How to convince your boss that a USSD Push app is worth it

by | Aug 11, 2014 |

As a marketer, you probably already know that USSD Push is a powerful marketing tool. But, the decision ultimately lies with your boss. How can you convince him/ her that they should get on board with it? Unstructured Supplementary Service Data apps are a great, low cost way to reach customers fast. But that is not all. You can also use it to gain insight into customer behaviour. So what stops businesses from using it in the first place? We don’t want to spam our customers Good, you shouldn’t. But take heart, you will only annoy your customers if you handle USSD Push the wrong way. And no, it is not rocket science to figure out how to do it right. As long as your messages are relevant, personalized and timed well, you don’t have to be afraid to go for gold. We don’t really know what to do with it Be Creative! You can use it on its own or in combination with your other marketing channels. For example: send pins/ passwords, notifications, reminders, alerts, polls/ surveys etc. We don’t know if it will be effective: When it comes to mobile marketing in any form (SMS, MMS, USSD etc.) you can always be sure about one thing. Messages via traditional mediums (radio, television, paper) and even email easily get lost in the mass of other messages. Mobile messages however go directly to the recipient’s phone and is guaranteed to be opened and read – even if it is only the first sentence. Customers won’t be interested in my app: It really won’t be any effort for your customers to...

New WASPA guidelines for Mobile Aggregators

by | Aug 8, 2014 |

WASPA, the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of South Africa, looks after mobile users by keeping Mobile Aggregators in check. Starting from 26 August 2014, we can expect a few changes to their Code of Conduct. Because mobile marketing is still a relatively new form of marketing, there aren’t such clear-cut guidelines on which practices are acceptable and which aren’t – unlike traditional channels that have been under scrutiny for decades. In a nutshell, what does it mean for Mobile Aggregators? Opting out Keywords that consumers are allowed to use when saying “no thank you” to your services, are: End Cancel Unsubscribe Quit Stop Competition entry fees Although it is still good practice to inform entrants how much they will pay to enter a mobile competition, it is not required to do so. But only if the entry is free or the rate is that of a standard text message. Marketing times It is bad practise to send SMS marketing material at inappropriate hours. But just in case you aren’t sure which hours are inappropriate, DON’T send messages on: Sundays and public holidays as contemplated in the Public Holidays Act, 1994 Saturdays before 09:00 and after 13:00; All other days between the hours of 20:00 and 08:00 the following day. Confirming cell phone numbers If you use a web form to capture a consumer’s cell phone number, you have to prove that the number does indeed belong to the person in question. Luckily it is easy to do the confirmation: simply send a pin/ password to the mobile user (via SMS or USSD) that they have to use in...

How To Costume For A Birthday Celebration

by | Aug 7, 2014 |

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How to use SMS Marketing for retail shops and schools

by | Aug 6, 2014 |

SMS Marketing offers endless options to any establishment willing to give it a try. Retail shops have been going at it for a while now, but even schools can use it for communication purposes! What can mobile messaging do for you? Retail Shops One of the biggest things that marketers in the retail industry have to deal with is the fact that products are often seasonal. For example: clothing shops have to get rid of their summer clothes before winter and vice versa. This lends a sense of urgency to their marketing efforts, and what better way to communicate urgency than via text messages. Thus, SMS Marketing is ideal for exclusive offers. For example: “Hurry! 20% off today only!” “Pay your account installment today and receive 5% off your next purchase.” But that’s’ not all. You can also use it to: Incentivize customers: mobile vouchers and coupons are much better than old paper based rewards. Customers always have their phones with them, so if they decide to suddenly pop into your store after work, they can do it without worrying about a coupon lying forgotten at home. Send reminders: “we are open every day until 17h00.” “Have a question about your account? Contact our customer care at …” Schools SMS Marketing isn’t always about hardcore selling. In fact, it is equally useful for plain old communication. Instead of calling parents, children and teachers to remind or inform them about an event, simply text them! It is much, much cheaper and less time consuming, because you can send a default message out in bulk. What can you use it for?...

How to use SMS Marketing for your eatery or bar

by | Aug 4, 2014 |

The food industry is in an excellent position for utilizing SMS Marketing. If you own a restaurant/ take-out service or bar, you can get really creative and lure customers to your establishment in a blink. People are always looking for new and exciting places to enjoy a meal or have a drink. Eateries and bars, unlike corporate companies, rarely have a dedicated team of marketing experts to create campaigns around brand awareness and customer loyalty. And don’t forget employee communication! If your employees are on top of their schedules, it can help clear out misunderstandings about shifts and discourage absenteeism. Thus the question is: what can you do to get this buzz going? Well, the most successful and inexpensive method available to you, is without a doubt SMS Marketing. Eateries You can text customers your specials for the day. Just keep the timing in mind – you don’t want to send out your material too early or too late. There is currently a debate going on about the best time to send out a special, so experiment and see what works best for YOUR customers. If your customers are budget conscious, you might not get the best reaction by sending out a dinner special in the late afternoon (of the same day) – these customers might prefer a few days notice. Other customers might see it as the answer to what’s for dinner and jump immediately at the chance. Invite customers to make their reservations via SMS and remind them about their reservations Sent reminders to the wait staff on duty about when their shift starts Bars Use SMS...