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Good way to sell SMS and a question

by rugman
14 replies
I discovered a good way to sell the service. I was at a local bar and opted into their system to see how they were using it. Got about a text a week with notifications of bands - trivia night etc.
went into another bar in town and started talking to the owner about sms text marketing. Not sure he was getting it so I pulled out my Droid and showed him what the competition was doing - his comment - "we need to talk". Basically I let the other bars system do the selling for me!
Here is my question:
In this instance I would set this up for them but they would do the texting - I don't want to deal with the 10PM "we are slow and want to send out a message to our list". I would like to find a system that I can let the end user run easily as well as a system that lets me "hold their hand" and charge for that also.
Anything out there like that - there are so many now it is crazy! I would prefer to just let end users do their own thing and get residuals off it but I know some need the whole thing done for them.
#good #question #sell #sms
  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    There are quite a few White Label programs out there that you can have set up on your own domain. This will allow your client to login to your website and run their own campaigns, or if you want you can charge them a little bit more to manage their campaign for them. Either way it looks like your system so the owner doesn't feel like you're a middle man and they could have gotten a cheaper price somewhere else.

    As for specifics of who to use for White Label, I know that a fellow Warrior, BrashImpact, is in the process of releasing an SMS sytem that from my first peak at it, blows everybody else's out of the water. It is by far the cheapest and Robert (BrashImpact) is an EXPERT at SMS service. I'm excited to see it when it is released!

    -Ben
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  • Profile picture of the author mcconnon12
    This is an awesome way to get clients, thanks for sharing. I usually just show them an example from my system right then and there but I think this is another way to show them their competition is doing it. Nice!
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  • Profile picture of the author mcconnon12
    Forgot to mention, check out textmarks.com so far they are the easiest system i have seen to set up and use and their prices are good, like 2 cents a message or so. They have a free trial, I set up a trial with them and am considering them myself. Ive also checked out lime cellular and others but they all have a high monthly cost at least 150.

    Originally Posted by rugman View Post

    I discovered a good way to sell the service. I was at a local bar and opted into their system to see how they were using it. Got about a text a week with notifications of bands - trivia night etc.
    went into another bar in town and started talking to the owner about sms text marketing. Not sure he was getting it so I pulled out my Droid and showed him what the competition was doing - his comment - "we need to talk". Basically I let the other bars system do the selling for me!
    Here is my question:
    In this instance I would set this up for them but they would do the texting - I don't want to deal with the 10PM "we are slow and want to send out a message to our list". I would like to find a system that I can let the end user run easily as well as a system that lets me "hold their hand" and charge for that also.
    Anything out there like that - there are so many now it is crazy! I would prefer to just let end users do their own thing and get residuals off it but I know some need the whole thing done for them.
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    • Profile picture of the author limecellular
      Originally Posted by mcconnon12 View Post

      Forgot to mention, check out textmarks.com so far they are the easiest system i have seen to set up and use and their prices are good, like 2 cents a message or so. They have a free trial, I set up a trial with them and am considering them myself. Ive also checked out lime cellular and others but they all have a high monthly cost at least 150.
      Did you check out Lime's Affiliate Program? It allows you to start at a more competitive price, and once you generate enough revenue, you can transfer your accounts over to the White Label system.
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      • Profile picture of the author BKH
        Hey rugman, I just wanted to confirm for you that this is exactly how I was showed how to sell it and it has worked wonders for me. You sell restaurant A and then show restaurant B what you are doing for their competition and that one sale actually leads you to 4-5 more. Great advice!
        As far as who to use, I would suggest doing the due diligence as their are a lot of companies out there and there are enough differences between them to make it worth your while to search. I use TXT180 and also considered both Avid Mobile and Trumpia so I would suggest taking a look at them as well. Which ever way you go it looks like your on the right track already.
        Good luck,
        b
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        • Profile picture of the author scarab
          rugman, great idea to get a new customer. Most of the time if a business owner sees a live demonstration of a system in action they want it.

          If you are still looking for system to compare send me PM. Messages start .01 per message.
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  • Profile picture of the author xlfutur1
    Originally Posted by rugman View Post

    I discovered a good way to sell the service. I was at a local bar and opted into their system to see how they were using it. Got about a text a week with notifications of bands - trivia night etc.
    went into another bar in town and started talking to the owner about sms text marketing. Not sure he was getting it so I pulled out my Droid and showed him what the competition was doing - his comment - "we need to talk". Basically I let the other bars system do the selling for me!
    Here is my question:
    In this instance I would set this up for them but they would do the texting - I don't want to deal with the 10PM "we are slow and want to send out a message to our list". I would like to find a system that I can let the end user run easily as well as a system that lets me "hold their hand" and charge for that also.
    Anything out there like that - there are so many now it is crazy! I would prefer to just let end users do their own thing and get residuals off it but I know some need the whole thing done for them.
    I set up Openvbx (Twilio) so that the biz owner can send out messages to the list via their own cell phone. I give them permission only, and no one can reply to the message. It works great and they never have to "log in" to anything. I would suggest doing it for them the first few times then saying "listen, would you like me to program the system so that you can send out a message yourself to the your mobile list right from your cell phone by sending one text message?" They will love you for this.

    Also, I make sure that every time a subscriber comes in, the business owner gets a text letting him know that he has someone new on the list, either from a phone call, or by texting in their keyword. That's why Openvbx (IMHO) is so advantageous and flexible, you can make it do lots of stuff that a white label text provider can't do. Just set your pricing up so that you make a really nice profit, and teach them that they can't send out a message every day, only 2-3 times per month or they will get lots of unsubscribes. At only 1 cent per text, you really can't beat twilio.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasonthewebmaster
    Banned
    Originally Posted by rugman View Post

    I discovered a good way to sell the service. I was at a local bar and opted into their system to see how they were using it. Got about a text a week with notifications of bands - trivia night etc.
    went into another bar in town and started talking to the owner about sms text marketing. Not sure he was getting it so I pulled out my Droid and showed him what the competition was doing - his comment - "we need to talk". Basically I let the other bars system do the selling for me!
    Here is my question:
    In this instance I would set this up for them but they would do the texting - I don't want to deal with the 10PM "we are slow and want to send out a message to our list". I would like to find a system that I can let the end user run easily as well as a system that lets me "hold their hand" and charge for that also.
    Anything out there like that - there are so many now it is crazy! I would prefer to just let end users do their own thing and get residuals off it but I know some need the whole thing done for them.

    It's definitely a good strategy! Showing them what their competition is doing really makes them wake up and go "damn i need to step up my game!"

    You should try this strategy here - it lets you offer SMS services with NO SELLING, and you don't have to train the business owner on how to use it etc. and you will can make a lot more money than if you were an SMS reseller or something.

    cheers
    Jason
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  • Profile picture of the author jondabach
    The money is in handling the service for them - you're going to make 10 times more if you handle the planning of the text campaigns.
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  • Profile picture of the author MKBridge
    That is a great idea, thanks. I am having a lot of success in the "Bar & Grill" type establishment.
    I am still struggling with prices however. I have mine pretty cheap as a start - but I am still making money. Then I sell a mobile website, keywords, and my hourly rate if extra help is included. Any one mind sharing their price point for extra help running the campaigns?
    Thanks MK
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    • Profile picture of the author BKH
      Originally Posted by MKBridge View Post

      That is a great idea, thanks. I am having a lot of success in the "Bar & Grill" type establishment.
      I am still struggling with prices however. I have mine pretty cheap as a start - but I am still making money. Then I sell a mobile website, keywords, and my hourly rate if extra help is included. Any one mind sharing their price point for extra help running the campaigns?
      Thanks MK
      MK, I charge an additional $50 a month to manage the account for them currently. I have just moved over to a white label so man plan is now to charge the $50 account management fee for the first 2-3 months while I get them comfortable with it then hand it over to them to manage.
      Goodluck
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  • Profile picture of the author zenyatta
    Hi Rugman,

    I also use that selling strategy and it works wonders. Our platform allows you or your client to send offers, mobile coupons, and qr codes. What my clients like is being able to access their lists and send offers/coupons right from their mobile phone. So they don't have to go to their laptop or desktop. We also have a scheduler so you can preprogram your offers.

    Good Luck,
    Zenyatta
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