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Is anyone using a "hands off" approach to white label SMS marketing?

by Brendan Vraibel
7 replies
Hi everyone

I'm curious if anyone is getting clients for SMS marketing and having those clients control everything. Meaning you sign them up at a monthly rate and they run their own campaign and you simply collect the fee.

I was thinking of trying this approach and giving them some training when I first sign a client up and allowing them to access their own dashboard at will. I am concerned that a $100 a month fee is a bit unjustifiable considering they could probably cut me out as a middle man and get that package for far cheaper.

Any advice or thoughts?
#approach #hands off #label #marketing #sms #white
  • Profile picture of the author xlfutur1
    I do this but I use OpenVBX, not a generic texting platform. If you position yourself as the expert, and set it up so that a business owner can send out messages directly from their cell phone, AND utilize voice and text, you can easily charge $100 per month. That's what I charge for up to 500 subscribers, and its probably not enough.

    The video in my sig explains enough for you to be able to do it yourself using openvbx. You can't beat the price of Twilio, and if your client never has to "log in" to anything, you make it super easy for them to use the system and to get results.

    The thing you will have to train them on is how to get subscribers. That is the marketing aspect and the most important part of the equation in my opinion. Its very hands off though as long as they do the marketing to get subscribers consistently.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brendan Vraibel
    Cool video there. I was considering using txt180 but I'll have to look more into twilio.
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  • Profile picture of the author k60mall
    HI Guys

    I will be launching a platform that runs on twilio where you get full use of the platform for a small monthly fee. You can either sell direct to the client or run it as a managed system and you set the prices and payments are paid direct to your paypal account.
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  • Profile picture of the author k60mall
    HI Guys

    I will be launching a platform that runs on twilio where you get full use of the platform for a small monthly fee. You can either sell direct to the client or run it as a managed system and you set the prices and payments are paid direct to your paypal account.
    Signature
    [FACEBOOK AUTORESPONDER] UNLIMITED LISTS/SUBSCRIBERS + 99.9% OPEN RATE = IM WET DREAM!

    Local Business Listing Robot Posts Reviews 24/7 While You Sleep - Now Open
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    • Profile picture of the author Pierre!
      I have been studying up on the SMS marketplace as well... and I can see it becoming a admin overhead nightmare - say an owner thinks up a great message to send out for the bar he owns... and it needs to go out NOW, and it's 10:00pm....

      So this is an interesting thread.

      Scalability is always a big question for me as well. Employees are not the way to go right now, and sub contractors can leave along with your client list despite your best efforts.

      Yah, life's a risk, but you work to minimize the potential for big hits in the kiester.

      I had been thinking that perhaps there is a way to combine the 'end user self manage' approach to the SMS market. Looking at all the info recently it does appear that letting them have an 'open' console would be possibly very dangerous.

      Perhaps it is time for the SMS marketplace to evolve and allow reports and messaging by the end user, but leaving other high level options restricted.

      Guess I am just thinking out loud...

      Other thoughts?
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  • Profile picture of the author zenyatta
    I think you will have much better client retention with a hybrid system. You are the expert at building the database and setting up campaigns. When I setup a client after getting all their list building tools in place. Then I setup 12 mobile coupons and campaigns which I schedule out for the first 3 months. This only takes 1-2 hours and then I can set it and forget it. If my client wants to send 1-2 special offers throughout the month themselves they can. I use Lime and they provide report options for clients like mobile coupons sent, viewed, and redeemed. They also have a full billing and invoicing system which really minimizes headaches. They also have safeguards to keep your clients from taking the database of #s you have built and going to a competitor. If you want to try a free demo go to seattlemobilesolutions dot com.

    Zenyatta
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Wilhite
    You need to evaluate how you're going to provide added value to the SMS service, if that's what you choose to do. You also need to figure out if you're going to provide incentives and what they will be. For instance, if a client signs up with you for website design and hosting and SMS service as a package, perhaps you give them a special monthly deal.
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