Card Tricks

Those cute little American Greetings cards for kids just got a little more entertaining.

The cards will soon double as gifts, each including a code to unlock games at www.AGKidZone.com.

Each game will feature the same character and theme printed on the recipient's card. Madballs, Twisted Whiskers, Strawberry Shortcake and Sushi Pack are among some of the cartoon characters that will participate in the program beginning next year.

The freebie is expected to boost Web site traffic and give people “an extra payoff and offer something more compelling” than just the card itself, Paul Conley, vice president of digital media for American Greetings Properties, says.

“Consumers will be able to extend their interactive relationship with some of their favorite brands,” he says.

The promotion, the first of its kind for AG Properties, is designed to drive awareness of AGKidZone, the umbrella brand, under which the company's properties live. More than 3 million unique visitors have frequented its site since its launch in September 2007.

AG Properties is the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of greeting card giant American Greetings Corp.