Linkz was borne out of the increasing demand for the convenience enabled by mobile technology, as smartphone penetration levels in the UK exceed 53% and continue to climb. Paragon has recognised the power that the Linkz platform can bring through integrating mobile, digital, traditional technology and media, to create a more powerful marketing communications approach for brands to engage more effectively with customers and increase response rates. The Linkz app, free to download on both IOS and Android platforms, enables brands to offer an interactive multi-media experience including enhanced content, images, videos, payment portals, downloadable vouchers and social media links, bringing print collateral and artwork to life.
Linkz uses digital watermarking technology to embed links within print advertising, editorial, marketing collateral or packaging that creates a link to additional content when scanned by a smartphone using the free Linkz app. According to Linkz, a key part of their platform is the ability to create cost effective, mobile optimised sites offering end consumers access to enhanced content in an intuitive, easy to use format, encouraging consumers to engage and respond, resulting in higher conversion rates for brands.
Linkz also tracks comprehensive data on what, where, when and how often interactions take place, giving Paragon’s clients unique insights into how their consumers engage with advertising and other marketing collateral, providing measurable data on the success of a given print campaign.
Andrew Perry-Smith, Managing Director, Linkz IM, said: “Mobile is undoubtedly at the heart of 21st Century life. I am delighted that Paragon have seen the potential of integrating mobile interactivity with their other marketing services and we are looking forward to developing an exciting range of concepts and functionality to meet the needs of their clients and their clients’ customers. Consumers are already managing their lifestyles through a mobile device and not having a multi-level marketing engagement platform is no longer an option. Consumers are now somewhat, if not fully aware that something printed can and will have a digital dimension and they will not only be more receptive as a result but will also come to expect it.”
Tim Smith, Group Development Director, Paragon comments: “Print will never be the same again. We are aware that brands and in particular marketing agencies are looking for new and exciting ways to communicate with their customers and we feel that Interactive Print meets with this objective. Behind complex technology the concept is simple and provides three main benefits; a campaign can be extended to become bigger than the printed page; recipients can interact with live, real time data through a multi-media experience and for the first time brands can analyse and measure response, activation and even location.”
About Linkz
Linkz says: “Linkz IM Ltd was founded in 2012 to provide mobile interactive and augmented reality services. The business currently has offices in the UK and USA and is negotiating partnering agreements in New Zealand, Australia and India. Linkz works with printers, publishers and agencies to integrate mobile interactivity into their service offering to brand and advertising clients.”
