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Starting my own SMS Service

by cashtech29
18 replies
Hello.
I hear many people starting their own SMS service, not white label service, but
the actual root service, witch is owning the software themselves and not having to due business under a larger company, as a white label reseller.

How do I find the methods of getting something like this set up?
I just don't like running my business under a parent company, (As a white label reseller)
where they also have all of my clients information, along with phone numbers etc...

Thanks for any advice that anyone can offer.
I do have the funds to "Start-up", I just need to know where I can buy and set up the software, to get started.

Thanks for any advice.
#service #sms #starting
  • Profile picture of the author Will Perkins
    Originally Posted by cashtech29 View Post

    Hello.
    I hear many people starting their own SMS service, not white label service, but
    the actual root service, witch is owning the software themselves and not having to due business under a larger company, as a white label reseller.

    How do I find the methods of getting something like this set up?
    I just don't like running my business under a parent company, (As a white label reseller)
    where they also have all of my clients information, along with phone numbers etc...

    Thanks for any advice that anyone can offer.
    I do have the funds to "Start-up", I just need to know where I can buy and set up the software, to get started.

    Thanks for any advice.
    Unless you're ready to drop a lot of money on a shortcode (94-304), which I believe are around $500.00 a month, don't bother.

    For software purposes, I'm not sure, all I know is about shortcodes.
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    • Profile picture of the author cashtech29
      That's not too bad, actually.
      Although, I would prefer to just buy the shortcode outright.

      The other thing is that I would need to be able to run this software on
      my own servers, that way, I don't have to worry about any parent white label company stealing my
      clients phone numbers and selling them off in groups...
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Shortcodes are usually a lot more than $500 a month, and you can't just "buy" it outright, last time I checked. You can run your own SMS service on your own server. We use ColdFusion and it has built-in support for SMS.
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    • Profile picture of the author cashtech29
      Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly View Post

      Shortcodes are usually a lot more than $500 a month, and you can't just "buy" it outright, last time I checked. You can run your own SMS service on your own server. We use ColdFusion and it has built-in support for SMS.
      I'd like to hear a little more about this ColdFusion.
      I went to the adobe site and saw several differences.

      Witch one do you use for sms?
      Is it pretty easy to set up, along with getting a general shortcode, while waiting
      for a dedicated shortcode approval?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jay Moreno
    setting up on your own is no easy task - you cant buy your short code out right - $500 will get you just any old shortcode for a memorable vanity one its going to cost you at least $1000/month

    it will also take you about 3 months just to get your shortcode accepted by all the mobile carriers - so know that before you even start your going to probably drop $1500 to $3000 before you even get to send or use a single sms message - if i am not mistaken you also have to buy minimum 3 months at a time...

    you also have to get some method of sending and receiving sms and account management and then some type of user interface/website for people to use send messages and make payments

    its doable but certainly not cheap and you need to know what your doing not to mention jump through a ton of hoops to get there - i know someone who is in the process of doing it right now and i know for a fact hes dropped at least $25k on it without making a single penny yet and is still in the process of getting his vanity shortcode approved

    hth

    jay
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  • Profile picture of the author xlfutur1
    Try using OpenVBX and Twilio. The software is free and Twilio uses local phone numbers and is very inexpensive. You can do alot of things right out of the box, and if you need more functionality just hire someone. I use my phone number locally so they are only 7 digits. With open VBX you can also use the phone number for voice applications as well. So you could send out a voice blast to the list, or (especially) map the number so that it rings the business if called. I'm telling you, business owners love this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    ColdFusion is a server-based Web application programming language. It's what we have on our servers. I believe you need the enterprise version of ColdFusion if you want to purchase it and set it up.

    No, it is not easy to set up. You'll have to train someone to write CF code or hire someone who already does.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      This is one service you don't want to get tied down to, as it can be not only very expensive to keep up with the technology, but time-consuming as well to operate. What I've been doing for the last four years is simply outsourcing it. Just collect the monthly service fees, and focus on marketing.
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      • Profile picture of the author thattori
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        This is one service you don't want to get tied down to, as it can be not only very expensive to keep up with the technology, but time-consuming as well to operate. What I've been doing for the last four years is simply outsourcing it. Just collect the monthly service fees, and focus on marketing.
        Are you outsource the whole process? Do you manage any campaign for Clients?
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      • Profile picture of the author TWalker
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        This is one service you don't want to get tied down to, as it can be not only very expensive to keep up with the technology, but time-consuming as well to operate. What I've been doing for the last four years is simply outsourcing it. Just collect the monthly service fees, and focus on marketing.
        Can you share who you outsource it to? A company? Workers?
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        • Profile picture of the author myob
          Originally Posted by thattori View Post

          Are you outsource the whole process? Do you manage any campaign for Clients?
          Originally Posted by TWalker View Post

          Can you share who you outsource it to? A company? Workers?
          There are literally millions of SMS texting providers that can be used, but I have been using callfire.com for years. They do have both an affiliate program and a white label option.

          What I do is sell the service, train a designated person or the IT dept inside the company how to use it, and then just bill them monthly. For larger companies, I just sell the service and earn a monthly affiliate residual income. This frees up all the nitty gritty detail of operations to consult with the companies for additional add-ons and upsells. Essentially, approaching businesses to use SMS texting is just a lead generator for me to get my foot in the door for my other high technology products and services.
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          • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
            Originally Posted by myob View Post

            What I do is sell the service, train a designated person or the IT dept inside the company how to use it, and then just bill them monthly.
            I am a little confused here...

            If you train a designated person to operate the system and they don't need you anymore, how do you collect monthly fees?

            Are you letting them use YOUR system or they purchase their own?


            Thomas
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            • Profile picture of the author myob
              Originally Posted by SirThomas View Post

              I am a little confused here...

              If you train a designated person to operate the system and they don't need you anymore, how do you collect monthly fees?

              Are you letting them use YOUR system or they purchase their own?


              Thomas
              For small businesses, just set up an encrypted redirect from your website to the user page. The clients never see pricing info. Mostly, though, I sell the service as an affiliate and collect the monthly recurring commissions. Even though they don't technically need me anymore, I still touch base with them at least every month to offer tips, enhancements, and very often sell other products.
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              • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
                Originally Posted by myob View Post

                For small businesses, just set up an encrypted redirect from your website to the user page. The clients never see pricing info. Mostly, though, I sell the service as an affiliate and collect the monthly recurring commissions. Even though they don't technically need me anymore, I still touch base with them at least every month to offer tips, enhancements, and very often sell other products.
                Thank you. This makes sense. I also believe that very often selling as an affiliate might be the way to go.


                Thomas
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  • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
    Originally Posted by Sevenmild View Post

    Isn't Internet messaging/pinging/etc. completely taking over the SMS - text messaging soon?
    can you expand on this? give some examples?


    Thomas
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  • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
    I see. There are already apps companies can give away to customers and then contact them at will. However, you'd need to convince your potential customers to download it to their phones... And others will be doing the same thing... :-)

    I think that eventually, that's where the market will be going, but it may take some time.

    Thomas
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