How To Answer This Question?
 

I just pitched one of my friend's friend an idea for SMS marketing at his pub, he has the biggest pub in his area of around 30,000 people. He asked me this:

What sms system are you using?

I am going to be using AvidMobile but should I tell him this? I am a complete newbie at SMS marketing and I can't tell whether or not he is trying to run it by himself. I am thinking of just telling him we are running a custom coded plugin that allows us to monitor everything or something along those lines, how would you answer this question?

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

It depends on where you live, if you live in the US/CA/UK you can use Twilio (even if I had some problems with my hostgator server and Twilio i think it's a good service, just get another hosting if yours seems to have some problems with Twilio)
I currently use Textmarketer (UK only) since the UK Twilio has almost the same cost/message but also makes me pay for the inbound texts.

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

I think I would first ask him what exactly does he mean by what sms system. I think I would then explain to him how the platform you are using works, evade the question by giving some details about how he could have several different keywords for different promotions, talk about how he could run contests and raffles, and if he pushed it I still would not give my source but tell him that it is a proprietary info and if he decided to bring you on as a team member (don't like to think of the business as a client) that you would be more than happy to share the information. But we hope he would forget to bring it back up again 8-)

Good Luck...pls post the outcome, I'm curious

P.S. Have you checked out txt180.com as a service platform, that's who I use!

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

Tell him.... one that is going to bring in a flood of customers at specific times that he sets up.

If he persists, ask him why he's asking...... then just tell him it's one you've decided on after a lot of research and testing. Does he have a specialty drink that he doesn't give up all of the ingredients on? Something like say... a pizza place's "secret sauce"..... they don't give up that info. All the customer knows is it's good and keeps coming back. Same thing with your service.. bottom line is...... his bottom line. If it improves sales, then it is an effective service and worth the investment. Give him a month free to build up the list.

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

If he presses the question say you partnered with a company and use their platform. Avid can installed a masked URL login on your website so it looks like it's from your own website.

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

Yeah that is what I am probably going to do, I have already decided what I am going to use for a platform.

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

He has now asked me this:

All text messaging is based on sms as the protocal. Are you reselling someone elses backbone or have you created a new company or system? Sorry i spent 20 years in IT and the last 13 in marketing specializing in technology dependant channels ( including new media channels such as social media and sms marketing). I know that was a pretty pointed question but i wanted to know to see if there was a value for me to use the service or if it was one i have already used in the past for my clients. I wanted to know that before i asked questions about db sourcing and such.


How should I respond?

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

I was going to say this is the reason that he asked the first question. He has used or been approached to use systems before and thus the response. You really have a couple ways of approaching it, first if Avid offers the white label let him know it is your company of which you purchased the platform from a third party. I don't recommend this because he sounds like he will just follow that up with more questioning. Option 2, tell him! I am a reseller of avid mobile and I use their platform because...it already sounds as though he knows enough that if you continue trying to resell him something he will find out eventually. I can safely say that both of my largest clients know that I use txt180 but still go through me because of what I offer (personability, signage, on-hand help and tutelage, etc)even though I am obviously higher priced than they can get it directly from txt180. Either way, you may lose the opportunity but I strongly believe the only way you keep a chance of obtaining him is by being forthright.
Best of luck to you,
b

Re: How To Answer This Question?
 

Need to know basis. I would say it is not necessary for you to disclose your 3rd party vendor.