September 27, 2007

I must admit that I had no idea what a Business Card Reader was before today. This is really handy for people who do a lot of networking at functions, exhibitions etc.

It’s a small scanner which you plug into your computer. You then feed all your business cards through and Outlook automatically creates contact information for each one including an image attachment of the business card.

This is cool because imagine if you are running an exhibition at a big trade show - you could be collecting hundreds of business cards. By slotting them through this you can with almost zero difficulty mail all the prospects further information about the products you are offering.

Scan2Contacts sells for $180 which puts it squarely into the realm of the serial networker.

It’s a nifty gadget without a doubt but they could seriously review their website design. It reminds me of Powerpoint designs that I used to make in junior high school. What’s the point of making a whizz-bang scanner thingamajig when your follow up presentation is sorely lacking.

I know that it’s geared at businessmen who tend to look past marketing pap and directly towards the benefits - and these guys have definitely done a good job at listing the benefits.

I wonder how it would go with business cards from a conference for creative types… IN the past few weeks I have seen pictures of business cards in the guise of clothing pegs, dog-tags and on pieces of fruit….

Australia’s two major winter sports are both having their Grand Finals this weekend.

One in involves a Melbourne team.

One doesn’t.

Guess which final the whole of Melbourne is talking about? That’s right, the one being played without a Melbourne team. Joy.

My tip:

AFL. The match will have some excitement but Port Adelaide will never truly challenge Geelong, who will win by 4-6 goals.

NRL. Melbourne Storm will avenge the pain of last year. They’ll be breathing all sorts of fire. They might have niggles in the back of their mind after playing so poorly against Brisbane to lose last time, but they will come good. Their hunger must be insatiable right now. After a rusty performance last week - much like Geelong’s - they’ll be back in touch and ready to beat some people up.

Right about now is the time that tens of thousands of young Australians are planning their trips to Gallipoli in Turkey to commemorate Anzac Day.

 It’s currently on my to-do list….

Holiday Hypermarket are organising flights to Turkey. Far more than a pilgrimage destination for young Aussie tourists, it’s a country that is growing in popularity for many reasons.

Turkey is, as far as I can tell, a lovely country. It’s peaceful (for now), the people are very friendly, the food is amazing and the prices are cheap. It has some beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean as well.

It has a unique mix of European and Middle Eastern influences which surely must make it such an exotic place to visit.

History buffs will love it as it was a major centre for the Eastern Roman Empire. The history of Byzantine is unparalleled.

Using websites such as Holiday Hypermarket is a great place to start your research.