SMS Marketing

[cmonova]

Is anyone doing it? Massive market to get into if you are not...There are m any, many ways to implement this into your marketing plan. Below are some stats:

Text Messages have a 95% read rate! Because it is a highly personal communications tool, mobile is the most effective way to involve consumers and deliver time-sensitive messages — better than email, radio, TV or print.

265+ million Americans carry mobile phones over and many people keep their cell phones with them 24 hours a day. Text message usage is far-reaching and still growing tremendously

In the U.S. alone, roughly 300 billion text messages were sent in 2007. As of Q2 2008, a typical U.S. mobile subscriber sends or receives 357 text messages per month, compared to placing or receiving 204 phone calls per month. The number of calls has remained somewhat steady, but the number of text messages is up 450% over just two years prior.

 

[NeutronTech]

Seems pushy and invasive to me. Plus a lot of people have to pay to read text messages. Now, this is only my opinion but, if I got a text message ad from a local business I wouldn't think very highly of them. I would actually think they are a shallow company with no qualms about doing things border unethical. Worse than email spam IMHO.

 

[allanc]

Seems pushy and invasive to me. Plus a lot of people have to pay to read text messages. Now, this is only my opinion but, if I got a text message ad from a local business I wouldn't think very highly of them. I would actually think they are a shallow company with no qualms about doing things border unethical. Worse than email spam IMHO.

I agree.
Unless the recipient opts in.
Even then, a person can agree to a general type opt in and then all kinds of stuff they do not want.
Personally, I consider SMS intrusive.

 

[cmonova]

Seems pushy and invasive to me. Plus a lot of people have to pay to read text messages. Now, this is only my opinion but, if I got a text message ad from a local business I wouldn't think very highly of them. I would actually think they are a shallow company with no qualms about doing things border unethical. Worse than email spam IMHO.

Seems pushy and invasive to me

Look at the 3 examples I put. On any of those ads the person "has to" do it themselves to get the discount ad....What is pushy or invasive about it? I am not standing there doing it on their phone.

Plus a lot of people have to pay to read text messages

Really? Maybe I run in a small circle of people but I have only run across one person that has a "limit" on their txt'ing and that is because they said they were abusing it. Everyone else "unlimited" (my 17 year old has unlimited)....

Now, this is only my opinion but, if I got a text message ad from a local business I wouldn't think very highly of them.

Well if you stood there with your phone typed in the code and pushed on "send" then why would you not think highly of the business? Because "YOU" are the one requesting it. Unless "YOU" opted to receive more messages and yes "opt'd" is the key then you get "NO" more messages from them.

Intrusive

How? An ad is on a business owners door saying to txt whatever to get a discount...What exactly is intrusive about that?

Over 50 Billion text messages are sent on a monthly basis. What consumer is going to get mad if "they" request a "discount" thru a text message?

 

[NeutronTech]

I was under the impression that these were mass generated messages. Still, what's the point of someone requesting an ad? If they have seen your ad to know what to text, then you have already reached them. Put the coupon on the sign instead of having them send a text message to receive it.


this may be a moot point but your circle doesn't really matter. On the average, there are more people who have cell phones that don't have an unlimited texting plan because they simply don't need it.

 

[NeutronTech]

I would also like to add that most companies who do have something to get via text message have shady business practices, in my experience. Like the "text 888 to get this ringtone". Then this opts you in to getting spammed by this company for more ringtones, when all you really wanted was this one single ringtone. I'm not saying all companies do this, but a lot of people associate text message advertising with this sort of shady business.... I know I do.

 

[cmonova]

this may be a moot point but your circle doesn't really matter. On the average, there are more people who have cell phones that don't have an unlimited texting plan because they simply don't need it.

•64% of mobile subscribers have an Internet enabled phone, of which 44% use the mobile Internet. Among subscribers who have an Internet enabled phone, 76% have unlimited txt plans, and 87% use mobile email. Across all subscribers and phone types, 27% use the mobile Internet.

My numbers are from research that has been done not just my "circle" but obviously 76% is "more".

There is a small town in WV that is heavy into SMS advertising. Right now at least 45 businesses are doing it and thru a variety of ways. In my area it is starting to get large. Example....Small ice cream place downtown. A bit out of the way but not too bad. They are doing SMS advertising. I did their ad got their deal the night I walked in. But, I also "subscribed" to it. Then next Friday nite I got a txt from them offering "2 for 1 pricing"...Well that was enough for me to go out the door and take a ride. Now of course if I did not want to go I didn't have to. If I wanted to opt out I could have. If I was already out and about and received that message well that is an extra bennie cause I could of swung by that way.

Fact is the SMS industry is big and will become even bigger. Are their shaddy businesses out there...sure there are just like in anything else that goes on. But, if done correctly it is a viable form of advertising.

 

[NeutronTech]

That's 76% of "Internet enabled phones". That's not 76% of total cell phones out there.

Look, you are getting a little too defensive on this. You posted here to ask our opinions on SMS advertising. When you get a negative opinion, you seem to be taking it personally. Are you getting some sort of commission to get people into this? Because that's really the way this is coming across.

You've made your opinion clear, I've made mine clear. Others will chime in with their opinions. You don't have to be so aggressive about it. Advertising is extremely locally subjective. What works in one area won't work in others. I'm glad it's so popular in your area and working so well for you. Everywhere I've lived, it wouldn't last long at all. That's just the nature of advertising. Deal with it.

 

[vdub12]

You know do what you want but honestly I think SMS is no better then SPAM that the customer has to pay out of pocket for. I would consider it suicide to have my business involved.

Not everyone has unlimited SMS. I have an Iphone with unlimited data and I did want unlimited SMS so I get 200 a month. After that it costs me .25 every time I receive a TXT. A few years ago I had a phone that someone I knew sent an SMS to one of those "for this ring tone send 888 to 88888 ect." For months I was bombarded with advertising that I could not stop. I had to have my number changed.

Think about what a customer would think of your business if they had to change there number because of you.

Like I said do what you want but no BS percentages would sell me on the idea of spamming my customers. What your getting is a sales pitch, those company's are all the same. Use some critical thinking here. How many people do you see wanting to get advertisements sent to there phone. The majority of them are being forced to view them. Think about what they will think of your business if they get the 20th SMS in a night while trying to have dinner and its from your business. Think I am exaggerating, well I'm not. I have lived though it I couldn't even have SMS blocked completely because the phone company would only support blocking outgoing not incoming.

 

[NeutronTech]

You know do what you want but honestly I think SMS is no better then SPAM that the customer has to pay out of pocket for. I would consider it suicide to have my business involved.

Not everyone has unlimited SMS. I have an Iphone with unlimited data and I did want unlimited SMS so I get 200 a month. After that it costs me .25 every time I receive a TXT. A few years ago I had a phone that someone I knew sent an SMS to one of those "for this ring tone send 888 to 88888 ect." For months I was bombarded with advertising that I could not stop. I had to have my number changed.

Think about what a customer would think of your business if they had to change there number because of you.

Like I said do what you want but no BS percentages would sell me on the idea of spamming my customers. What your getting is a sales pitch, those company's are all the same. Use some critical thinking here. How many people do you see wanting to get advertisements sent to there phone. The majority of them are being forced to view them. Think about what they will think of your business if they get the 20th SMS in a night while trying to have dinner and its from your business. Think I am exaggerating, well I'm not. I have lived though it I couldn't even have SMS blocked completely because the phone company would only support blocking outgoing not incoming.

This is exactly my point. And your right, I feel it is suicide for a company to do this. This is not something I could ever be sold on.

 

[cmonova]

Maybe I did get a bit defensive but only when I read things like "seems pushy and invasive to me" especially when the concept has nothing to do with either of those things. So I am more than glad to hear anyones opinion but if they don't get the concept like your comment of "if I got a text message ad from a local business"...which is "impossible" unless you initiated it...Correct •64% of mobile subscribers have an Internet enabled phone and 76% of them have unlimited txt plans. So still to me that is more than not.

And this is impossible "Think about what a customer would think of your business if they had to change there number because of you"...That would not be possible. Even if they did "opt" to get updates the only way they would get "bombarded" is if "I" am the one that did it. I don't "bombard" my customers with newsletters daily or weekly and this is no different. But, "if" they want updates that is their decision. The same with "Think about what they will think of your business if they get the 20th SMS in a night while trying to have dinner and its from your business"...Again impossible to do that unless "I" sat there and did it..

So do I think you are exaggerating maybe not, but I don't think you actually get the concept and the use of it based on your comments.

Lastly...NeutronTech...Your comment of "

you seem to be taking it personally. Are you getting some sort of commission to get people into this?

"..... don't ever question my integrity here, or anywhere else on what I do or how I run a business.

 

[Secret Agent]

I don't think it is a bad idea at all. The customer has to text "fixmypc" or whatever to some number. It's not spam that you didn't sign up for and if you don't have unlimited text than don't sign up for these offers.

A great tool for when business is slow IMHO. another idea would be for a customer to be able to send a message like that "fixmypc" to 88888, or whatever number for whenever they need a tech. Kind of like a reverse SMS marketing tool where you as the tech are alerted that a potential customer is there. Put it on a billboard or something maybe.

 

[NeutronTech]

My apologies for the commission comment. Apparently I was taking things a little personal there. I didn't mean to question your integrity, I just don't like things being pushed on me that manner.

I honestly felt like I was on the phone with one of those pushy sales reps that won't take no for an answer. Had one the other day with the yellowpages. I told her I needed to think about it and talk to my friend who I consult with. Then she continued on asking my what I didn't understand, etc. She even went as far as to ask me "so if a customer calls you to fix their computer are you going to have to call your friend to see if it is ok?" That was wayyyyy overboard.

So, once again, I apologize for the comment and I was out of line.

 

[vdub12]

You know I am just reporting to you my experience and yes I use to get over 20+ SMS messages a day until finally I got fed up and changed my number.

There was no way to opt out. When they got my number they rolled with it and sold it to everyone.

 

[cmonova]

Secret Agent...Yes you get the concept...

Geeky Jason...There was no "pitch" and the statistics were to clarify "why" people are doing it. If tommorow morning my plumber or mechanic sends me a text message to my phone it's becuase either I woke up during the nite and txt'd his code into my phone OR I had previously txt'd his code into my phone AND then I opt'd to have him send more....Those are the ONLY 2 ways that scenerio could play out.

NeutronTech....No problem and I was not trying to push anything....But, I didn't want the thread to go crazy with the misconception on how it actually works.

 

[cmonova]

I am not being an a** either but if you want to have a discussion and do not understand the concept then just say so, but don't put comments that make it blantent that you don't get it by the things you put.

Pitch is "I have a deal for you" or "You need to buy this". The stats are simply that. If I put a post and said you really need to look at posting on Craigslist becuase 30 million people visit it monthly that is not pitch those are stats.

Yes I do research for stats I don't go out there and actually pull stats myself, that is common sense, same goes for any other form of advertising.

Is there a case study of the effectiveness of this form of advertising as related to a service based industry (computer repair, auto repair, plumbing, etc)?

You can search google yourself and see different stats/facts of how this type of marketing is working. Is there a particular study that breaks it down step-by-step how to implement it into your business probably not. But, there is not really awhole lot of step-by-step in any business in how to effectively market soemthing. I have already came up with ways to implement this into our business just like I do everythign else that I decide to go with.

Tell me exactly how the system works step by step.

You get a account somewhere and setup your keywords you want to use with your own custom messages
You manage what get's sent out and when it gets sent out. If you manually send it out at 3a.m. that is your decision
You manage your own list
If someone opts in then all they do is select (1) for that option. (2) afterwards if they want to opt out. But if you don't set it up that way then they can't opt in, it's your decision.
There is no way possible for your competitors to use your list.

If you go to textmarks.com you'll get the concept much better of how it's done by the numbers.

Yes some of the stats are from 2008, but again if you look yourself i'm sure you will find newer ones and I bet the numbers are higher now.

What does "64% of mobile subscribers have an Internet enabled phone and 76% of them have unlimited txt plans"? Not sure the exact number but it's in the millions. How much is the average cost per text if they don't have unlimited no idea and I really don't care. Once again the person can only get the text if "THEY" choose to. So if "THEY" choose to get it then I would suppose that the cost of a single text messgage will not effect them. If "THEY" choose to opt to receive more again it's "THEIR" decision. Nobody is making them do anything.

Yes it's legal

You can print and use whatever you want for marketing, if you want to buy marketing material I suppose you can or you can make your own.

I guess depending on who you go with you can sign a contract or do month to month.

The 95% read rate is a stat you can also search for that. No different then Craigslist putting something that says they have 30 Million visitors a month. Plus, in this type of advertising the person once again has to initiate the message. So if I stand there and type in a code to get a message then why in the world would I not read it? Based on that I would say the "read rate' in this is actually higher.


NOT trying to bring you around to my way of thinking whatsoever. Your questions are all very good and if I was actually selling you something i'd probably attempt to answer them better. I don't feel singled out, but then again I do not have a reason to care one way or another if you do this or not. And I did not "just find a website on SMS marketing" and decide "yep, going to do this". I actually do put thought into my business and that is how we have grown each and every year. I don't do things on a whim.

 

[Xander]

It does come across as a pitch, mostly 'cause it looks like it was all copied/pasted from the same website and didn't use a quote box. The pics came from the same source; no reason to think the text didn't as well. When info/stats only come from one source, it's often safe to assume they're skewed or made up entirely.

That said, I am interested in it as a method of marketing but I'd have to be pretty darn sure of the company before I offered it publicly.

Find an example of another business marketing with that same company (386266) and sign yourself up for their info. Give it a few days... if you don't get spammed and only receive the info you wanted/expected, sign up your business with them.

Edit: SMS marketing can work. My local theatre just sent me a $2 sms-coupon because I texted as part of their promotion.
There was a link posted a couple of weeks ago of a site where you text "___" to "#####" and get info sent back. It was unavailable in Canada but I'm still looking for one.

 

[cmonova]

It does come across as a pitch, mostly 'cause it looks like it was all copied/pasted from the same website and didn't use a quote box. The pics came from the same source; no reason to think the text didn't as well. When info/stats only come from one source, it's often safe to assume they're skewed or made up entirely.

Yes i copied and pasted was not going to type the same thing. Actually
(386266) is a shortcode for DOTCOM (368638) shortcode for DOTNET, so that part does not really matter. Like I said check out textmarks for a better explanation of what it actually consist of.

 

[wimwauters]

My apologies for the commission comment. Apparently I was taking things a little personal there. I didn't mean to question your integrity, I just don't like things being pushed on me that manner.

I think your gut feeling was right NeutronTech, you do not need to apologize IMHO

I honestly felt like I was on the phone with one of those pushy sales reps that won't take no for an answer. ..
So, once again, I apologize for the comment and I was out of line.

No, you aren't out of line, cmonova is. This SMS crap is like all that coupon junk. I checked out his other postings on these forums and he's on my ignore list now.

 

[cmonova]

I think your gut feeling was right NeutronTech, you do not need to apologize IMHO
No, you aren't out of line, cmonova is. This SMS crap is like all that coupon junk. I checked out his other postings on these forums and he's on my ignore list now.

I'm out of line for putting a post about a marketing technique? You have checked out all my other postings? Really? All 1,000 of them or did you pick a few...