SMS Marketing

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

Has anyone here had any success with SMS marketing (text messages)? if so, who did you use and would you recommend their services?

Cheers,

Al.

[Ozzy]

Hi Al,
I've never tried it myself. However, I use my mobile for emergencies only and have text mesage alerts for system outtages. I find receiving sales text messages most annoying.

[pbresser]

We sold an SMS instant win game to a off-licence chain a couple of years ago now - we've not sold one since.

The idea was to text a number sequence to an SMS centre where a program would work out if you had entered the correct code to win GBP100,000. An SMS message then went back to the participant which was covered by reverse billing of 25p per message. No other messages were sent after that, although the data of telephone numbers that entered was kept.

The whole package, including the insurance to cover off the possibility of the correct number being guessed, was GBP5,500 and that allowed for up to 20,000 entries.

The company that took on the promotion to support six pack purchase supported with shelf talkers and hanging board displays in the outlets, so participation was driven by the consumers themselves. The reverse billed message also allowed participants to get 50p off the cost of six packs of a particular brand of lager over the promotion's duration (30days).

Results were patchy, but it did lead to more sales of the six packs. What we learnt was that support in retail outlets should cover on-pack materials as well as the instore materials.

HTH

[daveashton]

WordMouth

This like many other forms of mass promotion it is limited by the type of people the message gets sent to i.e. out of every 100 people, how many have a NEED for your product TODAY or WITHIN the next 3 DAYS.

Now that you have that as a percentage figure, reduce by other factors i.e. the type of people getting the text message ( will sending a text to a 16-18 year old be as good as a 30-35 year old) and reduce your percentage take up accordingly. Now last but not least, get a few people's opinion on sales texts to their mobile, (based on the text being relevant to them) and further reduce you take up figure as required.

This will give you a good idea of the number of enquiries you can expect per 100 texts.

Now based on your average profit margin and how many enquiries it takes to get a new client you can work out if it will be profitable.

[VeryMark]

A good SMS provider is FASTSMS (part of Netsecrets) who can be found at www.fastsms.co.uk.

[StartUp]

As a user I find them incredibly annoying. They also wind up parents whose kids get them all the time - and can run up big bills by replying to them!

I son't think it's the best way to reach your market, whoever they are.

Julia

[mobyme]

Hi
I recommend that you get in touch with David at http://www.info-tools.co.uk he used to be in the forum a lot; but doesn't seem to be around lately. The guy is a genius when it comes to anything to do with texting and sms's and will be able to tell you what is possible and the likelihood of it working.
Regards

[triseros]

Hi there,

Has anyone here had any success with SMS marketing (text messages)? if so, who did you use and would you recommend their services?

Cheers,

Al.

Bulk SMS does not work (i.e. just harvesting mobile numbers and sending SMS out to them) What does work is giving people the opportunity to contact you by SMS.

It may sound a little one sided but we provide an 'incoming' SMS service that allows you to add a text number to our advertising and it will process the incoming messages automatically then forward the leads to your e-mail account.

It works in exactly the same way as those systems used on the BBC using keywords but does not use a premium short code number.

We have over 2,000 clients using the system and it costs from just £29 a year.

go to www.24-7text.com to find out more

[nashavvi]

Hi,

The success of mobile marketing, or SMS marketing, is founded on the concept of CHOICE.

Todays consumers almost never leave home without their cell phone. That means they are always within reach and can receive your text promotion at home, at work or when they're out on the town.

Case studies have seen response to wireless advertising as high as 50%. What other medium provides this kind of return? Not only that but your text advertising is highly trackable, allowing you to measure results and determine return on investment for every promotional campaign.


For Example:

Case Study . SMS marketing helps McDonalds
Marketing products to mobile phones using SMS messages has been proven to increase sales, according to a test study carried out in Sweden.Named e-street, the project signed up 2,500 mobile phone-users in the town of Lulea to receive SMS messages of special offers from 150 local organisations.After the volunteers were sent an SMS for a McDonalds burger offer, 25 per cent of the targeted users took up the offer.

The McDonalds in question broke its turnover records during the test period and it jumped to the top of the McDonalds league table in Sweden.

For knowing some more important info, go through : relaystation.co.uk

[dongle]

CardBoardFish.com is a well established provider for bulk SMS, i would definitely check it out and see what you think.

[TxtLocal]

I agree with all the above.... opt in SMS marketing is quite possibly the most powerful way of generating repeat business from your own client base.

Call or email me any time, I am a director at http://www.txtlocal.com - sign up on our homepage with promo code UKBF for free credits and VIP support.. or call my number (below) any time for a chat about SMS and how it can help your business.

Cheers

Alastair.
Txtlocal

[Sundeep]

I agree with this too - SMS Marketing has helped a number of clients increase their sales during the current economic climate.

This is a very cost effective form of marketing, as text messages get read.

[jeffathome]

Even though many hate it text messaging is a very viable source of communication. There are more texts sent then phone calls made and believe it or not some people actually prefer text messages. I use a "Text Me" box on all my sites and website visitors love it. Makes my sites interactive.

[kapow]

Hi Guys,

I've said this before on these boards but cannot re-iterate enough... In the UK a user MUST have opted-in to receive SMS messages from you... otherwise you are breaking the law.

Not only that, but you're probably wasting your own money, because people don't like being texted from companies they don't know... a mobile is a personal thing and it's invasive.

HOWEVER, if a user HAS opted-in then text messaging can be an incredibly effective way of generating sales... this might be from prospects who have opted-in as they have some potential interest, or from repeat customers.

We have a client who only this week sent a special 2-4-1 offer for event tickets to a list of opted-in people living within the area of the event. 1,360 messages were sent and over 100 people took-up the offer (200 tickets). It cost them less than £50 and raised £3,500 in additional ticket sales in less than 24 hours.

So, Text CAN and DOES work... but only if used correctly.

If you have any questions on how it might be well employed within your business then please drop me a PM, or call one of our Account Managers on 020 71 835 835... we were the UKs First SMS Gateway and have been doing this for nearly 14 years, so have seen and done just about everything!

Take care,

A.

[nitishtyagi]

Sms marketing is a very good and effective method of promotion. There are many companies that provide sms marketing service. I have personally used the services of Rhombus technologies, there service good and U get assured results.Just check out there link.

rhombustechnologies.com/main.asp?page=Smszone

[pari636]

SMS and mobile marketing should help most business. However to be more effective and efficient u need to have clear strategy as each changers from business to business.
I have helped many in this forum and if you email me I will set up an test bulk account with few free credits and let you taste it your self.

Best of Luck

pk@mediamustard.com

[tonidtonero]

Before it would work it must be extremely targeted to people who really need your product

[kashifhassan]

Hi frds if u really want to get an exciting campaign to promote Ur music,food restaurant,sports activity, movie launch or any business project u can use our website onsms

[Globconference]

Has anyone here had any success with SMS marketing (text messages)? if so, who did you use and would you recommend their services?. WE HAVE A NEW SOLUTION, CHEAPER FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE.

If you want sell it and make money plesae call me 07877419399

Cheers,

Rob

[TxtLocal]

Brilliant! :-)

I started this thread 5 years ago, and am now CEO of (possibly/most likely) the most popular SMS text service in the UK with over 70,000 business customers from churches to chip shops, multinationals to local football teams - all communicating instantly with groups of OPT IN customers and staff for pennies.

We have come full circle!

Good luck to you.

oh, and anyone reading.. you can also resell our service too ;-)

[Target]

I'd say dismiss text marketing at your peril! With an average open rate of 95%+, it can blow email marketing (which I'm also a fan of) out the water.

It's all about using it when appropriate. The crucial point is to get customers to voluntarily opt-in to receive them. Not only does this avoid the sense of unwelcome intrusion (which is very high with the sense of 'personal space' of a mobile), but it's also a legal requirement of the Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations. This, incidentally, is the legislation that covers email and fax marketing, and they're all treated the same.

There's a case study on our website that combines a text campaign with an online image, plus basic database segmentation and filters. It neatly illustrates how text marketing can be highly targeted and effective. See it at http://www.small-business-database-marketing.com/text-message-marketing.html

By the way, I can vouch for Txtlocal. Great service and prices.

George

[TxtLocal]

Thanks target - thats appreciated :)

I think the other main misconception is that many people (especially in UKBG bizarrerly - more than in other social channels) always just think "eh.. SMS.. spam"... forgetting that:

1) It isn't spam in the user has actually ASKED you to text them - in which case it is the most cost effective communication tool ever created
2) It isn't just SMS any more.. it is SMS + mobile web. You send out an SMS linking to any online content, fliers, PDF documents

... and mostly..

3) It isnt just for marketing!! It is appointment reminders, tax deadline reminders, squad choice for this Sunday's local rugby match, a 1-question-survey checking if you enjoyed your meal today at Jims Cafe.... anything where you wish to deliver a message to a group of customers who have chosen to hear from you - for pennies.

Al.

[Target]

Have to agree that the word 'spam' is bandied about on these forums with gleeful abandon, usually inaccurately, and not just for sms but email too.

Provided people keep legal (which isn't difficult), it's all about using the right marketing tool in the right circumstances. Like any marketing used with careful consideration, email and sms can be good for the business AND the customer. Of course, the converse can also be painfully true...

George

[Hinakhan]

i have seen it that the trend of promotion of any new brand or business project through SMS marketing developed in such a way that the every one is looking for unique user friendly text message campaign with quality 160 word content that give professional look to the company which is being promoted

[Hinakhan]

There are few in market who are working professional to serve the individuals and corporation with unique dynamic result oriented sms marketing services to engage vast number if potential clients in your domain location and if you are in Canada i suggest you onSMS it is working in very professional environment

[Target]

What ARE you blethering about? And by the way, it's unlikely there will be anyone from Canada here. The clue's in the name.

[moreover]

The success or not of using SMS for marketing is based on the quality of your database and the offer / message your giving. The best SMS marketing campaigns are based on your own database of existing customers and offering them a genuine deal which is time limited. These combined should give you success, but of course you have to make it easy for those you are sending messages to opt out, as the last thing you want to do it annoy people. Take a look at world-text.com where there are lots of options for sending SMS, and can also be done using your existing email software without technical knowledge.

[Andy_Smith]

Here is a quick Video from Esendex, a business SMS provider, that explains business SMS and the law.
Very informative and an easier way to learn about what you can and can't do.

Check it out here:

Esendex Youtube Video (http://goo.gl/f1y5R)

[garyk]

As dave mentions the biggest issue is that it is completely untargeted, you have no idea of the demographics of your audience.

[TxtLocal]

For SMEs the domographic rarely matters... if you are a fish & chip shop then simply have a list of your own local opt in customers. Their age and sex hardly matter when you are promoting "2 for 1 Haddock" on a rainy Tuesday evening to 100 people for under £5.... :)

Al

As dave mentions the biggest issue is that it is completely untargeted, you have no idea of the demographics of your audience.

[Target]

[QUOTE=TxtLocal;1640543]For SMEs the domographic rarely matters... if you are a fish & chip shop then simply have a list of your own local opt in customers. Their age and sex hardly matter when you are promoting "2 for 1 Haddock" on a rainy Tuesday evening to 100 people for under £5.... :)

Exactly. It all comes back to creating your own opted-in marketing database, which you can segment in a way that suits you AND your customers. This means more relevant marketing that gets far greater response, costs less and gives greater returns.

All that sms does is give you a quick, easy, affordable and highly efficient way to deliver the message.

George

[SneakSMS]

Great thread.

SMS Marketing works that's for sure and as txtlocal say, it's not spam if you are sending interesting information to people who have requested it.

textmarketer.co.uk are the lowest cost in the UK and have all the tools and facilities of all the other guys and have been around the longest, since 1999.

Sending a message is just a commodity - there's no point paying a higher cost per message for exactly the same message to arrive on the phone!!

And that site just happens to be your homepage? :rolleyes:

[TxtLocal]

... and we will price match any SMS company for high quality UK routed messages - making us the lowest cost (if we are talking price). However, we also add a plethora of advanced features, autoresponders & forwarders, MMS sending/receiving, free mobile website toolkits, mobile barcodes & ticketing - all at no extra cost. :)

[davida]

To promote your product Bulk SMS is simply the fastest, instant and most cost-efficient way to reach the masses. SMS is the most Instantaneous and Effective method of interacting with prospective customers that has clearly emerged as a potent marketing medium. Communication with your clients is essential for relationship building and sales.

SMS text messaging is a simple to use marketing tool that produces incredible results.There are various companies which can provide you this service you can find them on internet.