A new product based on Fishers, Spokenote, works on the simplicity of stick, smile, share. It was launched on June 27 by John Wechsler, founder of Launch Fishers.
“It’s like a virtual post-it note,” Wechsler said. “With the Spokenote sticker, you can add video to almost anything.”
The product is printed with a QR code. The sender scans the code, records or uploads a video and pastes it wherever they want to share their message. On the receiving end, the person simply needs to point their smartphone at the sticker and the sender’s video starts playing immediately.
Spokenote stickers are distributed in Spark!Fishers. (Photo courtesy of Mike Harmon)
Wechsler and his team have come up with more than 150 ways to use the product, including how-to videos, personalizing gifts, improving rental properties and helping patients remember home care instructions after hospital discharge. It can also be used to send an encouraging message to loved ones – which was the inspiration behind its creation.
A few years ago, Wechsler spoke with a friend who said he wished he could send a video to a family member in the military stationed overseas. The idea inspired Wechsler to create a prototype that was widely accepted by friends and family.
Wechsler said the technology behind Spokenote is more personal than text or email.
“It’s a new way of communicating,” Wechsler said. “And the power of video and the spoken word is undeniable. Sometimes text messages can’t emphasize the same way a voice message can. You can’t distinguish tone or inflection in a text, and that can sometimes lead to the text being misunderstood.”
Real estate agent Allen Williams is already a fan of Spokenote. He said he uses the product when showing homes to highlight certain areas of the house. He also uses it to connect with clients who have bought homes from him. Use a sticker in the cards to personalize the message.
“What I love about Voice Memos is that when someone starts playback, there’s only one way to make that video that they’re going to see and you can really get that message across in a very honest way,” Williams said. “It’s really not up for interpretation.”
Williams said if he sees a sign in the yard of a former client celebrating a birthday or anniversary, he walks by with a $5 gift card with a Spokenote sticker inside.
“It’s a great way to say, ‘I hope you have a fantastic birthday, Timmy, here’s a $5 gift card to Culvers. Have your parents take you and give me ice cream,’ Williams said.
Williams said QR codes have become more popular since the start of the COVD-19 pandemic. As a result, Spokenote is something people of all ages can see and immediately know what to do, he said.
“It’s simple,” Williams said. “Anyone can do it, and so it’s very well known that when you take that picture and hit that scan, you know you’re going to get something in return.”
For more, visit spokenote.com or find the product on Amazon.
