RUGShare (explorug v3) : Sharing your designs on social media, in private messages or print media

With a RUGShare enabled exploRUG account, you can share links to your designs on any social media or through private messaging apps. When your clients view the shared link, they can view the design, customize it, preview it in different rooms or even their own rooms (if My Room is enabled as well) and place an order with you.

Tutorial for an older version of RUGShare can be found here.

1. Accessing RUGShare

Open a design you would like to share and click the share button on the top right corner of the design details panel (you might need to open it by clicking the expand arrow if it is closed).

Here you will be provided with options to privately Send a Message or Post to Social Media and also a link that allows you to Post on your own website or any social media that is not listed.

If you are interested in the QR code and how you could use it, you can read some of our ideas here.

2. Sending a message

This is the go-to option if you want to privately share your design to a select list of clients. Please note that you need to have the associated app installed on your device for the links to work.

Select any of the social app icons to see a preview of how the shared message would look like and then click the "Message" button at the bottom of the preview. Here is an example of how sharing on Viber works on a laptop. Other platforms are similar.

We recommend that you include your own follow up messages that are relevant to the client that you are sharing the design to.

Download links

Viber   
WhatsApp   
Skype   
Email (Should work with most common email apps)

2. Posting to Social Media

You can post links to your new customizable designs for a social media campaign or just a casual update. Select a social platform to preview and click the "Post" button below the preview. Here is an example showing how easy it is to share a design on Facebook.

We suggest posting a relevant message along with your post and relevant #hashtags if the platform allows it. Check our demo Facebook page for some inspiration.

3. Using the RUGShare link

This link can be used when you want to set a link on your webpage to take your clients to the design page. It can also be used to share the design on other platforms that are not listed. To use it, simply "Copy Link" from the bottom left section of the RUGShare window and paste or use as needed.

And here is a preview of where the example link takes the viewer (the panel contents and features might vary for your account).

As mentioned before, your clients can then customize the design, preview it in different rooms or even their own and place an order with you.

4. Using the QR Code

The QR code is a powerful tool that can replace or accompany the links in your magazine ads, leaflets, brochures or even cinematic TV presentations. It lets the user skip typing the link on their mobile devices and directly scan the code to go to the shared design or illustration, specially when it comes to print ads.

If your client is expected to be using a mobile device while viewing your ad campaigns, we think that a QR code would be easier to interact with than a written link that they need to copy or note down to interact. You can also take the viewer to your selected design in your selected shot.

Here are a few usage examples from the first issue of our iMagazine :

1. As an interactive magazine ad
2. In your showrooms, beside a display of your carpets
3. Printed on the back of your woven carpets
4. Shown on your showroom TVs

Scanning a QR code does however require an app to be readily available on your or your clients mobile devices. Here are a few recommendations for different platforms :

1.  Barcode Scanner for Android 
2.  QR Code reader for iOs 

If you would like help with RUGShare or have suggestions for future updates, please contact us via email at [e-mail].