| Increasingly customers are loading data onto branded | | | | that data loaded onto your USB memory sticks cannot |
| and promotional USB memory sticks. It’s a trend | | | | be removed/deleted. Providing the data is supplied and |
| that’s been developing for a couple of years now | | | | loaded by us during the manufacturing process then |
| as more and more people realise the real benefit if | | | | this is not a problem. |
| preloading data onto the sticks. | | | | During manufacture the memory on the USB Sticks will |
| The simple act of printing your logo or brand on a USB | | | | be “split” (partitioned) into two parts. Onto one |
| memory stick will create a fantastic promotional tool | | | | section the protected data is loaded leaving the other |
| that will well received by anyone its given to. It will help | | | | section blank and available to the user to store/delete |
| develop and promote your brand and because USB | | | | their own data. |
| memory sticks are used your brand will stay in the | | | | Pros: Your data/files are always there and available to |
| mind of the recipient. | | | | the user ensuring continuous and on-going exposure |
| But if you give-away Promotional USB sticks without | | | | and data retention. |
| preloading data onto them you might be missing a trick. | | | | Cons: Users cannot delete data from the protected |
| Lets face it the memory sticks are fundamentally | | | | area of the disk to free up extra space. You also |
| designed to store and carry data so you might as well | | | | have to have the data ready when placing the order |
| use some of the memory you are paying for you load | | | | because its only possible to protect the data and |
| up your catalogues, power point presentations, flash | | | | partition the memory stick during the manufacturing |
| presentation or a pop-up link to your company | | | | process. |
| website(s) | | | | Non-Erasable Autorun |
| Preloading data can be time consuming but if | | | | Autorun files do as they suggest – as soon as the |
| you’ve got your data ready when you place your | | | | USB memory stick is used it will launch a presentation |
| order we can get the data loaded for you during the | | | | or application. Typical examples would be a flash |
| manufacturing process. Even if your data is not ready | | | | presentation, a browser with a dynamic link to your |
| until closer to the delivery data we are still able to offer | | | | website or any other type of executable file that can |
| a competitive post-manufacture data loading service. | | | | be autorun in Windows. The autorun files cannot be |
| You just supply us the data and we’ll take care of | | | | deleted and as such they are not particularly popular |
| the rest. | | | | with the recipients because they do become annoying |
| There are several options to consider when it comes | | | | after a while. |
| to data loading: | | | | Pros: They’re a great way to get information about |
| Standard Preload – A standard pre-load just is | | | | your company, your products and your brand “in |
| where we copy your data/files onto your promotional | | | | the face” of the user. |
| USB drives. Users can access the content at will but | | | | Cons: Typically deemed as intrusive, a little annoying |
| they can also delete the files if they don’t want | | | | and as such retention value is impacted. They also |
| them. | | | | sometime won’t work on older PC’s with |
| Pros: The data is not intrusive meaning the memory | | | | Windows 98 or some networked PC’s. |
| stick is more likely to be used leading to a higher | | | | If you’re not sure whether preloading files would be |
| retention value and thus more exposure of your logo | | | | right for you or which type of preloading would be |
| brand. | | | | appropriate for your branded USB memory sticks then |
| Cons: The user can easily delete any preloaded files. | | | | get in touch with some of the experts (there are a |
| Non-Erasable content | | | | few out there) and get their help and support. |
| In some circumstance it might be appropriate to ensure | | | | |