Utilizing a custom USB flash drive for your marketing is one of the most engaging ways to convey any communications project. Custom USB flash drives are fundamentally different than a traditional CD or DVD. They have a re-usable element, are considered high value items to the user, and have a personal and professional application for data storage. Part marketing item, and part effective office tool, thumb drives are increasingly considered the choice when looking to make an impression when delivering media. We wanted to dedicate a post to something that many of our customers are interested in doing when loading data on the drives. The USB autorun.

Creating an auto run on your custom USB drive is relatively simple, however, it must be done properly, and there are things to take into consideration on the user’s end when doing it. Auto runs do not work on Apple computers. Anything MAC will not accept an auto run file in the root directory of the USB’s folder. Keep this in mind. Secondly, for Windows users, you need to be using Windows XP with Service Pack 2, or a more recent version of the OS such as Vista. Windows 7 has significantly reduced autoplay and autorun features off of USB flash drives for security reasons. They are still enabled for all optical media pieces like CDs and DVDs.  Provided either you or your users are using either of these operating systems, the Autorun/Autoplay feature needs to be enabled on your operating system in order for the USB auto run to work.When creating the master drive or file folder that you’d be duplicating from, you’ll need to do the following.

Understanding the .INF file. What is it?

An INF file (or Setup Information file) is a plain text file used by Microsoft Windows for installation of software and drivers. You can create your own .inf file to dictate what a peripheral should be doing upon mounting into the computer. You can create simple text file using Notepad on a Windows machine. Open notepad, and type:

[autorun]
open=
action=
icon=
label=

The open= option specifies the program that should autorun – typically whatever ends in a .exe on the drive’s root directory. This is the executable. Keep in mind, your content must include an executable file for this to work properly. Also, don’t specify any paths. USB drives will show up differently in various machines – as either drive G, or F, or even E. Not specifying the drive path will ensure the drive auto playing properly.

The action= designation describes the action that will be performed. In this case, we’ve instructed to start the application.

The icon= designation tells the drive to use an icon present on the drive. The icon must be in the .ico format. This is entirely optional and is really more of an aesthetic detail.

The label= designation enables you to simply title the drive.

When everything is said and done, it will look like this…

[autorun]
open=autorun.exe
icon=Sample (a .ico image has to be present on the drive to be used as an icon).
action=Start My Application
label= Sample Title (You can name your label here and call it whatever you want).

Save the .inf file and places on your root directory. We recommend also including the .exe on your root directory as well, as indicated in the screen cap we’ve included in the blog post. Questions? Comments? Share with us. Contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca or Request A Quote.

We had the opportunity to work with Environment Canada recently on a customized USB flash drive project that included a custom designed and fabricated mold for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Doha, Qatar. We were initially approached about the production of a standard drive order, but after consulting with the team at EC, we pitched the idea of utilizing a customized mold of a polar bear to communicate the content loaded onto the drives more effectively.

The creation of a custom mold typically has a few steps. We ask that the client submits a series of reference images for us to draw from thematically. In this case, Environment Canada wanted to incorporate a clearly visible outline of a polar bear – something akin to the beautiful Inuit style art that graces some of Canada’s national museums, but also something that was clearly identifiable and not abstract. We settled on 5 different reference images that we researched. The 5 qualified as images that we like to call “dimension-able designs” – meaning, that they fall within the parameters of  being able to incorporate into a CAD program and create a mold that would fit universally into all USB ports. This is a key step. Creating a mold that is too wide can hinder the use of a even a single user, considering that most computers have at least 2-3 USB ports that are in almost all cases virtually on top of each other. Secondly, the client wanted to utilize a material that was comparable to the look and feel of an iPod – a cool white plastic.

After presenting the 5 CAD designs, the client chose the subtle outline shown here. We fabricated and completed production in 7 days, and then loaded over 1.6 GB (a combination of multilingual videos and documentation) of content in 48 hours on 1500 drives for delivery to the CITES conference in less than 2 weeks from the beginning of production.

Considering a custom drive for your organization, business, or upcoming event? Contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca or Request A Quote , comment on this post,  or let us know what you had in mind with a reference image that you’re considering.

If you’ve Googled “Customized Printed USB Flash Drives “, “Custom USB Drives Canada”, or Custom Printed Flash Drives”, then you’re in the right spot. Standard Media Services is one of the leading USB flash drive sources in North America, and we take great pride in assisting our customers with making informed decisions about the variety of different models, sizes, and aesthetic items to take into consideration when they are considering using custom printed usb flash drives. Request A Quote, browse through our Custom USB Flash Drive catalogue, or contact us directly at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

Q: Why should I use a custom USB flash drive for marketing? They are typically more expensive than something like a traditional CD-ROM or printed collateral, right?

Yes, but…

You can’t categorize a custom USB flash drive and a typical piece of optical media as comparable items. They might both be designed to deliver content or data, but they are very different things. We wanted to clarify on this, so that if you’re considering using a custom USB flash drive for your marketing…especially if you’ve historically used anything other than one, and you’re contemplating them…you really understand these nifty little pieces for what they are.

Custom USB flash drives are not just decorated computer peripherals with your company logo on them. These are marketing pieces that effectively combine promotional use, content delivery, long term practical usefulness, and brand impression return.  You might think there’s a lot of promotional products that can have your name stamped on them, but, does a mini flash light or zippo lighter have the same day to day personal and professional benefit of a flash drive? No. More than ever before, people are consuming and creating content with computers (music, movies, images) in an electronic format. Flash memory is regularly used for the storage, quick transfer and access, and mobility of this digital content. When you give someone something that has a regular personal and/or professional application, they use it. When they use, it is visible. The number of single customer impressions that a flash drive with a logo will receive is up to 40 times more than a conventional printed piece of advertising (flyer, brochure, or even business card), or promotional product, and they typically tend to stay in use with recipients for an average of about 18 months.

As for the delivery of content or data – custom flash memory does a better job with that as well. We conducted a survey of 75 customers in November 0f last year, specifically seeking clients who had previously utilized a CD-Rom for the provision of data to their respective intended audiences (marketing, internal documentation, video content). The unanimous response was that custom flash drives created significantly better rates of response and engagement, as well as notable increases in website traffic for those who either worked a physical printing of their URL onto the exterior of the drives or into the content itself.

Questions? Contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca or leave a comment and tell us on how custom USB flash drives have benefited your marketing.

If you’ve Googled “Custom Printed USB Flash Drives Canada”, “Custom USB Drives Canada”, or Custom Printed Flash Drives”, we’re glad that you found us. Standard Media Services is one of the leading USB flash drive sources in North America, and we take great pride in assisting our customers with making informed decisions about the variety of different models, sizes, and aesthetic items to take into consideration when they are considering using custom printed usb flash drives. Request A Quote, browse through our Custom USB Flash Drive catalogue, or contact us directly at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

We recently did a run of custom printed USB flash drives for Navantis Canada. They selected our Vista model, which has a premium brushed aluminum finish to the body’s drive exterior. The client considered a traditional pad printed logo or an engraving, which is a decorative feature that we include on our metallic cased models. When considering how to decorate your drives, there are a few things to think about, and which we take the time to walk clients through and even proof in both ways to review the decorative effect.

Engraving is a nice way to introduce a premium aesthetic to the drive, however, it can be limited in its lack of ability to showcase color. You are relying on the depth of the engraving to indicate contrast, and you can only do this on a metallic model. if your logo is elaborate and detailed, includes sub text or a tagline, or is generally on the smaller side, then an engraving is probably not the best way to go. A conventional pad print in these cases is ideal. We also recommend engraving drives that are full bodied metallic, like our Miniracer, or a even The Twist, (metallic casing takes up the entire swing casing of the drive) as they have a tendency to look nicer when not framed by an element of plastic. The aesthetic quality of the drives is something that is important, and that we don’t take lightly. We’re at your disposal with any question you might have, and can proof you a variety of different ways and work with you to achieve the desired look and feel. Need more information? Contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca or Request A Quote to get a proof going.

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Mark Motors of Ottawa, one of Canada’s leading Audi and Porsche group of dealerships, recently contracted Standard Media for a run of custom USB flash drives. They opted for a custom shape in the impression of Audi’s distinguished 4 rings with the dealership’s information on the back. They were looking for something distinctive and useful to leave with potential buyers and with new owners that created a sense of exclusivity. The drives were done as 2 GB models, and were custom molded with a standard single color white pad print on the back with the dealership’s two national capital region locations. With every purchase, and with every prospective buyer, the dealerships wanted to provide a highly memorable way of keeping the Audi brand on the consumer’s mind with a compelling and premium aesthetic that was reflective of the product they deal in.

We had the opportunity to work with Miv Fournier of Miv Photography, professional photographer extraordinare. Miv’s commercial work is well known around the National Capital Region and includes the National Art Gallery of Canada, The Museum of Science and Technology, The Art Bank of Canada, and Ottawa City Magazine. His wedding portfolio is strife with celebrities and professional athletes such as Ottawa Senator Jason Spezza.

Miv decided to utilize a custom USB flash drive to provide proofs for clients and for commercial promotional purposes, and wanted something that looked refined and elegant. We suggested our Mini Racer model with engraving to give it a premium touch. “The fact that a USB flash drive can be reused was a major deciding factor for me”, says Miv, “I wanted to give my clients something that would emphasize the studio’s brand and that they could find useful in a personal capacity”.

Check out Miv Photography online or contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

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If you’ve Googled “Custom USB Thumbdrives U.S.A.”, “Customized USB Flash Drives with Logos Canada”, or “Printed USB Flash Drives Canada”, then you’ve come to the right place. Standard Media Services is one of the leading USB flash drive sources in North America, and we take great pride in assisting our customers with making informed decisions about the variety of different models, sizes, and aesthetic items to take into consideration when they are considering using custom usb flash drives. Request A Quote, or contact us directly at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

We had the opportunity to recently pair up with Summers Direct Event Planners for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) conference being held in Banff, Alberta. The event is called Ranges To The Ridge and is being held at Banff Park Lodge Resort & Hotel in Banff, Alberta. The IABC in an internationally recognized body of communications professionals and  is committed to shedding light on, creating dialogue and promoting best practices amongst professionals within the practical realities of today’s communications landscape in the private and public sector.

We were one of the sponsors of the event, and provided the custom USB flash drives that will be distributed to the guests. Utilizing custom USB flash drives is one of the most effective ways to distribute literature for a conference or event in today’s environmentally conscious and digital age. Ranges To The Ridge was of course a fitting  event. You can read the conference sheet here.

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Customized USB Flash Drives with Logos Canada

If you’ve Googled “Custom USB Thumbdrives Canada”, “Customized USB Flash Drives with Logos Canada”, or “Printed USB Flash Drives Canada”, then you’ve come to the right place. Standard Media Services is one of the leading USB flash drive sources in North America, and we take great pride in assisting our customers with making informed decisions about the variety of different models, sizes, and aesthetic items to take into consideration when they are considering using custom usb flash drives. Request A Quote, or contact us directly at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

Common misconceptions about custom USB flash drives – Volume 1:

All Custom USB Flash Drives are the same quality. Wrong.

This is a myth, and a dangerous one at that. Not all Custom USB Flash Drives are the same quality, and there are a variety of different things a consumer needs to know before purchasing them. These are electronic components, and as such, and like any other product, their quality is determined by the care and quality assurance invested into manufacturing, the quality of the components, and the process. There are quality grades of memory that an average consumer can usually determine. We affectionately like to refer to it as the A-B-C-and D grade of flash memory. This applies to whether you are purchasing 500 custom USB flash drives with your company or organization’s logo or brand printed onto them, or whether you are purchasing a thumbdrive off a store shelf at a retailer or big box store.

Quality memory will have a lifetime warranty – commonly about 5-10 years. Often times, you’ll also see the RoHS compliance logo associated with  products of a higher grade – meaning that they don’t use harmful elements to the environment like hexavalent chromium, lead, cadmium, or mercury. Quality memory will have a formatting guarantee – meaning that your expectation that your custom USB drive order arrives ready to work right out of the box will be met. They don’t need any special tinkering, and it’s literally a situation where you can plug one in and immediately begin saving, transporting, or relaying files. Standard Media Services only deals in A grade RoHS compliant custom USB flash drives, and we offer a lifetime warranty with a drive integrity check prior to shipping your order.  We include a formatting guarantee with every piece that we deliver to a client. In short, your order will arrive in perfect working order and ready to use, looking exactly like the proof we electronically provide to you for approval. When you’re putting your company or organization’s brand on a promotionally effective piece like this, these are things that are good to note in an effort to avoid faulty units and users contacting you looking for a replacement on a dud. As the customer, you are relying on a vendor who will enable you to avoid these kinds of situations.

The lower the grade of memory, the less of these indications of quality you may see. You will see drives with a 1 year warranty, and brand names that you may not have heard of.  The flash memory market is ripe with counterfeit chips, poorly made components, or weak process that follows or leads up to manufacturing . Lower grade memory will have a variety of issues that can occur, from the corrupting of files, to an inability to be recognized by the computer they’re being plugged into. All of these things need to be taken into consideration when considering drives as a medium.

Questions? Contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

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If you’ve Googled “Custom USB Thumbdrives Canada”, “USB Flash Drive with Logo Canada”, or “Printed USB Flash Drives Canada”, then you’ve come to the right place. Standard Media Services is one of the leading USB flash drive sources in North America, and we take great pride in assisting our customers with making informed decisions about the variety of different models, sizes, and aesthetic items to take into consideration when they are considering using custom usb flash drives. Request A Quote, or contact us directly at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

There are a variety of reasons to consider a custom USB flash drive as a delivery medium for your content and data. USB flash drives were commonly referred to as “promotional items” up until just a few years ago, and there was an element of “gimmick” associated with them, but the reality is that these pieces provide a value to the user that is undeniable, and the ROI on using them is easy to appreciate, especially when doing a comparison to what has been the most commonly used method of delivery for rich content and data – optical media (CD & DVD).

Most marketing and communications professionals can appreciate the number of impressions something like a billboard, a printed piece of collateral, or brochure might receive, and these kinds of results are always taken into consideration before an investment is made. Custom USB flash drives receive on average between 250-2,500 impressions per year, per piece. This is a high rate of visibility for any type of personalized marketing piece. Traditional optical media definitely doesn’t receive that kind of exposure. Custom USB flash drives also have a tendency to stay around with a user for a number of years, whether on a keychain, or within an office environment. The fact that they have a personal application (especially if the drive has anywhere from 1-4 GBs worth of memory enhances their usefulness greatly, and in turn, increases the likelihood of impressions and expsoure.

Another nifty trend that we’re turning our customers onto is custom flash development on a USB flash drive. Thumbdrives can drive traffic to your website in an innovative and intuitive way. Imagine a document presentation, powerpoint slide delivery, or series of videos designed inside of an autorunning animated menu, that dynamically delivers the content meant for the user, and enables a direct link throughout the course of the presentation? We’ve included a screen capture of a recent project for Public Safety Canada that does exactly this.

Bottom line, utilizing a custom USB flash drive as the selected method for delivering your content provides your user/audience a value added piece that increases the visibility of your brand, increases the likelihood of content access, emphasizes your brand in an innovative and current way,  and most importantly, strategically streamlines marketing efforts and brings everything full circle.

Questions? We encourage you to contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca or Request A Quote!

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If you’ve Googled “Custom USB Flash Drives Canada”, “USB Flash Drive with Logo Canada”, or “Printed USB Flash Drives”, then you’ve come to the right place. Standard Media Services is one of the leading USB flash drive sources in North America, and we take great pride in assisting our customers with making informed decisions about the variety of different models, sizes, and aesthetic items to take into consideration when they are considering using custom usb flash drives for the delivery of content that may have been previously delivered on CD, DVD, or the web. Request A Quote, or contact us directly at info AT standardmedia DOT ca.

We’ve decided to dedicate a post to model and style considerations for custom USB flash drives.

How do you know which drive style is best suited to you?

A valid question. Custom USB flash drives really break down into two main categories, and then multiple types of styles within those categories. These two categories are “capless drives” and “capped drives”. A capless drive, like our “Twist” drive essentially is a single bodied unit, with a port cap that is actually part of the main body, and does not detach. In short, capless means that there is no seperating piece of the drive, and that it is all a single body, including the port cover. Retractable drives also fall under this category. A capped drive is a model like our “Vista“, which has a component of the shell – usually the port cap – that detaches from the rest of the body. There are benefits and disadvantages to both. A capped drive usually fully encloses and protects the port from things like dust or debris, however, the cap can be lost easily since it’s a secondary piece. A capless drive is usually less protective of the port, but the whole drive is a single piece.

After that, an important thing to consider is print area. Some drives, usually capless ones, will have less surface area to print on as they are compact and single bodied shells. Capped drives, like our S65 (Pill Drive) usually have more room, or can have two seperate print areas to incorporate your logo. We’ve never met a customer who didn’t want their logo to be bigger if possible, and this is where the print area may come into play.

Beyond that, it really comes down to aesthetics, and what you like.

Other options to consider when ordering or considering custom usb flash drives is the decorative method. You can have your drives pad printed or silk screened, or you can consider an etching if your drive is metallic, allowing some depth and kind of a cool look.

Questions? Contact us at info AT standardmedia DOT ca, and ask! That’s what we’re here for. We can help you choose the right kind of drive and bring your idea to fruition.

Check out our Flash Drive Catalogue Page and Request A Quote!

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