How Often Do You TEXT?

If you're planning a launch for the near or immediate future, consider integrating this tactic (texting) into your event-building efforts. Place a cell phone # opt-in form on the launch blog for VIP notification and have a special video designed specifically to "sell" the opt-in (perhaps offering an incentive). This would only be seen by prospects that have already submitted their details and have opted-in to receive your pre-launch announcements and free gifts, so you wouldn't be risking the initial opt-in.

The theory is that by using the medium of text messaging (which is insanely popular right now, and has been for a while), you'll have yet another way to facilitate the "buzz-building" or your launch and maximize your social networking potential (i.e. messages get forwarded all the time).

Imagine spending $100 and sending out a text notification up to 160 characters long to a VIP list of 4,000 pre-launch subscribers hours, even minutes before you go live. Imagine sending out a series of targeted messages strategically peppered throughout your launch timeline that underscore certain essential factors such as social proof and scarcity.

I have identified two SMS services that cater to this exact method of mass message delivery:

Note: I have not yet used either one of these services and therefore cannot speak to their quality.

Mobile Marketing and Bulk Text Messaging Software by Club Texting

Easy Mass SMS and Group Text Messaging from Ez Texting

I'm planning two massive roll-outs over the next several months and intend to use this strategy (in concert with traditional email messaging) to its absolute maximum potential, whatever that potential may be. Will it flop and be a miserable waste of time? I don't know. But for the small amount I'll have to pay to find out, I'm willing to take that risk. Cheers.