For today’s business owner, the “newest” and most cost-effective marketing tool is “text message advertising.” So, let’s answer the questions.

What is it?
Text Messaging Advertising or Short Message Service (SMS) is limited to 160 characters, which is both good and bad. It can be bad in that you can’t exactly text all the details about something, but it’s good in that it keeps you on point and nearly guarantees your message will be read. Texting facts state about 95% of all text messages received are read within the first 3 to 5 minutes. Compared this to newspaper, email, direct mail, or any other way to get a message out, this is a much more efficient way to get your message delivered and read.

What can it do for me?
SMS text messaging advertising can increase the number of new customers you have, and increase the repeat business you get from existing customers.
Let’s use a restaurant as an example. You go into the restaurant, and are informed either by something on the table, or by the waiter, that if you text NEW MCCARTHYS to 41513, you will receive a free drink. (In this example, “NEW MCCARTHYS” is a keyword, and “41513″ is a shortcode.) You take out your cell phone, send the text, and a few seconds later receive a text message back that you will receive the free drink by showing the message to the cashier.

Forward two weeks. It’s Tuesday morning, and you are wondering what you are going to do for lunch. Your phone beeps, and you see you have a new message. It says, “Between 11 and 1 TODAY, get a free dessert with any entre at McCarthy’s. Show this message to cashier to redeem.” Decision made.

It doesn’t have to be a restaurant. Retail stores can have a sale exclusively for subscribers. Sports teams sell more tickets with special promotions. Golf courses can promote an early evening special. Youth groups can let everyone know that summer camp fees are due tomorrow. The list is literally endless.

If you see a use for SMS in your business– there are a few things you need to know before you start.
1. Be legal. Right now, the SMS field is not plagued by spam the way email is. Estimates show that over 90% of all emails are either sent straight to spam or are not read. It’s hard to find an email from anyone except a close friend that doesn’t contain some kind of sales pitch and link in it. In spite of strict anti-spam laws, there are still companies that mine for email addresses and then sell them as legitimate.
If you use SMS texting to advertise, be sure you get the customer’s information legitimately, and always give them a way to stop. Don’t send a message to anyone who has not first given you their permission to send them offers, and don’t send them anything after they say they’d like to stop.

SMS Message Pros helps do this for you and keeps you in compliance.

2. Set your goals for the program. Decide what you want your messaging program to do for you. If you are a politician that wants to send out a “get out and vote today,” your goals will be entirely different from if you want people to get a message to come into your store when they are close by.

3. Continue with traditional marketing methods. Text message marketing is not yet the be-all and end-all. You will still need to continue with at least some of your traditional methods. Including your keyword and short code in your other advertising will increase your responses. As your text messaging data base grows, your other advertising venues can decline.

4. GIVE. People don’t willingly give out their cell phone numbers to strangers, and if you are going to capture a phone number, you need to make sure they get value for it. “Free” is the operative word.
Customers need to feel like they are getting something special, and not just a text that gives them something everyone else also is getting. Be creative. You only need that customer to text you once to be entered onto your list so think about- what is that customer worth to you over the next week, month or year and make it worth his or her while to give you their number.
5. Be respectful. (Show restraint). Two to four messages a month will probably be more effective than bombarding them every day or so. Too much, and your customer will opt-out.
Also, don’t be cute with your audience. “Was gr8 2 c u” may work when a teen is texting a teen, but not for business. In all of your messages, show respect for your clientele. Short, sweet and to the point.

The opportunity is in front of you. The possibilities are endless. Text message marketing is here to stay, whether you use it for your business or not.

To see if text messaging advertising is right for your business contact Ted Fabis for a Free no obligation consultation at 800 580-1448 or http://www.smsmessagepros.com

I recently came across an article written by Dan Butcher on SMS Text Messaging and the sports field . Just thought I would share this.

McDonald’s sponsors Houston Texans’ mobile marketing initiatives

McDonald’s, MasterCard and Whataburger are the initial sponsors of the just-launched mobile marketing program of the National Football League’s Houston Texans.
The Houston Texans have announced a two-year partnership to bring real-time interactivity to fans while at Reliant Stadium. The promotions range from real-time SMS voting and text alerts to in-stadium video board games and contests.

“The team is very much up to date with the social media and texting with their fans, with in-stadium calls-to-action and a Web site entry form to sign up for text alerts.”

The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The team is a member of the Southern Division of the NFL’s American Football Conference (AFC).

Are you ready for SMS?
The Houston Texans will begin running mobile promotions during the preseason and will continue while fans are at the games.
The latest team news from the Texans include real-time in-game scoring updates, team transaction notices, injury notifications, player appearances and special offers on merchandise and tickets, delivered straight to fans’ mobile phones.

The Texans are currently offering three separate text clubs for game-day score updates, team news and alerts, and special ticket and merchandise offers, respectively.
Fans can join by texting the keyword SCORES to the short code 88222, NEWS to 88222 or OFFERS to 88222.
The Texans are broadcasting graphics inside the stadium featuring branding from McDonald’s, MasterCard and Whataburger.
McDonald’s is sponsoring SMS voting for play of the game and third down stop of the game.
MasterCard is sponsoring a trivia question, while Whataburger is sponsoring the player of the month vote.
The Houston Texans are a smart and creative organization, and that his company is looking forward to pushing the envelope with its texting tactics.

“The Texans asked ‘How do we figure out who is watching our games, listening to our games and at our games, and engage with them?”

“Text messaging is a great way, and they can also have people text in to collect their phone numbers, email address, physical addresses and get them to Like the Texans’ Facebook page,”

SMS Message Pros works with restaurants, retailers, clubs, and organizations to deliver their messages via opt-in text messaging to their customers and fans. For More Info contact Ted Fabis at 800 580-1448 or log on to http://www.smsmessagepros.com

However, research indicates that most of these programs have proved to be little more than names in a database.

A 2009 study from marketing research firm Colloquy showed:

• A 25 percent increase between 2006 and 2008 in loyalty program memberships within the United States alone.

• Fewer than 44 percent of loyalty program memberships showed any activity last year.

What is the key to reversing this expensive trend of stagnation? Mobile texting

Mobile texting adds a new and powerful dimension to customer loyalty, and coupon programs. Texting can enable companies to get their brand and services in front of customers any time a mobile phone is in use. 

Unlike a card sitting unseen in a purse or wallet, and unlike sales offers that come through the mail or email, a mobile loyalty program can deliver incentives to consumers wherever they are, targeting them for timely promotions.

Using mobile texting programs effectively, requires building a good database of names. Now is the time to build the list so by the time the holiday season rolls around you will have a great customer opted-in database to work with.

SMS Message Pros provides both the list building tools and back-end management platform to launch successful text advertising campaigns using customer opt-in lists.

The conclusion is simple – mobile texting is a key to the future success of loyalty programs. 

Efficient, simple and clear communications creates a loyal and active customer base. 

Mobile texting gives retailers the tools with which to build this kind of loyalty.  Those companies that do not utilize texting this holiday season and become early adopters of this technology will be left to figure out why they have been left behind.

Here are ten reasons why your business should use text marketing:

1. Your customers only leave home with three things: Their car keys, purse or wallet and their cell phone. Text marketing ensures your message reaches your customers no matter where they are. This lets you speak to your potential customers in a one on one manner that is unmatched by other advertising.

2. The time to market is immediate. No more waiting for ad copy to be proofed or weeks for new campaigns to be designed. You can begin a new campaign from creation to delivery in a few minutes.

3. Just the customers who have a positive relationship with you and want to do more business with you will receive your message.  You only pay to market to customers who have opted-in to receive offers from you because they have given you permission to send them material.

4. Text message marketing is effective and produces a redemption rate anywhere from 20% to 70%. Compare that to print, TV, radio or direct mail which averages 1.5%.

5. Over 90% of text messages sent are opened and read by your customers in 15 minutes. No other advertising medium has that relationship with the consumer. Text message ads engage the consumer in a way that makes them look forward too more offers from you.

6. Text advertising is cost efficient and produces the highest rate of return for you advertising dollar. Text messages sent cost only pennies a piece, compared to direct mail pieces that can cost over $1.00.

7. Text marketing delivers your message with no filler. Just give the customer what they want, short and direct and they will respond. Text messages are capped 160 characters and give your customers a reason to do business with you without having to decipher what your ad actually is about.

8. Text marketing allows you to measure the results and scope of your other advertising. Place a text to action on your direct mail, newspaper, radio or TV ads and you will know that day which advertising is reaching your target market and which is not producing a return on your investment.

9. It is a highly targeted form of advertising. You can target your campaigns to specific customers to produce higher redemption rates and build lists that will produce immediate sales every time you send a new text advertisement to them.

10. Text marketing or SMS marketing uses the latest technology customers have, their cell phones. Customers like the feeling of being involved with something new and exciting and will respond accordingly.  By taking advantage of new mobile advertising opportunities you are separating yourself from your competitors it says your business is moving forward and staying ahead.

Text message marketing is very effective at increasing your sales and saving you money and time. Incorporate text advertising into your marketing plan and help your business continue to grow. SMS Message Pros will help you achieve your goals. Call 800 580-1448 or visit us at www.smsmessagepros.com. There are no long term contracts or costly set-up fees. Prove it to yourself. CALL NOW!!!

Unlike un-clipped coupons or never opened e-mails,cell phone users want to hear from you. Our opt-in process ensures that your promotion is only placed in front of an interested audience. According to the National Restaurant Association, 22% of all adults would choose to receive daily specials via text message from their favorite full-service restaurant if they had the option.

How can your business benifit from text message marketing?

• Grow your customer base by offering discounts for signing up
• Launch viral campaigns like “Refer a Friend”
• Drive repeat business by texting coupons
• Send specials to drive business on slower days

Have a discussion with one of the conversational marketing specialists at 800 580-1448 to see how text message advertising can help your bottom line. or go to  www.smsmessagepros.com