20%

[John S. Rhodes]

I've just read in 3 different places that 20% of Papa John's orders are coming via SMS.
This is just the start of mobile internet marketing. Start educating yourself...

~ John

[athena08]

That's an impressive number. Times are ever changing and we all better keep up. I bet that's just the start as you say we need to start educating ourselves about this.

One question...is there a difference between SMS and a text message? If so, what is it? Thanks. Trying to educate myself as we post.

[Christopher R Everson]

You know those ads you see on later at night "Text xxx-xxxx to find your lover, to find your horoscope, to chat with hotties, etc".

That's generally recurring monthly charges, or large up front charges. Sometimes as high as $2 a text. Imagine a conversation with a "hottie" at $2 a text. Easily $20 spent.

What's more, those charges are automatic. Most people don't even know they are happening, it usually just gets tacked onto a phone bill.

You keep seeing them for a reason, because they are working, and working well.

I think of it like this.

Why do people generally call? Because they don't want to drive, or wait, or send mail. It's closer to them.

Why do people use the internet? Because they dont want to drive, call, or wait around. It's closer to them.

Why would someone use a cell phone? Because it's almost always on them.

It's bringing convenience to another level. Many people pay bills, many people live by their blackberries.

If someone can order a pizza without even having to talk to someone on the phone, you better believe they'll do it.

In a hundred years, if someone can order a pizza without even have to text, just by thinking it, they will.

It can be beautiful and pitiful at the same time

[Mark Brock]

I know that PayPal offers their Website Payments Pro users (US only) to accept orders via phone but I don't know if that includes SMS or if it's just via a phone call?

If they don't accept orders via SMS yet then it will be interesting to see how long it takes PayPal and other payment processors to jump on this.

Mark

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by athena08

One question...is there a difference between SMS and a text message? If so, what is it?

No difference; they're they same thing.

Tommy.

[Thomas]

I'm wondering what stage m-commerce is at in the U.S.?

The reason I ask is that I recently came across stuff on this forum, and elsewhere, about the subject and some of the "potential applications" being talked about have come-and-gone in Europe several years ago. I've even seen someone over there call it the "web 3.0 revolution"!

Also, I hope no European marketers are getting ideas from American proponents of the concept: Some of the things being recommended have been illegal in Europe for some time: For example, in Ireland you can NOT send text messages to a paying customer unless they have bought something in the last 12 months AND you specifically ask them if they consent to contact in that format AND explain who will have access to their number AND offer them a cost-free means to opt-out of further communication EVERY SINGLE TIME you contact them (there's half your SMS space gone already!).

If you don't comply, you risk a penalty of €3,000 per violation.

Afaik, regulations such as these have been derived from E.U. diktats, meaning something similar would apply throughout the entire European Union.

Tommy.

[jjemarque]

Hey Folks,

I think I have something that everybody will be interested in. I've come up with a free text messaging strategy. There are several parts to the strategy and I have prepared 2 free videos detailing the implementation of the strategy.

You can get to them by clicking the link in my signature file at the end of this post.

Here's what you get from the strategy.

- People can subscribe to both your text and email lists by submitting a single subscription form.

- The ability to make a single blog post and have your text subscribers automatically notified of the post (and email subscribers too)

- Each text notification your subscribers receive has a link to the post and the post is automatically formatted to read well on any mobile device.

- You don't have to pay a dime to send these automated updates your subscribers, even if there are 20,000 or more of them.

I hope you all check it out, enjoy it, and implement it.

This strategy is part of a bigger concept I am working on. I'm calling it "The Conversation Exponential."

Anyhow, hope this helps with the text messaging / marketing. I've been thinking about it for some time and hope this helps open the doors to the mobile world.

Best Wishes and Happy Holidays,

Jeff

P.S. PM me if you have any specific questions that aren't answered in the videos.