Posts Tagged ‘mobile marketing’

With 91% of consumers having their cell phone within reach 24/7, it’s no surprise that mobile marketing is on the rise.  In fact, according to Ask Your Target Market’s latest survey, 33% of consumers are interacting with text message marketing.

Of those interested in mobile advertising, 29% said they would like to receive exclusive coupons, 18% would like information about in-store sales, 12% would like information about new products, 3% would like generally company updates, and 56% would like other information as a text message.

With 94% of all text messages being opened immediately upon receipt, text message marketing is easily the most efficient way to target consumers.

In today’s world of fast-paced rising technology, text messages may be the closest thing in the digital marketing world to a guaranteed read.  In fact, 94% of all text messages are opened immediately upon receipt.  Unlike cyberspace, the SMS world remains to be a spam-free marketing network.  Consequently, the average person responds to a text message within 90 seconds, even a promotional one, whereas e-mails take 90 minutes.  E-mail is just so yesterday!

Since consumers are more likely to read text messages over e-mails, you can’t ignore this one-on-one marketing medium.  Text message marketing allows you to send the right text to the right people at the right time.  These interactive SMS campaigns convert prospects to customers, which translates into profits.

First, your clients must choose to opt-in (receive your text messages).  Whether it’s through a contest, mobile coupon, or voting poll, patrons can quickly type in the keyword and short code, and voila!  In seconds, your consumers have your personalized message right there in their hands.

SMS promotions allow you to increase traffic to your company by providing consumers with text messages informing them of your discounts and/or specials.  Lucky for you, most Americans always have their cell phones nearby, even when they’re sleeping, so you are able to reach them no matter where they are.  Compared to other marketing strategies (radio, TV, or print ads), text message marketing will deliver a better return on your investment.  In addition, this easy to use program allows you to test out different messages daily to see what works best.  Selling a product or service to 18-29 year olds?  They’re the hardest to reach by e-mail, yet 95% of them are texting on their cell phones.

Think about it.  How often do you leave your cell phone behind?  Most likely, never.  Do you know anyone who doesn’t have a cell phone?  Some employees even have two – one for work and one for personal use.  As a result, there are currently more cell phones than people in the U.S.

As the growth of mobile continues to explode, so does your opportunity to reach this vast audience of consumers.  Convert them into your customers with text message marketing that targets only qualified prospects – those who have chosen to receive your message.  These savvy consumers are using mobile to shop, access mobile coupons, do price comparisons, book reservations, and more.  Smart shoppers require smarter marketing.  Text message marketing allows you to deliver information to patrons they way they want it – fast and easy.

A leader among text message marketing companies, Advanced Telecom Services is your one stop mobile shop delivering a program tailored to meet you and your consumers needs.  Try out our do-it-yourself text message marketing solution at www.84444.com or take advantage of our concierge service where we put our expertise to work for you.  Whether you want to implement an interactive text message campaign, mobile website, custom QR code, or mobile app, ATS has the experienced media professionals you need ready to get you started immediately.

(Sources: CTIA.org 2012; Pew Research 2011)

Over the past weekend, American Eagle Outfitters’ aerie used text message marketing in order to drive more sales.  After achieving one million “likes” on Facebook, aerie sent out an SMS to consumers that included a free shipping mobile coupon.  Those who had not already “liked” the company on Facebook were encouraged to connect with the retailer online in order to receive the weekend long offer.

The text message sent to opted-in patrons read, “Whoa!  1,000,000 likes!  A million thanks isn’t enough… be our friend on Facebook and get free shipping on everything through 5/13!”  The message also included a link to aerie’s Facebook page.

This marketing tactic of combining mobile and social media allowed aerie to send out a time-specific deal to a targeted audience that increased the company’s social media presence while also encouraging more sales on their website and mobile site.

Tim Miller, expert in the mobile marketing industry explained that every company should pursue collecting SMS opt-ins.  These mobile opt-ins encourage sales during certain times of the year when your company may need a sales boost.   Having a list of interested consumers allows you to access them whenever you’d like.  “It is like having your own TV or radio station with all of your customers tuned in all the time,” Miller stated.

Interested in doing this type of campaign for your company?  Connect to 84444.com where a team of experienced professionals are ready to get started with your mobile marketing program!

In today’s world of fast-paced rising technology, text messages may be the closest thing in the digital marketing world to a guaranteed read.  Unlike e-mails, SMS remains to be a spam-free marketing network.  According to the New York Times, 97% of all received text messages are opened, 83% within the hour they were received.  So if consumers are more likely to read text messages over e-mails, why not promote the specials and discounts offered at your restaurant through an SMS instead?

84444.com allows you to market your business through the use of a text message.  Patrons can opt to engage in mobile marketing and receive special offers by sending a keyword to a particular short code.  Imagine walking in to your favorite restaurant and seeing a sign that says, “Text PASTA to 84444 and receive 20% of any pasta entrée.”  Would you do it?  With text messages being so quick and easy to produce, most likely the answer is yes.

After the consumer chooses to receive your mobile coupon, their cell phone number is now stored on your mobile marketing list on 84444.com.  You can use these lists to send out a broadcast message to all or a select few of your customers promoting your drink specials, half-priced entrees, or reservation openings.

In addition, you can also choose when you would like the message to be sent.  Imagine sending a free drink during happy hour to your opt-in list.  The restaurant would immediately flood with thirsty customers.

Moreover, paper coupons are easy to forget.  Around 5 billion people own cell phones and most carry them with them at all times.  With a coupon stored on your mobile device, it is almost impossible to forget to use when out at dinner.

Case and point, 84444.com offers the marketing assistance your restaurant needs to reach your customer base and successfully promote your specials how you want and when you want.

84444’s do-it-yourself mobile marketing solution makes it simple to set up text message marketing campaigns through our shared short code, 84444. Anybody can now create mobile coupons, mobile advertising, and text message sweepstakesfrom the convenience of his or her personal computer. All it takes to set up mobile marketing campaigns through short codes is just a few clicks of the mouse!

Mobile Marketing Reaches Customers When They are Most Likely to Buy! When our short code, 84444, receives an incoming keyword, a response text message is immediately returned. Most importantly, the consumer’s cell phone number is stored for future database marketing efforts. If anyone has an opt-in from the consumer, he or she can choose to send future text message marketing messages to the prospective customer. Shared Short Codes Save Money

Mobile marketing via short codes has never been more affordable than with 84444.com.

Text message marketing is gaining momentum with restaurants. A study by the National Restaurant Association shows that 1 in 5 restaurant goers want to receive daily text messages from their favorite restaurants. No matter how bad the economy may appear to be, Americans are eating out more often.  According to the National Restaurant Association, sales at restaurants are projected to grow by 3.5% in 2012 to reach a record $632 billion and restaurants also create lots of jobs.  When it comes to deciding on a new restaurant, more and more people are turning to the internet and the cell phone.

According to a study by Juniper Research, it was found that the redemption rate for mobile coupons will grow to 8% globally by 2016. Mobile coupons will become an important part of a retail store’s ability to compete with the cheaper costs of online retailers. Total mobile coupon redemption values for 2016 will be $43 billion globally.

According to a study by AT&T, 34% of business owners are showing interest in using text message marketing in 2012.  Creating mobile apps is of interest to the largest amount of business owners at 43%. Of all mobile marketing tactics, text message marketing is clearly the most utilized of them.

Anybody can get started with mobile marketing platform of 84444.com for as little as $45 per month. You can Sign up for a FREE TRIAL ACCOUNT today and you’ll see just how effective and easy it is to use 84444.com. You’ll be a pro in less than 10 minutes!

The Greatest Businessman of All-Time

North Pole –When you think about the greatest businessman of all-time, who comes to mind?

Ford?  Rockefeller?  Bill Gates?  Donald Trump?  Richard Branson?  Mark Zuckerberg?  Steve Jobs?

Give me a break.

The greatest businessman of all time is, without a doubt, Santa Claus.

 

8 Things That Santa Claus Does Better than Donald Trump

Think about it.  Santa’s customers return year after year.  He has a factory that churns out toys 24/7 with little overhead.  He has loyal and long tenured employees that work for near minimum wage.  Of course, there aren’t a lot of jobs in this tough global economy, so imagine how hard it is for vertically challenged elves these days.

Santa Claus has a promotions department that secures prime visibility in crowded malls and gets him grand marshal positions in parades all over the world.  He also has a publicity crew that writes songs, poems, and even produces movies and television shows with him as the star.  His stamina is amazing and there are no performance enhancing drugs in his body, unless you count the chocolate chip cookies!

He’s an advertising genius.  Just watch TV in December and see how many commercials he’s on.  I’ve seen him drinking Coca-Cola for years now and am still amazed how he can balance himself on that Norelco razor after all the junk food he eats!

And talk about customer service.  It’s the best in the world!  No waiting on hold to talk to his telemarketers “Ryan” from Sri Lanka.  He knows what you want, often without your even telling him.

 

The Biggest Mistakes Santa Claus Makes

But, sometimes I think Santa Claus is slipping a bit the past few years.  He hasn’t really embraced html5, social networking, apps, or cloud technology very well.

Santa doesn’t own an iPhone or an Android.  He thinks a Blackberry is a health food that he’d never dream of eating.

I think he’s one of only about 15 people in the world that don’t have a Facebook account.  I’m not sure if he knows how to Google anything.  His website isn’t optimized.  I’ve never seen him Tweet.  His Klout score is below 25.

His workers still use basic tools from the pre-Industrial Revolution.  And, they don’t even have worker’s compensation or a decent HMO.

His mode of transportation still involves harnessed livestock that take a treacherous route around the world.

And, don’t tell me one animal with a light bulb on his nose is innovative.  It’s animal cruelty.  Call the ASPCA!

As for knowing when we’re sleeping, even conservatives would admit that’s taking The Patriot Act too far!

His ordering process?  It’s downright archaic.  I mean, who writes letters any more?

 

The Only Thing That Can Save Santa Claus’s Business

What Santa Claus needs is mobile marketing.

Worldwide, 5 trillion text messages are sent each year, but how many of you have ever received one, or sent one, to the North Pole?  Even Verizon can’t hear you now at the North Pole.

Did you know that 18% of those 5 trillion text messages are considered commercial text messages?  Don’t you think text message marketing would be a great way for Santa to get rid of some of his closeout inventory?  I hear there’s a warehouse at the North Pole that still has half a million eight-tracks in it!

Ever see the long lines at the mall with kids wanting to take their picture with Santa Claus?  By the time the kids get up to Santa, they are often crying and that doesn’t make for a great Christmas card photo opp.  Why not provide a Custom QR Code to scan while waiting in line?  Mom could scan it and Santa could entertain the kids with videos and the provide text message reminders to be especially good at this time of year.

Did you ever watch the late news on television on Christmas Eve?  There’s usually some hokey satellite picture of Santa flying over some other country.  In the eastern United States, I think Santa is usually somewhere around Slovakia during our 11 o’clock newscast.

Well, I’m an insomniac and I often stay up late on Christmas Eve multi-tasking on my laptop while watching the History Channel, ESPN, or Skinemax.  I would love to check the app on my iPhone to know when Santa and his reindeer are getting close to my hometown so I can get to bed on time.  If his clever little engineers can’t figure out how to develop an app to track the progress of the flying reindeer, I’m sure Southwest could give them a hand.

Ordering is another issue.  How many of you still have envelopes and stamps in your house?  It’s been so long since I sent a letter that I have no idea how much it even costs to send a letter any more.  How many stamps do you need to send a letter to the North Pole anyway?  It’s not even on the USPS.com web site; I checked.  Plus, there’s the issue of the post office losing your snail mail.  No, that never happens, does it?

By the way Santa, I’m still waiting for the Porsche I asked for last year.  I knew I should have sent my Christmas list by Fed Ex.

With text messages, we could send in our Christmas lists to Santa Claus through a short code, say 72682 (S-A-N-T-A).  With an easy-to-use mobile marketing solution like this, Santa could confirm receipt and even tell you if you’ve been…bad or good.

Maybe that’s what happened to my Porsche.

Bob Bentz is president of Advanced Telecom Services which provides text message marketing, apps development, mobile websites, and custom @BobBentz on Twitter, friend him on Facebook, or hit him up on LinkedIn.  He has a great deal for you.

84444.com knows that your business success depends on your mobile programs reaching the largest number of American consumers.  That’s why we are constantly striving to add new carriers to our portfolio.

We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of providing SMS short code services to Mobi PCS.  Formerly known as Coral Wireless, Mobi PCS is Hawaii’s largest local operator with over 60,000 subscribers.

Aloha Mobi PCS!

Reaching her requires an opt-in

Text message marketing is just one element of the mobile marketing pie.

Sure, there are sexier forms of mobile marketing like apps.  Smartphone users love apps and when they are well done, they can offer some cool and crafty features.  Apps can also keep consumers coming back for more.

It is the ubiquity of text messaging that makes it such a powerful element in the mobile marketing universe.  In addition to having a mobile optimized web site, businesses need to offer text message marketing.

Text message marketing is an inexpensive way to reach consumers with any kind of mobile phone in a way that is immediate and time-sensitive.

Text messaging is a great way to promote immediacy to your message.  You can reach the consumer when he or she is most likely to buy.  A restaurant, for example, can send a text message at 11:30 am just when people are starting to get hungry at work.

Building a Database for Text Message Marketing

But, the key to any text message marketing program is the opt-in.  Obtaining the opt-in from a consumer is the heavy lifting part and the most daunting part of text message marketing.

“We often get people calling our office and wanting to send a text message to all of the citizens in Chicago, for example,” said Bob Bentz, president of Advanced Telecom Services.  ”But you need to obtain a bonafied opt-in before you send anybody a promotional text message.”

Once you get an opt-in, usually through an interactive text message promotion, you can send broadcast text messages to that consumer in the future.  A legitimate opt-in can also be created via other means.  Advanced Telecom Services, for example, provides a widget for companies to insert on its web site to obtain an opt-in.  When the consumer opts-in via the widget, the consumer information is transferred directly to the 84444.com do-it-yourself text message marketing web site.

“The open rate for text alerts is extremely high,” said Neil Strother of ABI Research.  ”If you can get enough phone numbers and set them up on text alerts, it can be very effective, but you need to send a limited number out to ensure that they are relevant.”

 A June study from Nielsen shows that the Android operating system is now the #1 smartphone system in the USA.  Apple continues to hold market share while RIM Blackberry is in decline.

There are many aspects to mobile marketing, but the most important aspect continues to be text message marketing.  A recent study from Mobile Marketer shows that text message marketing is the tool most likely to be used in a company’s mobile marketing efforts.  Marketers were able to check more than one item in the list below.