then I think of all the trees that have died to make my little piles and it makes it even worse yet. I think I have found the answer to that problem with the folks at Mingle360. I see big things on the horizon for this group.
I had a chance to sit down and talk with co-founder and man in charge of sales and marketing, Bradley Blinn (pictured left). Bradley is one of three founders of the startup that now has its home in Fairfax, Virginia outside of Washington DC. I was impressed with the technology and the simplicity of the use of their Mingle Stick. Anytime someone takes the complex and makes it simple I take notice. This technology is not only simple (even I can use it), it is practical and has great value for attendees of conventions, conferences, trade shows and events. It is not just these types of things it can be used for either, as they are doing fun projects like get together’s and family events. Think also speed dating for a moment.
In our industry of conventions and trade shows, there are thousands of attendees that come to our events and trade shows and each of them have a business card and each of them are someone you might want to connect with and later contact if necessary. The Mingle360 folks with the Mingle Stick provide this very thing. Think of the number of times you reach out and shake a person’s hand at an event. In the amount of time you can do that, you can get their email address, their company name, their title, phone number and much more information all by reaching out to them with your Mingle Stick. Normally when you shake hands all you get is a name and a smile. This elevator pitch from the company sums it up nicely:
The Mingle360 solution combines a single-purpose device with a powerful software application. The MingleStick is an innovative USB device using wireless technology to create connections between people. The MingleManager application offers total identity management with its privacy features, granular security controls, and address book tools. Our contact management service helps solve common problems and enables people to better manage their daily lives. The combination of the patent pending MingleStick and MingleManager will revolutionize how people exchange and manage identity information.
I again look at the piles of business cards in my office and see nothing but time and money to enter into my own database all of the information contained on the cards. This company is changing the way we gather and exchange that information. I no longer have to do the work as it is done for me. Simple. Easy.
I am a big fan of the social networking that is involved with conventions and trade shows and this type of application makes it easy to put that information in your profile to be shared later with every single attendee you meet. You want your Facebook profile and Twitter page and all your other networking sites to be noticed? Enter it all into your profile info and allow others to join in. This tool does it all and can make life much easier putting at ease your mind when trying later to remember the face of the person associated with the business card. Yes, that is something they also offer, the ability to put photos in your profile to be exchanged. I can always remember a conversation and a face with a picture.
The group at Mingle360 can do onsite assistance with your every need. They can brand the Mingle Stick with your company logo, and offer advertising on their Mingle Manager space. This nearly guarantees that every attendee will remember your event if you use their technology, and is something that will help you manage your event, trade show or convention. Don’t forget if you are merely having a small affair with a couple hundred people at a business gathering or a large show with thousands, they can manage. I was also surprised at the affordability and how easy it is to set up.
They most recently did a show with the American Bus Association. Go over and see the video of the testimonials. More people think it is cool than just me! I like the comments about how it is great for those looking to be more green at their events and how attendees are saving money by using it instead of doing what I am doing. Now off to enter in all that data from those piles of business cards.
The company can be contacted for further information as well at:
Phone: 703-425-0402
Email: connect@mingle360.com
Tags: Mingle 360, Mingle Stcik, Conventions, Trade Shows, Meetings, Events, Social Networking, Business Cards, Lead Retrieval
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