Are you going to conference or an event? How about using text message survey (SMS Survey) to setup appointments with potential clients?

How can I use Text Message Survey to setup appointments?

Create a text survey campaign using your TxtImpact account. You can provide welcome message, series questions such as their name, email address, preferred meeting time, best number to contact them, and have a closing message to confirm receipt of appointment request and provide any information for further interaction.

Don't forget to configure your email address, where you like to receive all appointment requests.

For complete instructions on how setup Text mobile survey online: http://mzone.txtimpact.com/mserver/help/info/How-to-setup-Text-Survey.htm

For more information on Text Message Survey

Reasons why more Event Organizers should choose text messaging during event or conferences

#1- Text messaging allows for more widespread and easy participation.

#2 - Engage attendees in real-time.

#3 - Significant savings over mobile apps or audience response systems.

#4 - Text messaging allows seamless communication between attendees and organizers.

What Event Organizers or Conferences can use?

#1 - Text Voting (SMS Polling) for real-time participation and feedback

#2 - Text to Quiz (Trivia), have some fun at conference and engage audience

#3 - Text to win, let participants take away something

#4 - Text to Survey, get real-time feedback or capture participants contact information or a request to setup meeting

For more information visit: TXTImpact SMS Marketing

Sell more memberships, grow opt-in mobile database for future promotions. You can now increase your revenue and convert more website visitors, news paper, local magazine ads viewer by adding text message (sms) marketing. Choose a keyword for your club and start advertising on website, facebook, twitter, magazines and connect with prospective members instantly Grow opt-in mobile number database via incoming text message (sms) responses.

Start collecting prospects' mobile phone numbers using sms marketing "text to join" or "text for info" campaigns. Benefit your health club or gym marketing efforts and develop a competitive advantage in the future.

Bulk SMS provider Text Marketer has seen a growing number of bike shops using SMS as a way of communicating with customers. For many bike shop owners, using SMS is the most effective way of getting an offer into consumer’s hands.

SMS enjoys an astonishing open rate of over 98 per cent (see below). Compare that with email open rates of around 20 per cent, and it's easy to see why so many bike shops are turning to mobile. On top of that, a customer receiving a promotional text message is five times more likely to respond than someone receiving a piece of direct mail. (Source – Mobile Marketing Association.)

One  customer, Swinnerton Cycles, used mobile marketing to remarkable effect. During the winter months many cyclists gear their bikes up for the more challenging cycling conditions. With this in mind Swinnerton Cycles dispatched a simple mobile marketing campaign with a low cost service offer.

“Winter Service Check – 1 Week only. Brake & Gear Check only £20.00. Book now on 0178274778. Only 100 Spaces Available. Swinnerton Cycles.”

After just two days, the workshop had booked over 42 services, generating revenue of £840. In addition to this, customers also spent considerable sums on cycle accessories such as gloves, batteries, lights, etc. The text campaign cost just £126, so for every pound spent on the mobile marketing campaign they generated an absolute minimum of six pounds.

One of the clear strengths of using bulk SMS is that it is so cost-effective. There are no setup costs or monthly fees. Users simply purchase as many text credits as they need for their campaign. Also there is no minimum order so people that are new to SMS marketing can dip their toe in the water with a very low budget.

SMS stats
According to the Mobile Marketing Association, over 95 per cent of text messages delivered are read, the vast majority within five minutes. For emails a 25 per cent open rate is considered high.

Estimates that only 30 per cent of businesses in the UK use SMS as a means to get in touch with their customers (or potential customers). So why aren’t we all inundated with vast quantities of SMS like we are with email? The difference is that business SMS messages have to be paid for.

Another benefit of SMS marketing is that it works across all platforms and all makes and models of mobile phones.

Studies from mobile analyst Portio Research have revealed that in the US, Asia and Europe SMS usage is growing, despite increased competition from Facebook, BlackBerry Messenger, Twitter and other messaging services.

Though not seen much on the campaign trail, mobile strategy is expected to be important for attracting younger voters.

Social networks played an important role in the last U.S. presidential election, but the explosive growth in smartphone usage and the introduction of tablets since 2008 could make or break the candidates for president in 2012.

As the Republican primaries heat up, the major contenders show on their official websites a strong recognition of social networking and connecting in digital ways via desktop computers. But the GOP and President Obama's campaigns are not yet making many mobile-specific connections to supporters via smartphones or tablets, analysts noted.

Some campaigns have special links on their websites for getting updates via SMS to a phone, but they don't appear to have candidate-specific downloadable mobile apps on Apple's App Store or the Android Market so far.

"Smartphones and tablets are much more mainstream now, and these devices are literally driving the Occupy movement and the revolutions in the Middle East," noted Rob Enderle, an analyst for Enderle Group. "The ways we connect to one another have changed quite a bit in the last couple of years. Candidates need a good social media campaign to win, and social media done right includes mobile, because mobile allows candidates to loop in supporters in the moment and stay in touch and respond in real time. Mobile makes social networking more important."

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By Sandeep Gulyani

Continue with our Text Message Marketing series, today I like to talk about Text message marketing using Auto responder also known as Text-for-Info. Our clients have been using auto responder campaigns from past 5 years. It works exactly as our text-to-join text message marketing campaign.

Text-for-Info Text message marketing campaign

With Text-for-info campaign, customer receives an auto response a predefined text message when they text your mobile keyword to the short code. The auto response may include

·     Business contact information (Business cards)

·     Store Directions with link to Google map

·     Event organizers can provide Event registration details, exhibition direction, customer service number etc.

·     In Political Fundraising or Non-profit, patrons can text to receive contribution details

·     Product brief along with mobile or web site link or details

·     Customer care/support information

·     Song/Ringtone download link given as reward

·     iPhone or Android App download link very popular with VOIP providers

·     Realtors can use Text-for-info to provide property information along with house photos.

·     Car dealership can use it as off-hours sales tool. Prospects can text unique code found on windshield stickers and receive car details.

Possibilities are end-less, you just have to think and plan, rest we'll do for you.  

How it works?

·     Setup Text-to-Info campaign using our mobile marketing platform. You can choose your desired mobile keyword on our shared short code or on your dedicated short code hosted with TXTImpact.

·     Promote the keyword in your adverting material, at point of sale, flyers, etc.

·     Customer send text message to short code with your company mobile keyword.

Now, this is great tool for providing customer instant on the spot information while business put your contact details in their hand; business can also capture customer's mobile number and built their opt-in list. Businesses may follow-up with customers using mass text messaging and include promotional codes, special offers, deals, etc.

"To go further level Mobile Coupons feature can be added to your text broadcast, or a mobile web site or simple mobile page to provide customer more information."

Through TxtImpact effective and affordable Text Message Marketing and group text messaging services now businesses will be able to launch their mobile marketing campaigns without any hassle!

Click here to contact TxtImpact sales and learn more about current promotions and their text sms marketing services

 Smartphones, and what I call my “dumb” phone, are an underused method for communicating with customers. Text messaging is like soccer: bigger everywhere in the world, but the USA. That is changing however, and because of that, mobile marketing is entering a new phase of acceptance and adoption.

No doubt you’ve heard that 2012 will be the year mobile takes off. Umm, it was also the year of mobile in 2009, 2010, 2011… Never mind all the prognostication. Just make sure that you open this door if your customer wants to keep up with you via mobile. The following 11 text messaging solutions may help you earn a new sale or keep an existing customer happy.

1. GroupMe. GroupMe is a completely free mobile app. If you have a small set of people you want to send a group text message to, this may be the ideal tool. You don’t even need a smartphone or mobile phone of your own to make this work.

2. Signal. Signal is a significant player in the mobile marketing space because that’s not all they offer. Their platform allows you to manage all your customer communications in one dashboard. E-mail, Facebook, interactive promotions (think surveys, geo-location stuff) are all in one place. Plans start at $30/mo.

3. Fanminder. I’ve mentioned these guys a few times. They combine the power of Facebook with Mobile. You can send social and mobile messages to your fans. The 0-100 Fan package is completely free.

4. TellMyCell. TellMyCell lets you upload existing contacts/customers via .CSV (spreadsheet) file and then create groups. You can schedule messages to go at specific times. It offers pay-as-you-go pricing, then bulk plans start at $29/mo.

5. TxtImpact. I like the simple way TxtImpact has designed their site. When you click on Text Message Marketing, you get a simple chart that shows the different ways small business owners can use it: Text-2-Join (build your list), SMS voting/polling (ask your customers for their opinions), and so forth. Free trial, then plans start at $25/mo.  

6. Trumpia. Trumpia makes it clear what you get in each plan. I like that they have a way to tie a QR code (that bar-code like technology that is growing in popularity) to your mobile marketing. Their appointment reminder option looks like a great one for many small businesses. Basic plans as low as $15/mo with annual prepayment.

7. EZ Texting. EZ Texting doesn't charge for incoming messages, so if your customer responds, you’re not paying for that additional message—many plans offer this, too, by the way. You can send a message from your phone or from the Web app. I like that you can send a voicemail broadcast, too. Starter plans begin at $29/mo.

8. Mobivity. Mobivity looks to be more of a full service shop with a team to help you develop a custom app and mobile marketing process at your company. Their basic plan starts at $79/mo and offers a limited free trial.

9. Clickatell. Clickatell offers a robust and detailed mobile marketing solution. You can get a dedicated two-way number that allows you to engage with your mobile customer. They have a clear message pricing calculator if you want to add specific options. Plans start at $9.95/mo.

General note: Some mobile marketing services offer you only a shortcode, which is not two-way—meaning you can’t start a conversation with your mobile customer—but often you don’t need that if you’re sending a coupon or one-way offers. 

10. Txt180. Txt180 has a simple, yet elegant service. It is flexible to the point that they even have an alternate opt-in message you can send to your customer. All mobile services, like many e-mail services, are required to send a message allowing the customer to opt-in or out (permission-based). Txt180 makes this easy and seamless. Plans start at $9.95/mo.

11. CallFire. CallFire is more than just text messaging. They are a full-service VOIP (voice over internet protocol) provider and have interactive voice responders, voice broadcasting and a cloud call center in addition to SMS marketing services. Pricing starts at $.03 (meaning 3 cents) per message, pay-as-you-go. I like that they break down their offering by industry, too, so you can see how others like you are using it.

To close, mobile marketing via text message (SMS) is not about spamming your customer base. It is only going to work on a permission based philosophy. You don’t need to listen to the hype around mobile marketing being the next big thing; that doesn’t really matter. The question is only can you share something via text message that serves your customers. If the answer is yes, then jump on the mobile marketing train.

Source: OpenForum

Why start with Text Messaging?

Here are three good reasons:

1. Cost-effectiveness

It’s not news that in many marketing departments these days money isn’t always easy to come by. Coming up with the budget for a mobile app, on one platform let alone two, is not always easy.

Creating a mobile website, depending on size, scope, and content management system, is not cheap either. Text messaging marketing can be extremely budget friendly, especially if you’re already printing signs for something or running traditional media.  Just revise the creative to add a “text-in for this or that” call-to-action and you’ve just started a mobile marketing campaign.

Best of all, almost all SMS marketing providers charge based on the number of messages or subscribers in your database. The cost starts small and when it increases that means your campaign is working!

2. Biggest Audience

When marketing dollars are tight everyone likes to see “good numbers” at the end of the campaign. Because text messaging is available on essentially every phone and used by just about everybody (over 70% of adults), you’ll have the best opportunity to reach the most people and build the largest opt-in database.

Every other mobile marketing technology has an inherit “audience-limiter”. Mobile websites; must have an HTML-capable phone.  Apps; must have a smartphone. QR codes; must have a smartphone and a QR reader installed. The more things your audience needs to participate, the smaller the numbers get. Start with the biggest audience and then target the more technology capable groups later.

3. It will “launch” the other ones

At the end of any text message marketing campaign there will be a database of mobile phone numbers (the people who texted-in). Launching a mobile app or website? Send out a text and tell them.

They’ve already had one mobile interaction with you so there’s a good chance they would be open to another. Instead of counting on the app store or mobile searches to drive traffic you can generate that initial burst of activity on your own. Think about it, it’s a lot easier to drive traffic to a new website when you already have a big email list of people who would be interested.

Ok, so you agree text messaging might be a good place to start mobile marketing.

But where do you start with text messaging? 

1. Traditional media

As mentioned above, this is an easy one. Instead of telling your audience to “call now” or “visit our website”, have them send a text message. Maybe they’re entering to win something or getting an instant “show this message on your phone for something” coupon.

2. Events

Are you still using clipboards and sign up sheets to gather data at your events? Still putting out that plastic fish bowl for business cards? Try having your event attendees get out their phone and text to vote, answer a question, put a message up on a screen, sign a petition, win something, or get a discount. It’ll be more fun for you and your audience, and in the end you’ll get a valid mobile number instead of an email address you can’t read anyway.

3. In-store

Many businesses have more people passing through their doors everyday than visits to their website. Those people also have phones in their pockets and purses. Print out a sign and create a mobile loyalty club by having visitors text-in for a discount on their next visit. They’re in your location so you know they have an interest in your business. Give them an easy way to offer up their valuable mobile phone number so you can bring them back later.

For those marketers and advertisers still not sold on the power of mobile marketing and the need to engage their customers and prospects via a mobile website, a report issued by IBM showed that sales via a mobile phone/smartphone/tablet on Cyber Monday 2011 increased an incredible 192% over last year. And you can expect that number to only go higher next year. 

The IBM report also showed that the number of people using their mobile phone/smartphone/tablet to just visit a retailer’s website increased 177% from last year to this year on Cyber Monday. Clearly boys and girls we are living in a mobile world, but you already knew that, right?

So riddle me, this Batman and Batgirl, why are so many retailers NOT engaging their customers and prospects via a mobile ready website?

According to a survey conducted by Brand Anywhere and Luth Research:

• 51% of consumers more likely to purchase from retailers that have mobile-specific websites
• 4.8% of U.S. retailers have mobile-specific websites
• 22.8% of the top retail websites (ranked by Alexa®) have mobile-specific websites
• Web retailers could increase consumer engagement by 85% with a mobile-specific website

Take out the word “Web” in that last bullet for EVERY retailer – whether they also have bricks-and-mortar locations in addition to their “regular” website, should have… operative words “should have” an optimized mobile website.

Among all Interactive Marketing platforms, Mobile Marketing is expected to grow 38% over the next five years with an estimated $8.2 billion being allocated to it by the year 2016.

That was the opening line of another post I wrote on mobile marketing, Mobile Marketing Spending To Have The Biggest Increase Over Next Five Years.

So let me see if I got this straight… Most marketers and advertisers see the need to spend money via mobile marketing, mobile advertising, etc., yet many – only 4.8% according to at least one study, do not see the need to engage consumers via a mobile website, even though the evidence is clear that more and more consumers are going online via their mobile phone/smartphone/tablet?

The Social Media Factor…

One of the other key findings I wanted to share from the IBM report is this:

“Discussions on social media sites leading up to Cyber Monday increased in volume by 115 percent compared to 2010. Top areas of discussion focused on consumers sharing tips about using price comparison websites while avoiding cyber scams.”

Again, another opportunity for brand managers, product managers, marketers and advertisers of all shapes and sizes to engage their customers and prospects… that is if these same brand managers, product managers, marketers and advertisers of all shapes and sizes were monitoring what was being said on the social media sites then capitalizing where they could to converse and actively engage folks.

Sources: IBM Benchmark Cyber Monday Report 2011

by TXTImpact

Build Text Alert Opt-in List using Text to Join campaign

#1 Setup a Text to Join campaign

Prospects and customer can send a mobile keyword and join your text alerts list.

#2 Optionally you can add a signup to your website or facebook page using our web widget tool.

Create customize web signup widget, which you can add on your blogs, website, or facebook to allow people join your Text Alert List

#3 Promote your Mobile Keyword

Add to print material, restaurant Menus, Yard Signs, Print Ads, Online, Shopping cart, at POS, Sales receipts, etc.

#4 Now time to enjoy fruit of all hard work, you have gathered opt-in mobile numbers, time to send a promotion, invite for private event, reminder, fund raising call, etc.

Be careful, send very specific message, actionable, to the point, should able to provide or point to the details. Alway include "Reply STOP to cancel. Msg&Data rates may apply."