[Woodward82]

Seems like the last 3 months or so I have been getting a few text messages to my phone advertising different websites. I cant sit here and say I never signed up for that list or not. (I sometimes sign up for things and dont remember)

So whats your take on SMS Marketing, it seems like the open rate would be a LOT higher than any email, but what about people actually clicking the link, that would be different all together.

What about tools and methods for collecting and using cell.numbers for marketing.

Im pretty interested in this lately and would like to know your take on it and any useful tools or avenues about going about this

[Adrian Int]

Hey there Woodward.. I followed you here from the general forum to answer your question.. haha

I've received a few "text" messages from vendors over the past few months even though I've never signed up to receive any knowingly.

Personally, I've found them annoying and view text messages as a place where I expect to be contacted only by friends perhaps the odd client at a strange hour (which I don't mind as they don't tend to wake me up :-P).

So.. as a "person" or prospective client/customer... I don't want your darn texts. (Or, at least not yet).

As a vendor, I'm interested in the idea, but they remind me a bit of twitter tweets.
It can be hard to get a complex idea across within the character limit of most phones - and I don't think most people want you to send them a novel's worth of text messages.. haha.

Overall thoughts are these...

Like the Pictures vs. 1,000 Words debate, I think text message based advertisements will be better than e-mails for certain markets. Open rates may be higher, but that's only because users don't tend to see a title before they open - they just see a "1 new message" icon on their smartphone.

The other issue is timing. If you send your prospect a text message while he's working his 9-5 day job, or his 12:30-9 afternoon shift... or his 11pm-8am night shift... he won't necessarily be able to respond to it in the timely fashion you're looking for anyway.

So.. if you want to use it - make sure it makes sense for your market... don't just hop on the band wagon because it's a hot topic.

Cheers,
-Adrian

[Woodward82]

Agree with you Adrian, on pretty much all of your points. It really annoys me when I get them but for some reason I'm still intrigued and just dont think its been utilized correctly yet and keep wondering if there is a better way to use this method with a higher conversion and not annoying the customer as much. Of course another thing is not everyone is in the 4g market and well at least for me 3g doesnt really load pages very fast unless there optimized.

[Adrian Int]

It's true, Woodward.

Despite what I said perhaps sounding a bit negative.. I'm still keeping my eye on it.

Personally, I can't justify utilizing the method in my business ventures yet, but (as many people will agree I'm sure) I do see potential.

Right now, I'd be inclined to try text message marketing if my market was "techy" or part of that group best known as "trail blazers". There are still too many people out there with 3g phones on those darn 3 year contracts... haha. I know my girlfriend is one (blackberry curve - not sure of the exact model). She steals my phone (samsung galaxy) whenever we need to look up something up on the web or use the GPS.

There is, however, definitely something to be said for having the facilities in place for when they get that upgrade to a (presumably) 5G phone. :-P


Cheers,
-Adrian

[ddshosting]

I agree with Adrain and whether looking at it through a personal or vendor's perspective. thanks for the info

[macker2298]

i used them in the past as part of a whole digital marketing strategy to get a hold of younger consumers for certain products...like someone already mentioned, the trick is for the link to take you to an optimized mobile site...my phone carrier sends me sms almost on a daily basis and their site is horrible

[HypeText]

I am not sure where you are located but I did see that one poster mentioned getting spam messages but that person is in Canada.

Here in the US all SMS Marketing has to be Opt In, if its not the sender can be subject to fines up to $500 per message.

The fact is that SMS is incredibly powerful if used properly.

As an example, last year Carraba's Italian Grill (National Chain) did their first Discount Offer via SMS...

They sent a Discount Coupon via SMS to a subscriber List of 763 Opted In Consumers...this was done in Orlando Fl.

They had a Whopping 68% Redemption Rate.

Yes, you read that correctly....68%!

So to answer your question, Yes...it not only works well...it works INCREDIBLY well!

Of course that is dependent on the proper offers being sent.

If you are thinking about getting into make sure you get some training first....if you don't know what you are doing to can end up doing more damage than good for the businesses you might end up working with.

[MoBuzz]

SMS Marketing can be very powerful if used correctly. I find that most people love getting great deals sent to their phone AS LONG AS THEY OPTED IN TO RECEIVE THEM.

Most people that I have spoke with prefer to save a text coupon for a BOGO to be used when they are ready as opposed to carrying a Valpak coupon around with them.

For those into "coupons" I think mobile is def the future.

[QualityVideoTestimonial]

I would like to subscribe for SMS marketing if I am really interested in their products and services. Also SMS marketing directly reach to the customer and 99% user will read it and take actions. It is good way to get information related to special offers, hot products etc. Just my view.

[Woodward82]

With all of this said, are there any tools that are good for sending the SMS messages and can I use aweber to get the opt-in? Maybe a tick box? I have yet to actually work with opt-in list. Its actually what is next on my list to actually learn, and I wouldnt mind adding a sms opt-in for future use of course not until i can find the best way to use it and know that its not going to annoy my customers or prospects

[HypeText]

Originally Posted by Woodward82

With all of this said, are there any tools that are good for sending the SMS messages and can I use aweber to get the opt-in? Maybe a tick box? I have yet to actually work with opt-in list. Its actually what is next on my list to actually learn, and I wouldnt mind adding a sms opt-in for future use of course not until i can find the best way to use it and know that its not going to annoy my customers or prospects

If you are in the US or Canada I can help...just pm me or call the number in my Signature Line


Posted from Warrior Forum Reader for Android

[bnicoletti82]

I think apps with push notifications are more viable in the long term. Especially if you are looking to expand beyond a local market.

[mcfcok]

Originally Posted by bnicoletti82

I think apps with push notifications are more viable in the long term. Especially if you are looking to expand beyond a local market.

I'm not so sure and this is why.....

Apps are expensive, well a decent one is. I can't see consumers downloading apps from all local businesses... big companies yes but not joe bloggs who runs x business down the road.

A solution to that problem would be to build a local comunnity app which you can sell space on so like a directory. Consumers only have to download one app and get access to all other small businesses who advertise on it!

Basically an mini app within a big main app.

[TrumpiaTim]

Since everything is on an optin basis and text messages are typically read upon arrival SMS marketing is proving to be extremely effective. My only advice here is that the offer must still be relatively enticing to drive the customer to click on your mobile link.

[WillR]

Originally Posted by bnicoletti82

I think apps with push notifications are more viable in the long term. Especially if you are looking to expand beyond a local market.

You do realize a large percentage of people disable push notifications on most apps they install. Effective? Hmmm, not really, not as much as sms marketing. Less and less people will allow push notifications the more apps they install.

[cmacker]

I used textmarketer for a competition at the Ideal Home Show in London to win quite a decent prize, we got 96 entrants over 3 weeks via text. Not great compared to the value of the prize. I asked a few people why they didnt enter and the typical response was "yeah enter the competition and get a message from you guys everyday for the rest of my life" it didnt work for us but maybe it has done for someone else.

[Runner900]

Originally Posted by WillR

You do realize a large percentage of people disable push notifications on most apps they install. Effective? Hmmm, not really, not as much as sms marketing. Less and less people will allow push notifications the more apps they install.

Your existing customers, if marketed to correctly, will be less likely to disable push notifications.

A lot of SMS marketing can take the scatter-gun approach in any event - ie; SMS as many people as possible, hoping for leads.

[mcfcok]

Originally Posted by Michalclarke786

It really annoys me when I get them but for some reason I'm still intrigued and just dont think its been utilized correctly yet and keep wondering if there is a better way to use this method with a higher conversion and not annoying the customer as much.

You get annoyed at receiving texts you OPTED IN to? or are you talking about unsolicited texts?

[beeswarn]

Originally Posted by bnicoletti82

I think apps with push notifications are more viable in the long term. Especially if you are looking to expand beyond a local market.

You do? On what basis do you form that opinion?

For example, how much does it cost you in time and resources to develop separate versions of each app to run equally well on Android, iPhone and Windows 7 platforms?

How much do you spend to update each version of your app for each platform update and how much do you spend to secure them originally, monthly and for each update?