by anton | Sep 17, 2014 | Mobile Products
What can you do with SMS Shortcodes? Pretty much anything! Let’s take a look at five practical uses that are suitable for just about any type of business. Competitions Who wants to fill out a competition form by hand and then drop it into a box that looks suspiciously like the handiwork of pre-schooler? It might work at an informal event, but it is definitely not suited for a professional business. Entering a competition via mobile simply makes your company look more legit. Making donations If you are hosting a charity event or taking donations for a worthy cause, you want to make it as easy as possible for participants to commit. SMS Shortcodes can make this an instant process. After all, you want people to commit on the spot while they are “feeling” your message – not later when they are at home and have forgotten all about it. Getting information Customers don’t want to jump through hoops to get the answer to a simple question. Let them text their questions using a Shortcode. This will give the consultant ample time to get a satisfying answer for the customer and then text or phone them back. Less time wasted, more efficient customer service! This can also work for recruiting new clients. Instead of calling them up and intruding on their privacy, you can simply text to ask if they are interested and they can reply back using your shortcode. Less money wasted! Instant feedback Conducting marketing surveys can be quite the chore – not only for the marketer, but the customer as well. Consumers don’t want to answer...
by anton | Sep 15, 2014 | Mobile Products
Are you new to Mobile Advertising or simply stuck in a rut? Don’t stress! These seven simple tips will get you your motor running no time. Know your audience: Even though it is supposed to be your starting point, some marketers still get it wrong. Know what your customers want from you. What phones they are using? How are they using it? Remember, consumers behave differently when reading messages on their phone compared to reading viewing info on their desktop computer. Knowing this could be the difference between mobile marketing success and failure. The less clicks, the better: Make your ad interactive. The more your customer has to click, the less inclined he will be to follow through. Something like an in-ad sign-up is a great way to counter excessive clicking. Mobile Advertising is for now: Mobile communication is immediate and interactive. Placing an ad for an event that is happening a year from now, simply won’t make sense. Time your ad in such a way that your customers are able to take action at the appropriate time. Location, location, location: It is important to place your ad in an appropriate location. You want your ad to be seen quickly without being disruptive to the user. People generally don’t like to pause what they are doing because of an ad! Have a strong call to action: What do you want a consumer to do when they see your ad? Email you? Phone you? Buy a product on your website? Tell them! And give them a very good reason to take action – like a free gift or discount. (P.S...
by anton | Sep 12, 2014 | Mobile Products
Customer loyalty is a corner stone of every thriving business, however, keeping consumers coming back for more is easier said than done. Agreed? Not if you have a SMS Platform! Mobile is an excellent tool for driving customer loyalty programmes. The secret behind being successful in this endeavour is knowing what your customers want. What works and what doesn’t work for them? The top three rewards offered by companies are: discounts, free products and loyalty points that can be redeemed at some point. According to an article on Bizcommunity, the majority of customer votes went for discounts and savings (39%). Free products/ premiums followed closely on its heels with only 5% less votes. Loyalty points received the least of the votes – most likely because it takes too long to accumulate enough points to redeem on something worthwhile. Okay, now that we have a better understanding of consumer preferences, how do you tie it into your SMS Platform? You start with the biggest factor: value add. You are in the ideal situation to customize your loyalty programme. By looking at your customers’ behaviour, you should be able to take your texting (and rewards) to a more personal level. This way you are truly adding value to the lives of your customers – something that 32% of customers say is not happening. Also, allow your other communication channels to assist your SMS platform. It doesn’t have to be a stand-alone platform. For example: encourage your customers to check-in on Facebook at your restaurant (via their mobile) while they are having a coffee. Three things that customers regularly complain about (and...
by anton | Sep 10, 2014 | Mobile Products
Airtime Vouchers can take the pain out of rewarding your customers. Every person owning a cell phone has to use airtime – whether by contract or pre-paid. It is hard to go wrong with such a simple incentive! It isn’t limited to age: You don’t have to worry that only certain age groups would be interested in such a reward. It will obviously appeal to a young crowd because they are constantly busy on their phones and, hence, are always short on airtime. But it can be equally appealing to an older target market who are limited by a strict financial budget. It is a good idea though to adjust the amount you reward according to your customers’ needs. An older market might not be interested in a small R5 voucher while younger customers might not be too worried about the value. Your environmental conscious customers will love it: Because Airtime Vouchers can be sent and redeemed without the use of paper material, it is much more environmentally friendly. If your business sells “green” products this reward system is a must-have – it sends a pretty clear message that you care about the planet. New and old customers will give it the thumbs up: You can use your vouchers to either attract new customers or to reward loyal ones. Give it away as: A competition prize Part of a limited marketing campaign (e.g. buy a product on a certain date and receive a reward) A set reward (e.g. customers get it every year on their birthday or anniversary of their account / every customer who opens an account receives...
by anton | Sep 8, 2014 | Mobile Products
Why are marketers suddenly pushing more and more for Mobile Advertising? Is it worth all the hype, or will it turn out to be just another passing craze? Mobile as a marketing channel started out with phone calls, but almost at the speed of light, it has grown into something noteworthy. It delivers a playing field rich with possibilities and options for the corporate giant as well small business owner. From a plain and simple text to a colourful animated ad with a little song and dance – there is something for everyone and every pocket. Because of its immediacy and responsiveness, some mobile and marketing experts are calling it the “seventh mass media channel”. Not bad considering that most phones nowadays are so small it can fit in the palm of your hand. (Compare that to TV screens that are only getting bigger and bigger!) As the capabilities and features of phones are improving, so will the possibilities of Mobile Advertising. Yes, that implies that it is very safe to say that this form of advertising won’t simply disappear overnight. A good example is the slow global migration form desktop internet to mobile internet. Especially in South Africa, more people have access to the web via their phone than a computer because of the costs and inaccessibility of computer technology. Stated plainly: cell phone are affordable, while computers are expensive. When you create an ad that can be shared with friends, it has the potential to go viral and reach more people. Mobile Advertising allows for content that can be stored and forwarded from one phone to another....
by anton | Sep 5, 2014 | Mobile Products
In South Africa, the majority of phone users don’t own a smartphone. If your target market falls into this category, can you still reach them with mobile marketing? Most definitely! The answer? USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) Push and Pull messages. Most, if not all, handsets are capable of receiving USSD messages. In other words, you don’t have to worry about the logistics behind this marketing channel. Yes, it isn’t as pretty or mesmerizing as rich media marketing, but you still have a choice between: Push: A message that pops up on user’s screen – it is “pushed” on the customer. Pull: Usually a menu that the user has to access – the customer is “pulled” in to make use of the service. Unstructured Supplementary Service Data menus are easy to navigate and it can serve a variety of functions. If you have ever topped up your airtime by dialling a short number and then choosing options from a menu, you have made use of such a menu. A business can use it for: balance checking, voting, polls, answers to general questions, buying or ordering of products, sending passwords etc. It is instant and fast, almost like corresponding with a live consultant. These menus can also handle an unlimited amount of users at the same time – unlike a consultant who can only take one call and only help customers during working hours. USSD is all about the content. The focus rests firmly on what you have to say and what you want your customers to do in response. You can use it for direct marketing and promote your...
by anton | Sep 3, 2014 | Mobile Products
Email and SMS Marketing are both very effective marketing tools. But what if you don’t have the time or resources to use both? Which one is better? The answer is simple: SMS. Why? Texts are read, email not really: It is estimated that only 22% of emails sent are opened while SMS knocks it out of the park with 98%. There are many reasons for this, but the main problem people have with email is spam. Mobile receives better click through rates: Believe it or not, mobile users are more likely to click on a link. Email produces an average click through rate of 4.2% while SMS Marketing can produce 19%. Mobile users outnumber email users: The stats on exactly how much more mobile users there are in comparison to active email account holders differ from article to article. The latest report (from the Radicati Group) says that there are 6 billion active mobile users worldwide and only 3.6 billion email accounts. SMS is more accessible: People go nowhere without their phone – unlike a laptop or computer. But even if they receive emails on their phone, it is still much more hassle to read an email than a text. An SMS usually takes one click to open, while an email might require you to log into your account first. SMS is timelier: Did you know? It is estimated that 63% of customers use their phone at some point while they are out shopping. In other words, you can send a text to a customer while they are in your shop to alert them to your promotions. If you...
by anton | Sep 1, 2014 | Mobile Products
It is new, it is fresh and it is funky. Mobile Advertising can take your business into a new era. But what is it exactly? With the number of handsets outnumbering televisions, it is no wonder that marketers are shifting their focus from traditional advertising to mobile. It is estimated that (globally) there are more mobile users than users who have access to a desktop computer laptops. Mobile users triumph by 4 to 1 (PC based internet users) and 5 to 1 (laptop and desktop PC population). According to Wikipedia, 44% of mobile users in Japan are currently clicking on advertisements they receive on their phones. This country’s Mobile Advertising industry is said to be already worth 900 million dollars. Facebook has also reported a growth in advertising revenue related to mobile usage. Of their 67% increase over the second quarter of 2013, mobile accounted for 62% of that growth. Just like on the web, advertisements can take many forms. For example: mobile banners, posters, text, rich media and even interactive voice response. SMS and MMS marketing are also recognized as Mobile Advertising, as well as advertisements contained in mobile games and videos. Depending on what the marketer wants to achieve, the ads can be made clickable or simply contain a call to action. The versatility and ability to create visual stunning designs for this medium is exactly what is drawing marketers in. Now we all know that a marketing campaign can’t be successful if you aren’t able to measure the results. With this form of advertising you can see if you are hitting home with your customers ot...
by anton | Aug 29, 2014 | Mobile Products
An Automated Voice Dialling system can be implemented by any kind of business in any industry. Depending on what you are trying to achieve, the system can provide you with multiple outcomes. It can save you money: Saving on operating costs is probably the biggest drawcard for business owners when it comes to choosing communication channels. Just like the name suggests, an automated voice dialler can be programmed to perform certain telephony functions without the assistance of a live consultant. In other words, the system doesn’t need a nanny to constantly watch and monitor every minor little thing it does. Not only does this mean fewer employees, but also less money spend on overtime. It can eliminate mistakes: Every so often, it happens that two consultants deliver two very different messages to a customer. This can lead to a lot of confusion and frustration. Not with an Automated Voice Dialling system. It can help to eliminate human mistakes. Every customer who corresponds with your business over the phone will hear the exact same message every time. It puts you in contact, fast: If there is some kind of emergency, the last thing you want to do is take forever to get a hold of your customers. Think about entities like law enforcement, emergency services or even schools. Imagine you want to warn all the parents at your school not to bring their children because the roads are flooded, but you only have ten staff members who have to dial every parent by hand. If you have an automated dialling system, you could reach the parents in a heartbeat. It...
by anton | Aug 27, 2014 | Mobile Products
Marketing SMS messages are more likely to be received and acted upon than emails and faxes. But, it is not immune to consumer rejection. How can you make sure your customers read your text instead of deleting it right away? Don’t send big files. Graphics and pictures that take too long to download or open, will only frustrate your customers. Don’t waste space. The less effort a recipient has to put in to receive and read your messages, the better. Give your customers a reason to look forward to your promotional messages. You have to give something to get something, and the easiest way to do it, is to give away freebies like mobile vouchers, airtime, discounts or prizes. You don’t have to give something away in every single message, but do it on a regular basis. Keep your SMS messages “single”. As soon as a text goes past 160 characters, it will be delivered in multiple parts. If one of those parts get delayed or aren’t delivered at all, your content will be less than effective. Don’t spam your customers. Going cuckoo for coco pops with your texting is a sure way to elicit a negative response. Don’t go overboard. Rather conduct a survey to find out how many times a week your customers want to hear from you and at what time of the day do they prefer to receive your communication. Keep it professional. Marketers are often swayed in the wrong direction when it comes to constructing texts because it is such an informal medium. Don’t use SMS lingo – it is not to say your...
by anton | Aug 25, 2014 | Services
A Mobile WASP can offer you various mobile products and services for your business’s mobile communication. Why should you care to sign up with one? We can give you four excellent reasons! Mobile is the best thing since sliced bread Don’t take our word for it. Approximately more than 80% of all Africans own a cell phone. According to Yonder Media, there are about 20 million mobile phone users in South Africa with devices capable of accessing the internet. (The total mobile phone population is estimated at 33 million unique users.) The percentages of mobile penetration in our country is by far the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and compare very favourably with most other middle-income countries. Brands are jumping on the mobile marketing bandwagon Sure, not every single company out there are making use of cell phone marketing, but more and more brands are signing up with Mobile WASPS. Why? They are realizing that it adds value to their campaigns. They are hungry to communicate with their clients in a way that is effective, cheap and simple. Brands have even started to advertise on mobile channels like Mixit. According to the channel itself, their number of advertisers have doubled in last year alone; clearly this method is delivering positive results! Mobile provides various marketing opportunities Thanks to the Mobile WASPS, there are many mobile channels to choose from, and a variety of uses for every channel. From direct marketing and brand awareness to client relations and collecting payments, a business can make use of USSD, Premium SMS, Bulk SMS, Direct Operator Billing, mobile applications, mobile vouchers, automated voice messaging,...
by anton | Aug 22, 2014 | Mobile Products
If you are in the automobile industry (selling, trading, repairing) you should get behind the wheel of SMS Marketing and take it for a spin. We will tell you why. Direct Marketing Why would I want to use mobile messages to market my products or services? Because: It is highly affordable: buying SMS in bulk will save you even more! More targeted than email messages: it is virtually guaranteed that your message will be opened within a few seconds after receipt. Can be adapted in the blink of an eye to achieve different outcomes: use it for small or big campaigns You can use SMS Marketing to: Inform your customers about specials on vehicle parts or servicing Remind your customers to have their vehicles checked before each school holiday Ask customers to text the details of their vehicles so you can do a quick check of the vehicle’s book value, then text the answer back with an invite to do a trade-in. Create excitement and action by offering exclusive deals and discounts every time you have to get rid of old stock. With SMS Marketing, you don’t have to spend much to generate revenue. Use it in conjunction with other marketing channels to give your marketing efforts a powerful boost. Customer Service Use text messages to: Remind customers of appointments Inform them that their vehicle is ready for pick-up Remind them when their vehicle’s service is due Inform them when parts arrived Wish them a happy birthday and happy holidays Congratulate them on their purchase Congratulate them on the anniversary of their purchase Share tips on how to care...
by anton | Aug 20, 2014 | Mobile Products
Small businesses lose out to bigger companies if they wait too long to start with their seasonal campaigns. With summer slowly approaching, now is the time to begin your Bulk SMS planning. During the warmer months, consumers spend more and more time outdoors. Think music festivals, sport events, picnics, “braai”, the beach etc. If your products and services can’t tie directly into this (e.g you don’t sell picnic blankets) team up with another business whose products do. (Buy hairspray from XYZ Salon and we might sponsor the installation of a pool at your home from ABC Pools.) Finding the right partner to combine your efforts with, can be crucial to your success. Remember: make sure your target market will be interested in what your partner has to offer. If a partnership isn’t your thing, you can simply buy relevant summer-time rewards to use as customer incentives. Offering group deals is an ideal way to get mass opt-ins on your Bulk SMS contact list. After all, people don’t like to go to events alone. Offer “two for the price of one” deals or rewards for bringing friends along. Your consumers will spread the word for you and your contact list will grow quickly. Businesses always offer special deals during summer – this isn’t news. Are you aware of what your competitors are doing? But don’t only focus on them, because you are also competing with your non-competitors for marketing space. Consumers get so bombarded by advertisements in general, that most of these messages get lost in all the noise. Thus, your mission is to make your campaigns as attractive as...
by anton | Aug 18, 2014 | Mobile Billing
Direct Operator Billing (DOB) isn’t only suited for retail or online stores. Even dating sites have now begun to realize that this payment method is a match made in heaven. How did this happen? Virtual payments allow for privacy and anonymity – much like the features users would want from a dating site as well. There is no need to reveal sensitive info like your credit card information if you can pay for membership fees with your phone. If you are accessing the dating site via your handheld device, it makes even more sense to pay your bill from there. After all, most people own a phone, but not everyone owns a credit card. And not all users are willing to go through the trouble of obtaining a credit card just to use it for a dating site. Giving subscribers an array of payment options will always prove favourable to a service provider. Plus, it allows you to tap into a broader market, which means more revenue for the business owner. Direct Operator Billing is also hassle-free. It is speedy and convenient with no forms to fill out. Users can pay (for example) by sending an SMS or clicking on a link and the transaction is completed in a flash. A quick purchase solution for small transaction! Did you know? It is expected that DOB payments will push mobile transactions to about 4 billion dollars globally in 2014. The Mobile Commerce market is expected to grow by 300% in five years. That is from 11.6 billion dollars in 2014 to 467.3 billion in 2019. This is due to the...
by anton | Aug 15, 2014 | Mobile Products
The SMS Platform has come a long way since the first ever message was sent in 1992. Today, more than half of the world own or has access to a mobile phone and people are sending still sending text messages like crazy. Finland was the first nation to use texting on a competitive as well as commercial basis. Terminology for mobile messaging differs from country to country. North America, the UK, Australia and the Philippines prefer the word “text” while Europe, Africa and Asia are more likely to use the term “SMS”. 2.4 billion out of 3.3 billion mobile subscribers make use of texting. In June 2006, 12 billion text messages were sent each month. Just two years later, this number climbed to a staggering 75 billion! In the Philippines, people really love their SMS Platform. The average user sends 10 – 12 text a day; this amounts to approximately 142 billion text messages sent over the course of a year. In the USA (2009) users topped the stats with 152.7 billion texts per month (not per year!) Despite the fact that there are many other communication channels available, even Smartphone users still love sending SMS messages. Owners aged by 18 to 24, send about 2022 texts. Now here is a statistic that will really blow your mind – and proves that texting is still the undisputed king of cheap and easy communication. In 2012, the amount of texts sent were recorded at 8.5 trillion. It is estimated that within the next five years, this number will total 40 trillion. The longer something is around, the more skilful you...
by anton | Aug 13, 2014 | Mobile Products
When purchasing a SMS Short Code, you usually have a choice between a dedicated and a shared code. Rather opt for a dedicated one that is exclusive to your business. Here is why. Brand recognition If you use the same code for all your marketing campaigns, people will start to associate the code with your brand. Association also makes it easier to remember. Should another company make use of the same code, they can leech off your exposure or even damage your brand. Control If the code is yours alone, you have full control over what you do with it or what you use it for. You can also keep an eye on your activities to make sure you stick to the consumer Code of Conduct. You won’t have to worry that another company will use it for “evil” – resulting in the code getting shut down. Keyword exclusivity Having sole use of an SMS Short Code also means you have ownership of all the keywords you use along with it. Why is this beneficial? Because it enables you to use general keywords like “special”, “promo”, “prize” etc. Instead of something like “Alex Cafe special”. Shorter keywords = easier to remember. The data is yours You will have full control and ownership of the data and personal info that your customers send to you. You also shouldn’t have any problems to look up the conversation history. It might prove more difficult to obtain this info if the database doesn’t belong to you alone. Better security Dedicated SMS Short Codes are a must if your industry is security sensitive e.g....
by anton | Aug 11, 2014 | Mobile Products
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...
by anton | Aug 8, 2014 | Mobile Aggregation
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...
by anton | Aug 7, 2014 | General
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by anton | Aug 6, 2014 | Mobile Products
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?...
by anton | Aug 4, 2014 | Mobile Products
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...
by anton | Jul 30, 2014 | Mobile Products
What on earth does Number Scrubbing have to do with Mobile Compliance? Well, if you think about it carefully, it actually makes complete sense. This is why. Mobile Compliance, in a peanut shell, refers to the requirements that a provider has to adhere to in accordance with the law – especially those regulations that have to do with consumer rights. For instance, mobile providers are not allowed to target children or send messages to a consumer’s phone after the consumer chose the “opt out” option. The point of these regulations are to protect consumers. If you are concerned that such compliance rules will keep you from running your marketing campaigns to the fullest, just remember, such regulations benefit you as a business as well because it will keep you from becoming annoying and losing customers. Number Scrubbing is the act of getting rid of phone numbers on your contact list that have become irrelevant to you. It could be because the numbers are outdated (don’t exist anymore), duplicated during your data capturing process, or belong to customers who have opted out of your mobile marketing. See where I am going with this? That is why you can regard number washing/ HLR lookup as part of your commitment to stay within in the bounds of Mobile Compliance. As you can deduce, it is very easy to make mistakes when compiling your customer contact list. Doing it old school (manually) is not always the best idea. For example: Sending the same marketing material twice or to customers who don’t want to be contacted via text, will only serve to make you...
by anton | Jul 28, 2014 | Mobile Products
Think Interactive Voice Response systems are only for big companies? No way! The small business owner can benefit just as much from using inbound and outbound IVR. You don’t have to receive thousands of calls each month to consider using an automated telephony system. Neither do you have to be a corporate giant with hundreds of telesales agents. A great number of small companies are turning towards IVR systems these days, because not only is good customer service their top priority, but they have to keep up with their competitors. Today’s consumer want things done on the spot. And if you don’t deliver fast enough, they will simply move on to a company that will. An IVR system can record calls when you aren’t available (for example after office hours), so instead of customers not having their calls answered, the machine can record and store it until someone can attend to it first thing in the morning. You are probably not planning on staying a small fry forever, so why not get your systems in place now so it can help your business to grow! After all, a telephony system can help you to appear professional and make a good impression on callers. These systems are also capable of recording incoming calls. What does this mean for you? It is always good to have a record of conversations between employees and clients should complaints arise from the interaction – or to have a record of what a client is actually complaining about. From a legal standpoint, you can’t go wrong with it. Another benefit of having calls on record,...
by anton | Jul 25, 2014 | Mobile Products
Premium SMS is an innovative way for consumers to do business with a company without the hassle of credit card payments. But, as with all payment systems, there are providers and people out there who misuse this form of mobile payment and actually trick consumers into losing money. How can you spot such a scam? Always think twice Don’t respond on unsolicited messages – especially those that ask for your personal information. Ask yourself if the message looks legit or not; you will usually find that it has something a bit unrealistic about it. One example of these messages are those claiming that you have won a prize. Unless you have actually entered into a legit competition, delete those message immediately! If an unsolicited message contains a link in the content – don’t click on it! Simple as that. Do you know the provider? Like your parents always told you – don’t trust strangers. Before your sign up to receive anything, always make sure that you know who the provider is. Just because a Premium SMS contains some kind of tempting offer, you should always do some research and find out if the company even exists. Always read the fine print Make sure what you are getting yourself into. Hidden costs and “terms and conditions apply” are often used to solicit extra money from consumers. Don’t assume that a payment is once-off – often times it is not. You might think you are downloading one ringtone for R20, but surprise surprise, next month you are charged R20 again without receiving anything. If a provider isn’t upfront about their fees...
