We all have screensavers set on our PCs. Whether it’s a standard one which comes with Microsoft Windows, or one we have found online and installed ourselves.

However, screensavers for marketing are surprisingly underused. There are many different applications where a custom designed screensaver can be effective at getting your message across, whatever it may be.

Uses

There are numerous occasions where a screensaver can be effective;

• Meetings
  There are many occasions where you would take a laptop to a client or potential client’s office. Perhaps you will be presenting your new product, pitching for new business, reporting progress etc. Having a custom branded screensaver running as a backdrop to your pitch, or activating after a period of inactivity is a great way to reinforce your brand, marketing message and never fails to look impressive and professional.
• Exhibitions
  If you have a stand at an exhibition, then your screensaver can act as a sales tool. It will attract people and display your key messages. It can even be given away on a CDROM so the visitor can run it at home.
• Uniform Corporate Appearance
  If you have an office where the general public often visit, then a custom screensaver running on all PCs will give a uniform appearance and a professional look.
• Corporate messages
  A screensaver can be used for training purposes in-house and to reinforce standard procedures in and around the office.
• Promotional/viral
  Offer a screensaver as a free download from your website, or email it to your subscribers. If it contains something useful then users will install it and your messages will be beamed right onto their PCs. A screensaver is very simple to install, with a simple double-click.

Ideas for content

• Company logo animated in 3D to reinforce brand
• List of services
• Description of products/product walk-throughs
• Contact details
• Handy hints and tips relevant to your target audience
• Galleries/screenshots

For whom could a screensaver be useful?

• Sales staff
• Product demonstrators
• Exhibitors
• Seminar/conference speakers
• Public offices such as recruitment companies, estate agents, accountants, solicitors
• IT support companies - supply your screensaver pre-installed on networks

There are many more applications and examples where a screensaver can work very well indeed. There is also now the technology available to allow screensavers to dynamically update themselves if an Internet connection is present, allowing even more possibilities for displaying live news and updates with you as the client in complete control of the content displayed. This slightly more technical side to screensaver design will be covered in a future article.