Don’t know much about the mobile space? Below, you’ll find facts, statistics and answers to common questions to get you up to speed.
What Can Mobile Marketing Be Used For?
Mobile marketing can be used for almost all retail operations, with the primary objective being increasing customer traffic, patronage and REVENUE. SMS messaging is an unprecedented form of communication. No other channel in the history of marketing has the immediacy of SMS.
What Is SMS?
SMS, or Short Messaging Service, otherwise known as text messaging, mobile messaging, or alphanumeric paging is a digital cellular network feature. It lets you send short text and numeric messages to and from digital cell phones, cell phones and e-mail addresses, as well as cell phones and public SMS messaging gateways on the Internet.
How is text messaging different from email?
Text messaging is an immediate, personal channel in which communication is conducted in a maximum of 160 characters, including spaces and punctuation, per message. Many phones have the ability to send and receive both email and text messages.
The most salient difference between SMS and email is that the mobile channel is “permission based.” In order to market to people over the SMS channel, you must have them opt-in or join your text list. Customers and members are compelled to join because they perceive value in your offer of special deals, exclusive treatment, information or a chance to win. We call these interested people “hand-raisers” because, in effect, they have asked you to contact them.
Who can receive text messages?
Nearly every mobile phone in service today—nearly 270 million at last count—can send and receive text messages.
Do my customers get charged to receive text messages?
That depends on their mobile phone contracts. According to the latest statistics from the Mobile Marketing Association, 78 percent of mobile phone subscribers in 2008 had a volume or unlimited texting package included in their mobile contracts. Accordingly, sensitivity to the cost of texting has diminished significantly over the past few years.
What are keywords and short codes?
Keywords and short codes work together in the same way your screen name and email provider URL (e.g. name@hotmail) work together in an email address. A short code is a five- or six-digit phone number used specifically for sending and receiving SMS messages. It can be unique and proprietary or shared in the same way that many people and businesses may use aol or gmail for their email addresses.
The keyword is the word or characters that are typed into a message to send to the specified short code. An example of a call to action would read: “To join our list from your mobile phone, text the word mobile to 72466.”
What does it mean to opt-in?
When people opt-in to your campaign, they are joining your mobile marketing list. To do this, they send the keyword to the short code and an automated message comes back telling them either that they have joined (single opt-in) or asking them to verify that they want to subscribe to the list by replying with an affirmative, e.g. “Reply ‘y’ to join our list and be entered in this contest to win” (double opt-in).
The single opt-in is used when the call to action is so specific and clear that people know exactly what they are joining and what they will receive. The double opt-in is used when the call to action is less detailed. When in doubt, use a double opt-in to ensure that people know exactly what they’re joining and what messages they will receive.
Do I have to opt in with a keyword?
Catchwind allows you to obtain members using a website opt-in. This can be done through a micro-site that Catchwind provides or can be customized using an API.
Can I buy a list of wireless numbers?
SMS is permission-based. You cannot import numbers from people who have not opted in for your list. The opt-in process is essential to maintaining compliance with the wireless carriers.
Is text-message marketing regulated?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates mobile commerce. The agency requires a mandatory opt-out option be included in all messages. In addition, the carriers regularly monitor SMS activity.
What does it mean to opt-out?
It means the member has quit the list. Users can reply to any message with stop or quit and be removed from future messages.
Can I send graphics in an SMS message?
The SMS channel is text only. However, the multi-media message service (MMS) does allow for graphics. Not all phones can receive MMS, and at this point, MMS usually isn’t included in a wireless subscriber’s texting package.
What is premium SMS?
Premium-SMS campaigns charge the end-user (customer) for receiving a message or a group of messages. Examples include “joke of the day” and ring tone campaigns. In most cases the user is charged a monthly fee (e.g. $5.99). The fee is charged and collected by the carriers and the revenue is split between the carrier and the company orchestrating the campaign.
What Is Text Messaging?
Text Messaging or it’s more technical term Short Messaging Service (SMS) lets you send short messages up to 160 characters in length between mobile phone users.
Why Go Mobile?
Texting is a low cost way for businesses to advertise to potential or existing customers. For example a local sandwich shop can text loyal customers that days promotions just prior to lunchtime. What better way to make their decision an easy one!
How Does SMS Work?
People subscribe or ‘Opt in’ to your program because they like your product or service. They are asking you to give them information. You can schedule your offers to be sent whenver you like specifying the time and date your promotion is sent to targetted subscribers.
WHo Else Uses Mobile Marketing?
Nightclubs, restaurants, coffee shops. It can be applied to almost all retail operations , in fact anywhere that relies on customer traffic for their revenue. what other marketing channel has the immediacy of a text message? Got a special event? Almost every text message is read immediately making it the easiest way to get the word out. Your offers could promote special events, advertise free drinks, discounts or VIP offers.
Reasons to Use Mobiles Used In Marketing?
Mobile phones are almost always on and mobile Marketing is about communicating with a customer. Text messaging is still relatively new to business in the UK but is has fast become the trendiest form of communication between young adults making it a great marketing tool. Look around you on the bus, the train, out for a drink … How many people around you typing on their phones? Yes they are texting. Mobile Marketer will help you use this to your advantage. Text Message promotions get people through the door. Offer something of value and they will look forward to your message.
How Do I get Started With SMS ?
Simple. Decide on a keyword that is unique and relevant to your offer. Provide us with your Ad text and let us know when you want it sent out. There is no minimum term and no contract. You pay as you go.
Is a mobile site for my business
With Internet enabled mobile phones, access to relevant and accurate information is proving as must have for consumers whilst on the move and away from a PC. Mobile sites are built to work on mobile phones and are specifically tailored and formatted for their phone with less scrolling thereby deleivering the needed information quicker. Mobile sites give consumers the option to connect to businesses wherever and whenever they wishand with just one click on a mobile phone, consumers can reach your business with click to call functionality available on all mobile phones
Viewing a website on a mobile phone loads very slowly becasue it’s in the wrong format and is too large to be viewed on a mobile phone. Mobile sites take into account the much smaller screen size of a mobile phone. The mobile internet audience is growing and consumers are browing your PC website from your phone even if yoou havent begun to form a mobile strategy yet. Your PC website will load poorly on a mobile phone resulting in an unsatisfactory experience.
Mobile sites have been launched by major brands in fashion, entertainment, automotive, banking and news organisations including the BBC , fox news and Disney to name a few
Why should I care about a mobile site?
Having a mobile site is one of the keys to success of any business now and in the future as mobile represents the next excciting frontiera dn will become the greatest shift of the internet since it began. the rapid explosion in the use of the internet indicates immense potential for brands to forge personal connections with users as mobile phones are intimate and personalised devices. The concept of being able to connect with consumers 24/7 in a footloose manner suggests enhanced opportunites to deliver relevant content to anyone regardless of their location, in turn eradicating some of the limitations that fixed internet PC access is asscociated with.