4 Reasons to Use SMS Software
SMS software was created for the purpose of sending out text messages to a database of contacts. It originated to facilitate text marketing, which is a key method of mobile marketing. It usually operates by businesses or marketers sending out a mass SMS to a previously opted-in base of customers.
But whether as a one-off ad response or as a proactive dissemination of information; the texts sent by SMS software have many uses. Here are 4 good reasons why businesses, marketers and customers alike find SMS software useful:
1. SMS to enter in
A popular way to use SMS software is to set up a campaign whereby customers can text into surveys, competitions or giveaways. When they submit their details via a keyword texted to an SMS shortcode, customers can give feedback or attempt to win a prize.
Sydney radio station 2UE ran a campaign like this earlier in 2010, during which they gave away two escapes to the Hunter valley during its Wine and Food Month. Over 1000 entries were received, which is double 2UE’s usual response for a short radio campaign.
2. SMS to receive something
Print coupons are yesterday. Frustrated businesses and underwhelmed customers alike: breathe a sigh of relief. Instead, many businesses are achieving success with SMS-distributed discounts in the form of a mobile coupon or similar.
The best thing? Customers have to opt in to receive the discount, so they are much more likely to be interested and actually redeem it. The Brisbane Boat Show demonstrated this with their mobile coupon discounted entry, which achieved a 72% redemption rate, compared with the 2% redemption rate of print coupons.
3. SMS to get in the loop
Once customers choose to become part of a business database, they can receive regular text messages such as updates, appointment reminders, or invitations. This is particularly useful for venues or service businesses where customers are likely to make a return visit, especially if sent ‘VIP’ information direct to their phone. Think of it as Twitter, without the useless spam.
4. SMS to ask for more
Instead of sending a discount or reminder, SMS software can also be used to distribute product or service information. Advertising space is precious. Why not leave the details to an SMS, which can then lead to an email, website or phone call? All can give personalised and requested information on what you do. This is a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to the call centre number.
Informational text messages have been used by many, from real estate agents to a Brisbane day clinic (Clinic Aesthetic) who offered potential customers more details on their treatments and skincare range. Once customers texted in, a company representative called them back to personally give more information.
There are more uses for SMS software, but more on that later. Suffice it to say that text messages have altered customer relations, and will continue to do so in the future, probably in ways that the experts haven’t predicted. The mobile phone is a powerful device.
As the Country Manager of TXT2GET Australia, Andrew Campbell is passionate about mobile marketing. You can find out more about industry trends and get some general inspiration on marketing, advertising and SMS from his blog.
How Effective Is Using Mobile Marketing For Elections?
Mobile Marketing and Politics began its most famous of partnerships in 2008 with Barack Obama and his race for the Presidential seat in the White House. Obama embraced mobile marketing into his political campaign with great gusto and ultimately, with great success. What Mr. Obama saw was the very future of marketing – a way to interact with the people as traditional advertising had never done before. He reached the supporters and the “undecided voters”; he brought out those who perhaps would not normally have voted. He garnered donations, support and his Change message reached more people through mobile than he could ever have hoped for. After all nearly every American has a mobile device of some sort, so what better way to get closer to the people. Success! But is Mobile Marketing an effective tool solely during election time?
Well, after using Mobile Marketing for one’s campaign, as some Politicians have already done to great effect, there is then the marketing equivalent of gold to consider – that is, the opted-in mobile database of voters and supporters you will have acquired and how best to use this data to good effect during the term of office.
Mobile Marketing after an election can be just as effective as during the election itself. The Politician can give and receive feedback and the relationship between himself and the voter can be ongoing. That is the uniqueness of this type of marketing – it’s not just a one-way pitch. Working with a mobile marketing vendor, the Politician will have a useful system set up with an in-house database with vital data, voter profiles and so on. This will be important during his time in office and in the lead-up to his next campaign.
Even US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has embraced mobile marketing technology, this time as a way of benefiting natural disaster victims globally. She urges Americans to join her in texting donations and show their generosity.
Hilary Clinton has herself enthused about mobile marketing technology, as a way of benefiting natural disaster victims globally. She urges Americans to join her in texting their donations and show their generosity. She’s getting her message across via mobile, too. Mobile marketing has a place in politics year-round and not just during election time.
Looking to find the best deal on Mobile Marketing, then visit www.txt2get.com to find the best advice for you.
The 4 Key Steps of SMS Services: Mobile Marketing With Text Messages
For the uninitiated, SMS services seem a cloud of connections that don’t quite make sense. But although it appears dense, networking via SMS is simple. There are many online companies supplying SMS services, which only need a web connection and a communication plan to get started. Whether mobile marketing is new territory or old hat, the 4 steps to SMS service success are the same:
1. Get out there
In a nutshell, SMS services let you send and receive text messages using a database of contacts. To receive, first you have to get out there. Advertisements or features in print, radio, and outdoor formats lend themselves well to this. The only thing you should add is a call-to-action: a specific keyword which interested parties can text to your SMS services’ shortcode (short phone number such as 19 33 33).
2. Build a list
After the ad or feature has garnered a response, many SMS services make a database automatically with the senders’ details. If other details such as postal or email addresses were supplied, this would be in the database also. As an opt-in database, this list is akin to a mail ‘subscribers’ list. But contacts don’t necessarily need to be customers: SMS services also work with staff, business partners or potential investors. Just change the call-to-action to appeal to each group.
3. Send away!
Most SMS services allow the user to write a reply text in advance, so that when responses come in, an automatic reply is sent to the texter straight away. This, like other features of SMS services, is set up via online software which may also monitor the time and date of texts received. Whether the text is reminding of an appointment, thanking for an entry into a competition, distributing a discount or sending some other information, this step is the core of SMS software.
4. Rinse and repeat
SMS software enables the user to send and receive as many text messages to as many people as they like. Some users may only desire to distribute one round of text messages, for a short advertising campaign; yet others might take long-term advantage of their database to send out regular texts which work as a replacement for an email or phone contact list.
SMS software is a great way to communicate with a group of people immediately while still retaining a personalised message. A simple online search can find reputable SMS software suppliers, such as the multinational mobile marketing experts TXT2GET.
As the Country Manager of TXT2GET Australia Andrew Campbell is passionate about SMS services. You can find out more about mobile marketing industry trends and get some general inspiration on marketing, advertising and SMS from his blog.
Is Facebook Replacing SMS?
Over the past decade we have seen the rise of the social networking site; Facebook, Myspace, Bebo and Twitter, all offer an unprecedented level of social interaction on the internet. Facebook has emerged as the front runner for social networking sites and figures suggest over 500 million users world-wide. It is evident then that Facebook is a major way in which many people interact now, it offers a range of media sharing capabilities and the chance to keep in contact with hundreds and even thousands of friends per user, so is Facebook replacing SMS?
In just over 6 years Facebook has gone from a site run from the dorm of Mark Zuckerberg, to an international corporate icon. User numbers have continued to grow and grow over its short life and it shows no signs of stopping. Current figures suggest around 500 Million users world-wide and such impressive growth attracted the attention of Microsoft as equity stake holders in 2007.
Facebook has become a large feature for mobile users now as well. Recent statistics show that there are more than 200 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices and people that use Facebook on their mobile devices are twice as active on Facebook than non-mobile users. However, statistics show that sometime this year mobile subscribers will surpass the 5 Billion mark which accounts for over 70% of the world’s population being mobile.
It would appear not, as mobile use and more especially SMS frequency grows exponentially annually. Studies predict that by 2013 annual SMS figures will exceed some 10 trillion messages a year. SMS offers a much more personal and immediate form of communication for users and its frequent use before the creation of Facebook means it is a well established form of communication that accounts for the majority of cell phone use in Europe and the United States by a significant margin.
So Facebook may be on the rise and showing strong signs of being a lasting social network forum for a huge number of users around the world, but it has a long way to go before it can even be truly compared with the dominance of SMS in the world of communications.
Looking to find the best deal on Mobile Marketing, then visit www.txt2get.com to find the best advice for you.
Invest In Iphone Deals – Finding The Best Deals
Now that one has made the best decision ever to purchase an iphone, one can go on-line and look for iphone deals – finding the best deals if one looks hard enough. Invest in the time it may take to do the research and the rewards will be worthwhile. Now there are some other things to consider. One would be which generation to go after as some of the options don’t exist on the older models but can be obtained through the Application Store. Although these applications can be downloaded for free, some might not work on the older version due to the additional software one might need.
Purchasing the best phone in the world makes a lot of sense. This iphone is loaded with features that surpasses a mobile phone. With it’s constant updates and unbelievable durability it is hard to beat. This phone turns into a multi-tasker and then some. For the jet setters of this world, conference calling is a snap and it even has a caller id installed. Retrieving emails and even a GPS system is pre-loaded in this fantastic phone.
Pictures have never been easier to email and take video’s with one’s video camera. Entertain oneself while on the train, plane or ferry with the many games and ipod options. Keep appointments up to date with the Calendar feature and set alarms to keep appointments. There’s even a built in GPS feature so one can get directions any time of day or night.
Used iphones can be the answer to a budget problem. One can still enjoy the best of the best on a tight budget. On the Auction Sites, many iphones are available for purchase and one can choose which vendor to connect up with.
Check out the many auction sites that offer reduced pricing on iphones. Whether it be the original generation or the latest of the greatest, any iphone purchase would be a great investment.
One major advantage of purchasing an iphone on-line in an auction site is one gets to choose which carrier to sign up with. This is a huge savings as with some vendors that are included with a direct buy can be costly and the sign up contract would be for a period of twenty four months.
These days any savings is a plus. With the purchase of a new mobile at such a low price, this is the way to save on entertainment and keep oneself on top of things. As this mobile can make life a lot easier with it’s combined functions that will make one pro-active in just about any errand.
Obtaining an iphone whether it be brand spanking new or an older model makes one feel like they got the deal of the century. Use that extra savings to buy accessories or a protective case. One would definitely want to purchase the extended service contract for two additional years as this would be an advantage if anything should go wrong with the phone.
There are some pretty awesome iphone deals on our website now. Have you heard about the free iphone 4 yet? No? Well then, you better check it out before they all run out.
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