[SteveKarens]

Hi - I'm a newbie here, but found a quick way to capture mobile numbers of UK eBay businesses (crucially, CAN-SPAM act does NOT apply in the UK; you can send messages without prior permission if they are related to your target's business, but must stop if asked to do so), plus a platform I built that can send texts all day for nothing (if you wanted to).

My idea is to create a mobile site with plenty of free content relevant to eBay sellers (PLRs on good selling practices, tips and tricks etc) plus affiliate links to eBay relevant products, and hope that texts I send (just a few, not too often) will drive visitors to my site, they get some useful freebies and maybe check out my affiliate links, and some may buy. If anyone texts back saying "STOP" they go off the list.

Do you think this will work? If not, is there a better idea using these or other similar assets, or do you have any suggestions on how to make it work better?
Thank you

[tdanz]

So you will spam them legally? I guess they would still be getting annoyed instead of bringing you conversions.
But sounds like something that can be done fast and cheap so why not try.

[Benjamin T]

Steve,

This past year I had the opportunity to work for a small technology company that focused on reselling electronics that were purchased in bulk. Our main mediums for sale: eBay & Amazon.

From personal experience, I can tell you that if I received a text encouraging me to view a website or purchase a product that may lead to better sales, etc. I would immediately discount it as spam and not credible, even if it's legal for you.

Why? Maybe this is just personal, but business is done over the phone, in person, on paper, and via email. Texts? No way.

So will your idea work? I'd say no, only because I believe you lose all credibility when you send an unsolicited text (even if it's legal). Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right, or it'll work.

Also just had another thought pop into my head... have you considered that most businesses use land lines? So even though the company I worked for (from my introduction) isn't in the UK, if your system got my companies phone number, you couldn't text it, because it's a land line.

I think you'd be far better off setting up the website you discussed, then cold calling these numbers you gather, explain to them that you are well versed in internet marketing and have done a significant amount of research on eBay transactions and think that you could be mutually beneficial to XYZ company.

From experience again, I can tell you that when I receive cold calls, I am say 10x more likely to take it seriously versus if I got an unsolicited email or text. Hopefully I don't need to explain why on that one, but I'd be happy to if you'd like.

Despite probably not being what you wanted to hear, I hope this helps...
Ben

[SteveKarens]

Thank you for the input here - it's cool. And absolutely OK to offer an opinion that it won't work - don't want to waste time flogging a dead horse, so to speak.
@ItWasLuck3 - if you received a text saying what you suggest, and offering a voice conversation if there's interest ("Hey, I'm an expert on eBay, would you be interested in a chat, don't want to waste your time if not interested") would be better received than a text saying "Hey, here's some cool stuff to help your ebay business, click here"
It's interesting that you discount texts more than emails - not disagreeing, but do you think texts get a bigger opening rate than emails, which might compensate a bit?

[desley]

What an interesting idea. My concern is even though it is legal it will still be considered spamming and being very annoying. Being of the older generation myself, I can tell you - I'm only now after 10 years getting used to texting some people I know as I find it a complete pain in the a.....!
As a small Australian business owner I can tell you I would immediately delete the text and not take it seriously.

As to voice text rather than text text - same thing. I also get emails and sometimes persistent emails from businesses wanting me to contract their services and hit the delete button pretty pronto. As a manager of a charity I've just instructed my staff to do the same - delete as it's spam.
Hence whilst I understand mobile is the way to go - like any business, best to build the relationship first and the rest will follow.

[Benjamin T]

Originally Posted by SteveKarens

@ItWasLuck3 - if you received a text saying what you suggest, and offering a voice conversation if there's interest ("Hey, I'm an expert on eBay, would you be interested in a chat, don't want to waste your time if not interested") would be better received than a text saying "Hey, here's some cool stuff to help your ebay business, click here"
It's interesting that you discount texts more than emails - not disagreeing, but do you think texts get a bigger opening rate than emails, which might compensate a bit?

But why do you even need to send a text? Why not just call immediately rather than asking for "permission" to have a conversation. If someone isn't interested, they're just not going to respond to your text. Whereas if you call them, you are taking initiative and forcing a conversation. Worst thing they're going to tell you is sorry, we aren't interested.

Of course, I understand this probably takes more work, but I personally just don't see the value in sending texts to businesses.