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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 11:54 AM   #1
Will Roberts
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SMS Customer billing question
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I am looking into establishing an SMS business for my local community, as it seems like virgin territory here. Currently considering using Twilio as my backend. Any opinions or suggestions?

I am also curious as to how other providers have set up their billing in terms of price structure etc.

Do you charge an initial set up fee?
Do you charge a minimum monthly fee?
Do you offer flat rate plans? Are they tiered?
Do you charge a flat rate per opt-in?
Do you just mark up the cost a certain percentage over your cost? If so, how much?
Do you limit your customers to the number of outgoing messages per month?

Any and all information or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Do You Need a Cost Effective way of reaching out to your offline clients or prospects?

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:00 PM   #2
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by BillBert View Post

I am looking into establishing an SMS business for my local community, as it seems like virgin territory here. Currently considering using Twilio as my backend. Any opinions or suggestions?

I am also curious as to how other providers have set up their billing in terms of price structure etc.

Do you charge an initial set up fee?
Do you charge a minimum monthly fee?
Do you offer flat rate plans? Are they tiered?
Do you charge a flat rate per opt-in?
Do you just mark up the cost a certain percentage of your cost? If so, how much?
Do you limit your customers to the number of outgoing messages per month?

Any and all information or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
I am not trying to be judgmental, but your post makes it obvious that you currently know next to nothing about the SMS Marketing Frontier.

Before you get started I would recommend reading up on it to get a better idea of how it works in terms of structure & pricing models.

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:06 PM   #3
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by HypeText View Post

I am not trying to be judgmental, but your post makes it obvious that you currently know next to nothing about the SMS Marketing Frontier.

Before you get started I would recommend reading up on it to get a better idea of how it works in terms of structure & pricing models.

Thanks for your well informed input, it is much appreciated.

However, I have a GREAT Working knowledge on the technical side of it and an awesome network and track record for growing businesses.

However, through my LIMITED STUDIES, I have found many different models and I was wanting to see if there were any unique ideas here or if there was a consensus on the best way to do things.

But since you are the resident expert (OBVIOUSLY) why won't you share your way of doing it, seeing that you are so successful.

Something as simple as providing a link to the proper information would have been kind, but probably wouldn't have make you feel as powerful though!

Just looking for help.

Thanks.

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:16 PM   #4
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by BillBert View Post

Thanks for your well informed input, it is much appreciated.

However, I have a GREAT Working knowledge on the technical side of it and an awesome network and track record for growing businesses.

However, through my LIMITED STUDIES, I have found many different models and I was wanting to see if there were any unique ideas here or if there was a consensus on the best way to do things.

But since you are the resident expert (OBVIOUSLY) why won't you share your way of doing it, seeing that you are so successful.

Something as simple as providing a link to the proper information would have been kind, but probably wouldn't have make you feel as powerful though!

Just looking for help.

Thanks.
There was no reason to be rude.

Your above post asked questions that even the most rank newbie has answers to.

I don't know of a single company in the Mobile Industry that charges "Per Opt-In", there are no Minimums in this industry unless you are referring to the smallest package offerings, and asking if Marketers Mark up over Cost is just plain silly as there wouldnt be any profit if they didnt...

Getting the answers you need is as simple as Googling the information.

The most common model is creating packages. Set Up Fees are common in face to face selling but rather uncommon in web based sales. You can also charge management fees over and above the monthly package cost.

There are a limited number of Companies that create packages based upon the number of Opt Ins on a list but it is rather uncommon.

My recommendation that you read up on it wasnt degrading you, it was being honest. Anyone on here who would be providing you a link or pointing you in the right direction would have had to do a search first...something you could very well do on your own.

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:21 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by HypeText View Post

There was no reason to be rude.

Your above post asked questions that even the most rank newbie has answers to.

I don't know of a single company in the Mobile Industry that charges "Per Opt-In", there are no Minimums in this industry unless you are referring to the smallest package offerings, and asking if Marketers Mark up over Cost is just plain silly as there wouldnt be any profit if they didnt...

Getting the answers you need is as simple as Googling the information.

The most common model is creating packages. Set Up Fees are common in face to face selling but rather uncommon in web based sales. You can also charge management fees over and above the monthly package cost.

There are a limited number of Companies that create packages based upon the number of Opt Ins on a list but it is rather uncommon.
I am sorry for being rude, I thought I was answering in kind.

And for your information, I personally know of someone who is very successful in this business, and he charges his clients based on "opt in". So I guess you don't know everything!


You need to read more carefully. Of course you mark it up, I was asking how much over cost 100%, 1000%???? Duh!

Do You Need a Cost Effective way of reaching out to your offline clients or prospects?

Feel free to contact me directly and I will give you the details!
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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:26 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by BillBert View Post

I am sorry for being rude, I thought I was answering in kind.

And for your information, I personally know of someone who is very successful in this business, and he charges his clients based on "opt in". So I guess you don't know everything!


You need to read more carefully. Of course you mark it up, I was asking how much over cost 100%, 1000%???? Duh!
I believe I stated that as "I don't know of a single company in the Mobile Industry that charges "Per Opt-In""

Your markup is going to depend largely on your wholesale cost...and depending on the aggregator you are using that cost could be a pretty wide range.

You said you had a provider, but you are also asking questions that a wholesale provider would ordinarily be providing answers for.

You arent hoping to buy retail and mark it up are you? I have to ask because it just doesnt seem like you are dealing wholesale.

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:48 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by HypeText View Post

You arent hoping to buy retail and mark it up are you? I have to ask because it just doesnt seem like you are dealing wholesale.
I am not dealing anything at this point. What I have done is build what I feel to be an awesome frontend, where users (customers) can log in and manage their account (Create campaigns, send messages etc). I currently have it coded for use with Twilio at 1cent per message.

Who is your wholesaler?

Ideally I would like a wholesaler that would allow me to host my own "frontend" and then connect to their system for the purposes of sending and receiving text messages. I don't mean a white label where I am using their server to host my reseller account. I want all of the data kept on my system/server. Am I making sense or am I loosing you? Perhaps I am using the wrong terminology, and if I am please forgive me.

Thanks

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:52 PM   #8
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by BillBert View Post

I am not dealing anything at this point. What I have done is build what I feel to be an awesome frontend, where users (customers) can log in and manage their account (Create campaigns, send messages etc). I currently have it coded for use with Twilio at 1cent per message.

Who is your wholesaler?

Ideally I would like a wholesaler that would allow me to host my own "frontend" and then connect to their system for the purposes of sending and receiving text messages. I don't mean a white label where I am using their server to host my reseller account. I want all of the data kept on my system/server. Am I making sense or am I loosing you? Perhaps I am using the wrong terminology, and if I am please forgive me.

Thanks
You havent lost me...

If you have built your own platform you might consider looking into getting your own shortcode and then just dealing directly with the carriers.

In the long run it would be a heck of a lot cheaper.

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 12:56 PM   #9
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by HypeText View Post

You havent lost me...

If you have built your own platform you might consider looking into getting your own shortcode and then just dealing directly with the carriers.

In the long run it would be a heck of a lot cheaper.
Thank you.

And your Wholesale supplier is?

Or is that private?

Your input is appreciated.

Do You Need a Cost Effective way of reaching out to your offline clients or prospects?

Feel free to contact me directly and I will give you the details!
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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 01:00 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by BillBert View Post

Thank you.

And your Wholesale supplier is?

Or is that private?

Your input is appreciated.
We Licensed Lime Cellulars Technology and purchase through them...

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Unread 11th Mar 2012, 01:22 PM   #11
Will Roberts
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by HypeText View Post

We Licensed Lime Cellulars Technology and purchase through them...
Do you offer an SMS API or gateway?

Do You Need a Cost Effective way of reaching out to your offline clients or prospects?

Feel free to contact me directly and I will give you the details!
BillBert is offline  
Unread 11th Mar 2012, 03:50 PM   #12
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Re: SMS Customer billing question
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Originally Posted by BillBert View Post

Do you offer an SMS API or gateway?
We have the availability of 6 different API's that are designed to interact with the platform:

1) Key Word availability

2) Advertiser Account Creation

3) Opt In form

4) Login

5) Send a Poll

6) One Way SMS for Service Providers

Other API's can be developed on a as needed basis

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