First, let’s define what kind of kiosks we’re talking about here. We’re not talking about the kind that are staffed by someone trying to hand you a free sample at the mall. What we are talking about are self-service kiosks – the kind that help you do something useful all by yourself.
Self-service kiosks have obvious benefits to consumers: they can find product information, place an order, pay their bill, etc. But what are the direct benefits for your business? First, no matter what type of business or industry you’re in, kiosks can help build your brand. And, they can help save you money. Those two important benefits are a given – even before a customer approaches your kiosk.
The good news about kiosks is that they can be customized to meet just about any need that you have as it relates to better serving your customers. Kiosks allow many companies to eliminate employee payroll by automating certain functions and digitizing certain information. At the very least, kiosks can serve to complement current employees by cataloging inventory, for instance, or providing in-depth information about your product lines or services.
Kiosks allow you to present information and graphics exactly as you like. You could walk potential customers through a demo, or guide them through a certain series of steps to obtain a desired outcome – capturing valuable personal and contact information along the way.
From a marketing and promotional standpoint, kiosks provide a perfect outlet for branding and advertising. First off, the exteriors of the kiosks themselves can be designed to display a specific corporate image, to contain logos, taglines, etc. Also, kiosks are often delivered with dual screens – one for the user and one for additional branding/advertising.
Draw the attention of potential customers by streaming a variety of messages, or visual images. Include corporate partners that can take advantage of the kiosk’s ad space, or generate additional revenue by incorporating advertisements from other companies. The possibilities for messaging are endless: feature a new product or hold a contest or a giveaway, for instance.
Here are a few examples of how kiosks might be implemented by a wide array of businesses:
Restaurant/Hospitality Kiosks
– Take customer orders
– Highlight specials
– Track customer activity and implement reward programs/coupons, etc.
Car Dealership Kiosks
– Provide detailed information about inventory
– Include a “Build Your Own Car” tool
– Obtain customer contact information
Education Kiosks for Colleges or Universities
– Class registration
– Campus directory and way-finding
– Advertise campus restaurants, clubs, activities, etc.
This is a guest post by Brian Bujdos is a professional writer for Phoenix Kiosk, Inc. Contact us if you want to guest post on this blog.
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