Why don't you use SMS text?

[Investors-Wanted]

Investors-Wanted,

Are you on commission? =)

Sadly No hehe

But with sms, there are so many applications you can use it for which is cheaper that sending information through the post.

If I wanted to, I could find problems with sms, but in my case, it has solved more problems than it has caused.

It doesn't matter what business you are in, I could find a solution for any business to use sms as a tool in their business.

Rather than think of issues that may cause a problem, I am sure that if you tried the service, you could find areas where sms would be useful, even if it is keeping incontact with your customers.

 

[Textlocal]

Sadly No hehe

But with sms, there are so many applications you can use it for which is cheaper that sending information through the post.

Absolutely. Why pay 50p to send an MOT reminder via post, when you can pay 4p and send a text! Much better for the environment too

A.

 

[Investors-Wanted]

Absolutely. Why pay 50p to send an MOT reminder via post, when you can pay 4p and send a text! Much better for the environment too

A.

Actually, I have had post go missing. With sms, the system tell me that it has been delivered. Win Win

 

[Textlocal]

Actually, I have had post go missing. With sms, the system tell me that it has been delivered. Win Win

That's right - with SMS if a message can be delivered (the phone is on) it will be.

It is also handly knowing within seconds that a customer has received the message safely.

Al.

 

[pari636]

I am regular blood donor and I get these reminder letter but I hardly open them as I know there is nothing much useful for a regular donor inside other than their phone number. These letters must least cost them 50p or perhaps more. It will cost them just 2p to send a reminder text. They could even attach some marketing literature on a mms or a WAP site, even better hook up a free short code where I can text back to set up my appointment or book the appointment through the WAP session. Its convenient, effective and economical.
Since we know this area well I spoke to their head of communications sometime ago. He loved the idea but nothing materialised.

Within the last 3 years we have seen a huge growth in specially sme's using SMS in their communication mix. As Txtlocal and others pointed out you cannot ignore its benefits at this digital age.

 

[dan11]

This nightclub i often go to started to use text messaging, it seems to be working for them. The place has increased their business from around 500 people attending to now more then 2000. They did a promotion offering £1 drinks all night and free entry when showing the text. on top of that they encouraged their existing customers to forward the text offer to their mates. they have now upped their entry fee to £5, increased the price of drinks to £2 and people are still falling for it!

 

[Investors-Wanted]

This nightclub i often go to started to use text messaging, it seems to be working for them. The place has increased their business from around 500 people attending to now more then 2000. They did a promotion offering £1 drinks all night and free entry when showing the text. on top of that they encouraged their existing customers to forward the text offer to their mates. they have now upped their entry fee to £5, increased the price of drinks to £2 and people are still falling for it!

The reason its good for clubs, is that the main way for people to communicate, is by text. For a business to use this method, makes the club cool and modern.

I have been in clubs where you can text back and your message appears on screens around the club.

You really need to keep your customers interested in what you have to offer. At the end of the day, you do have the choice to stay in with the promotions or leave it. At the end of the day, if it something you love doing or having, you just keep having then sent to you.

 

[pari636]

Each business might have be different in their approach to SMS and mobile marketing if they want to be successful. Like all the other tools in Marketing, one approach might work to one night club for example but it might not necessarily work to the other. But its always worth to give a try.
If someone wants to try it just drop me a line to [email protected] or contact me through www.mediamustard.com. Happy to set up few test accounts with some sms credits, will also hook up a key word to make it two way. Dont worry there is no charge. Just mention UKBF.

 

[no118.co.uk]

Founder&CEO: TxtLocal.com - The UK's favourite business SMS text service.
Join 30k+ others, test FREE with code UKBF. 50 credits trial, then just 4p.
Instant SMS from any web browser, email or API.

Txtlocal gives anyone a free account with 50 free credits. You also get a free Keyword.

 

[BusinessRookie]

PM sent txtlocal

 

[no118.co.uk]

PM sent txtlocal

Hia buddy

I have sent you a PM, if you need any help, feel free to contact me.

 

[i234i]

Stefan has been moaning to me to get SMS lists started for a few months.
I've sent a message to Alastair (finally!) with my info and businesses and we'll see how it goes! I'll be more than happy to try it on both and also post here how it develops and works for me and also what doesnt!

 

[Textlocal]

Wow, thanks to everyone who PM'ed me this weekend... you have some awesome business ideas and I am sure SMS text can play a key part in your day to day marketing and CRM (reminders, news, confirmations etc).

Now, who else is still unsure that SMS will work for their business? Please get in touch, I will do my best to show you how texting will save you money, improve customer loyalty and generate high levels of repeat business... without being spam, all for pennies!!

Al.

 

[no118.co.uk]

Hia Al

Hope you had a good easter. BusinessRookie wanted to know if he could use your service with their site. I tol dhim that I am doing this with mind so I would be happy to assist him with his.

I am going to put a post of your forum to let people know that they should put their api script in a subfolder and use htaccess to prevent unauthorised use.

Anyway, have a good one mate, speak in the week.

G

 

[Cornish Steve]

There are several reasons I don't use SMS:

1) The person receiving the message is charged. They are going to be very upset with me for costing them money. This is worse than sending spam fax messages, which cost the receiver in paper.

2) If I'm being interrupted by a text message, it had better be important. There's nothing worse than receiving a message when participating in an important business meeting.

3) If I receive an unsolicited SMS from a company, you can be sure that company will never get business from me. It's intrusive and unwanted spam.

4) Why do I personally not send SMS messages? Why fiddle around with clumsy little keys on my phone when I can type an email at my laptop or leave a voice mail message?

5) I HATE text-speak. I'm a believer in good grammar. Receiving a message with words like 'b4' comes across as cheap, nasty, and unprofessional.

So, sorry, SMS is not for me. Also, it's a technology with a limited future. Who'll want to send a text message when, for example, speech-to-text technology allows you to translate a voice message into email format?

 

[cmcp]

kl kl

 

[snakeeyes121]

I use texts to inform customers of the status of their orders, send discount codes etc.

I dont pay any of these 5p per text ripoff companies, get a £10 sim only mobile deal with unlimited texts, preferably a business one because I'm not sure its allowed on a consumer tariff, and use the sim in an internet dongle, plug in to your computer and use the connection manager to send texts.

3000 - 5000 texts for a tenner

 

[Cornish Steve]

You're assuming that the sending party pays for SMS messages. This may be true for some countries and plans, but it's not true for others. In some places, the person receiving the message must pay. Sending an unsolicited message to them is very unfair, because they never asked to receive it yet must pay for it.

 

[snakeeyes121]

Yes such as America where you pay to recieve calls and texts, but that's up to those companies to decide if its right for them.

Every UK phone can receive texts for free, If a company chooses to use premium rates for which the consumer is charged without knowing then that is obviously wrong.

I was just mentioning how I make use of SMS in my company as a simple tool to keep my customers informed of their orders, send promotions etc at no cost to them.

 

[Cornish Steve]

I make use of SMS in my company as a simple tool to keep my customers informed of their orders, send promotions etc at no cost to them.

If I'm interrupted from an important meeting or other event, there is a cost. It may not be financial in the usual sense, but it can be a real cost.

Imagine a total stranger shouting something at you when you're about to navigate a busy roundabout. It distracts you and it can really irritate. Receiving an unsolicited SMS can have exactly the same effect.

As a matter of interest, does the "Do Not Call" list apply to receiving short messages? If not, it ought to.

 

[JamieM]

There are several reasons I don't use SMS:

1) The person receiving the message is charged. They are going to be very upset with me for costing them money. This is worse than sending spam fax messages, which cost the receiver in paper.

I guess that's a fair point if you are in another country. Do they have SMS services like Txtlocal in the US? Do they operate in the same way?

2) If I'm being interrupted by a text message, it had better be important. There's nothing worse than receiving a message when participating in an important business meeting.

Do you actually keep your phone on if you are in an important business meeting?

3) If I receive an unsolicited SMS from a company, you can be sure that company will never get business from me. It's intrusive and unwanted spam.

Fair enough but this discussion is about opt in lists and messages.

4) Why do I personally not send SMS messages? Why fiddle around with clumsy little keys on my phone when I can type an email at my laptop or leave a voice mail message?

The discussion is about a service which is used with a PC. You don't send them from your phone.

5) I HATE text-speak. I'm a believer in good grammar. Receiving a message with words like 'b4' comes across as cheap, nasty, and unprofessional.

Don't use text speak then.

Also, it's a technology with a limited future. Who'll want to send a text message when, for example, speech-to-text technology allows you to translate a voice message into email format?

That's pretty irrelevant if you can grow your business using the technology now.

Personally I don't see a requirement for it in ecommerce for us. I have considered Txtlocal as it is built in to Open Mind Commerce which we use, but everything we need to do can be done well (and free) by email.

 

[no118.co.uk]

1) The person receiving the message is charged. They are going to be very upset with me for costing them money. This is worse than sending spam fax messages, which cost the receiver in paper

Actually the sender is the one that pays for the sms to be send and not the person receiving it.

Well Cornish Steve, with the world as it is, SMS is more used that snail mail. I guess if you dont use these services you will become obsolete.

The modern business needs to move with the times and work smarter and not harder. By using sms you are able to keep your customers informed cheaper and easier than using snail mail.

 

[no118.co.uk]

I use texts to inform customers of the status of their orders, send discount codes etc.

I dont pay any of these 5p per text ripoff companies, get a £10 sim only mobile deal with unlimited texts, preferably a business one because I'm not sure its allowed on a consumer tariff, and use the sim in an internet dongle, plug in to your computer and use the connection manager to send texts.

3000 - 5000 texts for a tenner

I prefer to use a 5p per text rip off company as the sms's I send I can include a business name, verify that the customer has received them (with ease) and I am able to co-ordinate any cancel requests.

I have also added a voucher system into my website which will allow the visitor to receive free discounts when they like.

You cant do that with a free sim card.

 

[dagr]

There are several reasons I don't use SMS:

1) The person receiving the message is charged. They are going to be very upset with me for costing them money. This is worse than sending spam fax messages, which cost the receiver in paper.

2) If I'm being interrupted by a text message, it had better be important. There's nothing worse than receiving a message when participating in an important business meeting.

3) If I receive an unsolicited SMS from a company, you can be sure that company will never get business from me. It's intrusive and unwanted spam.

4) Why do I personally not send SMS messages? Why fiddle around with clumsy little keys on my phone when I can type an email at my laptop or leave a voice mail message?

5) I HATE text-speak. I'm a believer in good grammar. Receiving a message with words like 'b4' comes across as cheap, nasty, and unprofessional.

So, sorry, SMS is not for me. Also, it's a technology with a limited future. Who'll want to send a text message when, for example, speech-to-text technology allows you to translate a voice message into email format?

From my own point of view, I have to agree with Steve's points above, specially 1 & 4.

The only useful professional SMS I've had is from my assurance company to say something was confirmed - a "nice-to-have", but not critical. For every one useful SMS, I've had about 10 unwanted, unsolicited ones. Very annoying.

In my business (medical field) where there are not many target customers and discussions are long and complicated, I can't see it bringing anything critically useful.

Taking my Grumpy Old Men hat off, I can see it being attractive to other groups and businesses, specially the young 'uns who were apparently born with different thumbs to me.

I have a friend here in France who set up a private company for public safety alerts, based on SMS texting (i.e. warning households of possible flooding, etc.). Not sure how it's going as I haven't spoken to him for about 5 years.

 

[no118.co.uk]

From my own point of view, I have to agree with Steve's points above, specially 1 & 4.

The only useful professional SMS I've had is from my assurance company to say something was confirmed - a "nice-to-have", but not critical. For every one useful SMS, I've had about 10 unwanted, unsolicited ones. Very annoying.

In my business (medical field) where there are not many target customers and discussions are long and complicated, I can't see it bringing anything critically useful.

Taking my Grumpy Old Men hat off, I can see it being attractive to other groups and businesses, specially the young 'uns who were apparently born with different thumbs to me.

I have a friend here in France who set up a private company for public safety alerts, based on SMS texting (i.e. warning households of possible flooding, etc.). Not sure how it's going as I haven't spoken to him for about 5 years.

I agree that, sms is not suitable for all busineses. But as a tool to keeping people informed, for value, can't be beaten.

For my business, it will be used on multiple platforms from remindng someone about a meeting to sending out discounts that the user has requested.

Txtlocal will be paying a major part f my business and over the next 12 month I can see us sending around 1 million text messages.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Taking my Grumpy Old Men hat off

Let me do the same for a moment.

My wife did sign up for two Twitter related services. One is with the local transportation department. They send short messages when there's an accident or other road blockage in our area. The other is with our son's high school. When there's a field trip, they send out messages so we know when the bus will get back. These are useful services, and we signed up for them.

It's unsolicited text messages that I very much dislike. Again, IMO, there should be a "Do Not Text" list just like there's a "Do Not Call" list. Maybe there is and I don't know about it.

 

[no118.co.uk]

It's unsolicited text messages that I very much dislike. Again, IMO, there should be a "Do Not Text" list just like there's a "Do Not Call" list. Maybe there is and I don't know about it.

I agree with you on unsolicited text messages. But if the message is from someone you deal with, then it is beneficial.

Glad to see you are not grumpy after all.

 

[i234i]

So today i've signed up one of my businesses with Text Local to test it out (Opt in) and hopefully it will take off! I think it could really help the quiet periods and also with promotional offers.

I like the fact i've put CODE BAR and your name to 0x in the pub's blackboards and on facebook put CODE FACEBOOK and your name to 0x so i can trace where the sign ups are coming from

So i'm going to blast the staff with it to get all the customers they can to sign up and the regulars, Its a event music bar so i think the text thing will work really good... Any of you who use it got any good staff incentive tips??

 

[no118.co.uk]

So today i've signed up one of my businesses with Text Local to test it out (Opt in) and hopefully it will take off! I think it could really help the quiet periods and also with promotional offers.

I like the fact i've put CODE BAR and your name to 0x in the pub's blackboards and on facebook put CODE FACEBOOK and your name to 0x so i can trace where the sign ups are coming from

So i'm going to blast the staff with it to get all the customers they can to sign up and the regulars, Its a event music bar so i think the text thing will work really good... Any of you who use it got any good staff incentive tips??

I will say, dont loose interest if the takeup is slow. It does take a small amount of time to get opt-in campaigns to get off the ground. IF they have a great reason to join, then they will.

Good luck with yourt campaign.

 

[Textlocal]

So today i've signed up one of my businesses with Text Local to test it out (Opt in) and hopefully it will take off! I think it could really help the quiet periods and also with promotional offers.

I like the fact i've put CODE BAR and your name to 0x in the pub's blackboards and on facebook put CODE FACEBOOK and your name to 0x so i can trace where the sign ups are coming from

That is excellent news... I have added 500 credits to your account so you could set an autoresponder now, so each time someone texts in they will get a "Welcome" message thanking them for joining, with your contact info and maybe a link to your website...

Don't forget, this will also go viral. Each time you send out a promo, people WILL forward to their friends - and they will forward to others... at NO cost to yourself at all...

Very best of luck with your campaign - get 100 optins on the free long number and I will upgrade your keyword to "text xxx on 60777" free of charge for life ;-)

Also, tomorrow we will build a simple API for Facebook, which will allow people to sign up from there directly and inject their number into your Txtlocal group... which will be even easier than texting in - leave that for the blackboard and t-shirts

Cheers,
Al

 

[i234i]

You are too good!! The facebook thing would defineatly help us! We have a good few friends there. Thanks so much for the credits Al. I'll defineatly set up Burden on it soon too! What a guy!

 

[no118.co.uk]

That is excellent news... I have added 500 credits to your account so you could set an autoresponder now, so each time someone texts in they will get a "Welcome" message thanking them for joining, with your contact info and maybe a link to your website...

Don't forget, this will also go viral. Each time you send out a promo, people WILL forward to their friends - and they will forward to others... at NO cost to yourself at all...

Very best of luck with your campaign - get 100 optins on the free long number and I will upgrade your keyword to "text xxx on 60777" free of charge for life ;-)

Also, tomorrow we will build a simple API for Facebook, which will allow people to sign up from there directly and inject their number into your Txtlocal group... which will be even easier than texting in - leave that for the blackboard and t-shirts

Cheers,
Al

Al you're a star

 

[snakeeyes121]

I prefer to use a 5p per text rip off company as the sms's I send I can include a business name, verify that the customer has received them (with ease) and I am able to co-ordinate any cancel requests.

I have also added a voucher system into my website which will allow the visitor to receive free discounts when they like.

You cant do that with a free sim card.

You think? all bar the voucher system I do exactly what you do and for a 5th of the cost.

 

[no118.co.uk]

You think? all bar the voucher system I do exactly what you do and for a 5th of the cost.

But the mobile option does not do what I need it to do. Plus you only get a fraction of the functions.

 

[Textlocal]

You think? all bar the voucher system I do exactly what you do and for a 5th of the cost.

So you pay 1p per SMS? That is pretty amazing - considering there is a UK landing charge of at least 2.4p between operators....

You can get economy routes but:

1) They do not track ported numbers (if a customers moves from Vodafone to Orange the message will fail)

2) You do not get delivery reports

3) You can't control the sender name (who the message is from)

4) Often you have to accept advertising on your messages from other 3rd parties.

Yes, we sell SMS for profit.. but we give away an awesome control system with hundreds of features (mailmerge, importing, full delivery reports, programmer access, email to SMS, SMS keywords for list generation, RSS/Facebook/Twitter integrations, scheduling of messages up to 365 days in advance, staggered sending for large group sends, templates, filtering of contact groups for specific campaigns, inbound SMS systems with autoresponders, email forwarding, SMS to group functions.... + much more), first class support and advice, a stable platform managed 24 hours a day.

So.. if you want to pay for the cheap as chips option then that's great - but you get what you pay for in life, and we offer all this for pennies - no setup costs, no recurring fees.

A.

 

[no118.co.uk]

So.. if you want to pay for the cheap as chips option then that's great - but you get what you pay for in life, and we offer all this for pennies - no setup costs, no recurring fees.

You get what you pay for. Pay peanuts you end up dealing with monkeys.

 

[Textlocal]

You are too good!! The facebook thing would defineatly help us! We have a good few friends there. Thanks so much for the credits Al. I'll defineatly set up Burden on it soon too! What a guy!

<blush> That's no problem. Good luck with your listbuilding - please let me know how you get on, and what mechanisms you used to publicise the keyword.... hopefully you should have a few hundred local people within the month who have CHOSEN to hear from your on their mobile phone - and you can contact them with your news and offers, instantly - for pennies

A.

 

[nimmysnv]

Hi,

SMS marketing is one of the effective tool and is very helpful for brand building and increasing quality business.

Through it the relevant person comes for the business so according to me its not an spam.


Thanks

 

[Cornish Steve]

So you pay 1p per SMS? That is pretty amazing - considering there is a UK landing charge of at least 2.4p between operators....

While I may not be a fan of SMS, my sons are. One sends/receives about 10,000 a month (we pay to receive as well as to send, so both must be counted), and another gets through about 4,000 a month. A third gets through about 1,000 a month. For the six people on our family account, we pay a little under 10 pounds a month for unlimited messages.

Are there unlimited plans in Britain, or must you pay per message?

 

[no118.co.uk]

Hi,

SMS marketing is one of the effective tool and is very helpful for brand building and increasing quality business.

Through it the relevant person comes for the business so according to me its not an spam.


Thanks

I totally agree with what you say. For me it is such a useful tool