Woah.. I had no idea AIM could do this!
Woah.. I had no idea AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) would prove to be this useful in my internet marketing pursuits. Don't get me wrong AIM served me well in high school, and well before I got my first cell phone, but I stopped using it for 3-4 years ago.
..but last Friday a client of mine requested that we use AIM for our primary way of communicating - so I downloaded the newest version, proceeded to use it, and didn't think much of it at the time.
Latter that day, I went back to AIM to see if I could retrieve my old contacts. They sent me over to Instant Messenger - AIM - Instant Message Your Online Buddies for Free - AIM - but I never could retrieve them. While I was there I learned that you can set up "Blast Lists" for SMS as well as Instant Messaging.
I thought that was pretty sweet, so I updated my contact list (I did this by looking up old contacts on Facebook, you'd be surprised how many of them list their (same) AIM user name there... and still use it).
And I created 2 groups: one for business and one for friends and family.
I sent out 2 Blasts: one IM and one SMS --- to each group.
The response rate was unbelievable. Yeah sure, you can expect to get a good response rate from friends and family, but the relationship I had with most my "business" contacts was something like our (or at least mine) relationships with twitter "friends". Meaning they're not really interest in us, only interested what we say.
Here's what I wrote to my AIM Family/friend group..
Here's what I wrote to my AIM Business Blast group..
I had at least 20-30 (out of 79) business minded people write back within 5-30 minutes - (I presume it was random like that because most of them went to check out my work first)... Anyways one week later I closed a (big) website deal for The National Hair Center here in my home town.
And that's why I'm (really) back with AIM.
AIM is a great tool and I never should have doubted it, after all it's really the only reason AOL is still alive (note: that's just my theory and don't know if that statement is actually true). Until Google Wave comes out, I recommend you keep AIM as one of your top tools for internet communication.
..but last Friday a client of mine requested that we use AIM for our primary way of communicating - so I downloaded the newest version, proceeded to use it, and didn't think much of it at the time.
Latter that day, I went back to AIM to see if I could retrieve my old contacts. They sent me over to Instant Messenger - AIM - Instant Message Your Online Buddies for Free - AIM - but I never could retrieve them. While I was there I learned that you can set up "Blast Lists" for SMS as well as Instant Messaging.
| Definition: An AIM Blast Group is a great way to IM or SMS your friends, coworkers, or customers all at once, and all from the convenience of your Buddy List ™. |
And I created 2 groups: one for business and one for friends and family.
I sent out 2 Blasts: one IM and one SMS --- to each group.
The response rate was unbelievable. Yeah sure, you can expect to get a good response rate from friends and family, but the relationship I had with most my "business" contacts was something like our (or at least mine) relationships with twitter "friends". Meaning they're not really interest in us, only interested what we say.
Here's what I wrote to my AIM Family/friend group..
| I'm back.. |
| Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on. I've been speaking the truth and spreading cheer with my websites for a while - check em out (<- link to personal portfolio) |
And that's why I'm (really) back with AIM.
AIM is a great tool and I never should have doubted it, after all it's really the only reason AOL is still alive (note: that's just my theory and don't know if that statement is actually true). Until Google Wave comes out, I recommend you keep AIM as one of your top tools for internet communication.