by anton | Mar 28, 2014 | Mobile Products
Today it is harder than ever to cut through the communication noise to reach your clients. This doesn’t only ring true for marketing practices, but also for your answering systems. How can you make the best of your IVR (Interactive Voice Response)? Offer value: To truly rise above the rest with your IVR, you should offer your clients one simple thing – value. This could be anything from saving them time and money to supplying them with something extra (like information) that your competitors can’t. Keep it simple: Your clients are pushing for time. The last thing they want to do is listen to an intricate list of options that goes on and on. Only have the options available that are most important – take note, important to your clients, not your company. Get to the point, fast: Your IVR system shouldn’t have a long welcoming call. Also, your Interactive Voice Response system should respond promptly to the client’s input with intelligent follow up choices. There shouldn’t be a long delay in response after the client has made their choice from the menu. Encourage interruptions: Offer “barge in” technology that will allow clients to respond to prompts without listening to the entire command. This won’t only save the customer time and money, but will also help eliminate frustration. Jump the queue: Ensure your system offers immediate follow up with a live representative once the routine transactions have been completed using the IVR. According to vocantas.com, the best case scenario here is to push your IVR customers to the front of the queue for a live attendant when they need...
by anton | Mar 26, 2014 | Mobile Products
So, you have decided that it is high time your company invested in a good IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system. If you have chosen Integrat, you know you’re your system will be in good hands. Now the only thing left for you to do is to work that system like a pro. How? By providing excellent customer service! Here are 8 tips to get you on the right track 1. Be knowledgeable about your products and services so when your customers call, you can solve their problems on the first your business as a pleasant...
by anton | Mar 24, 2014 | Mobile Products
Did you know that you can make your marketing campaigns more focused with Bulk SMS, providing you with better results? You bet! Curios? Then you have come to the right place! Why Bulk SMS is such a focused medium: Content scope: A recall the content of the text later on. Also, don’t send a text every day for three weeks – it will annoy your customers immensely. Space your messages...
by anton | Mar 19, 2014 | Mobile Products
Bulk SMS, MMS and even LBS are mobile marketing products filled with a list of possibilities longer than their abbreviations. And best of all, you can do it all yourself, which makes it ideal for the small business owner. How can you start your mobile marketing campaign? It doesn’t matter which mobile tools or mediums you choose, you will most likely always follow these nine steps. 1. Decide if you are going to handle everything yourself/ in-house or hire an agency to do it for you. If you opt for the DIY option, just make sure you can handle the work load. 2. Figure out who your target market is before you compose your material. Are you aiming for your “usual” customer base, or do want to target a “fresh” group. 3. Create the means to collect numbers. you’ll achieve even greater...
by anton | Mar 17, 2014 | Mobile Products
Do you have clients overseas and want to include them in your Bulk SMS campaigns? It is not impossible at all. This is what you have to keep mind. Start by making sure that you have the capability to send an international text message. Your network service provider should be able to confirm it. Usually, it is not a problem and you shouldn’t run into a lot of snags. Just know that it costs more to send a message internationally than locally. Now more a concern with marketing ventures on the internet, television etc. it is still good to know that there are advertising rules. For example in many countries, advertisements for pharmaceuticals must be approved by local health ministries. Are you ready to make a mobile impact in your business? Drop us a line at Integrat and we will give you all the info you need about our Bulk SMS...
by anton | Mar 14, 2014 | Mobile Products
If you can browse the internet, send and receive e-mail, and have basic computer knowledge; of business partners Send price changes and stock information to relevant parties Inform staff of meetings or schedule appointment reminders Run campaigns and competitions Integrat offers Bulk SMS products. Give us a call today and we will gladly tell you more about our amazing mobile...
by anton | Mar 12, 2014 | Mobile Products
Location Based Services (LBS) is an exciting way to market your business, especially locally. But like any successful campaign, you have to know where and how to jump-start the process. Start with: why do people make use of LBS? Because it is fun Bragging rights: To compete with others for virtual status, badges, stickers etc. Socializing: To meet and make new friends To make a statement: Show that you have visited a place you deem important (like a very classy restaurant). For recommendations: People sometimes like to recommend (in a professional capacity) nice places for others to visit. To receive freebies: Discounts, coupons, special offers etc. Wherein lays the trick? The trick is not to rely on mobile channels alone. Instead, make use of all the ammunition in your marketing arsenal if you want to strike Location Based Marketing gold. What are some of the channels can I use? Directories Company blogs Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest) LBS applications for mobile Mobile friendly websites Pay-Per-Click advertising Review sites Geofences What do I do with these channels? Engage! All these channels open a door for (voluntary) customer engagement. It is your job to drive these engagements in a positive manner. Use it to: Tell people more about your business – what you do, who you are. Make the benefits of doing business with you known – in regards to LBS, inform people about other attractions/ shops in your immediate area that they might be interested in. Offer something of value – everybody loves a freebie, but nobody does anything for free. Place yourself on the map, literally – make it...
by anton | Mar 10, 2014 | Mobile Products
If own or manage any kind of club/ organization, you know that the most important task you have is to make sure you retain your existing members and recruit new ones. How can you do this without breaking the piggy bank? Through Bulk SMS of course! Managing membership’s subscriptions takes creativity and tenacity. First you have to recruit new members, and then you have to keep them happy. You need to be in regular communication (but not too much, otherwise you will annoy them) if you want a good, solid relationship with your clientele. This means sending them info, updates, subscription reminders etc. Using more than one communication channel always proves more effective. But, if you are on a tight budget, you want something that is cheap, fast and guaranteed to work. Bulk SMS can do it all for you. How? Once your members have signed up, you need to stay on their radar to ensure when you send text in bulk You can automate the whole process – it doesn’t get any easier than that! Bulk SMS is one of many mobile products and services on offer by Integrat. Sign up with us, and we can help your business to go...
by anton | Mar 7, 2014 | Mobile Products
“Practicality” is one of the keywords that all marketers love – if are bombarded by marketing messages every day, whether it is via television, radio, billboards, magazines or mobile. Consumers need more incentive than ever not ignore your advertisements or delete your communication attempts. Mobile marketing already gives any business an edge, but if you don’t use it correctly, your attempts will likely go...
by anton | Mar 5, 2014 | Mobile Products
IVR is the abbreviation for Interactive Voice Response systems. Professional businesses use these systems to answer incoming phone calls and to direct clients through the switchboard’s appropriate channels. How do Interactive Voice Response systems work? First of all, an IVR system works by connecting a computer to the company’s telephone line. The computer needs IVR software and special hardware called a telephony board or telephony card. When a client phones the company, the IVR software gives the caller a pre-recorded greeting and then asks the caller to choose an option from a set menu. For example: by pressing the number “one” on the keypad and outgoing phone calls are routed through the regular Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or over a VoIP network. TCP/IP network: a standard internet network that provide Internet and intranet connectivity. VXML telephony server: a special server that serves as a middle man between the phone – and the internet network. Databases: real-time information that can be accessed by the IVR applications. Web/application server: the home of Interactive Voice Response system software. There might be several different applications for different functions. Are these systems expensive? Nope! Plus you have the added bonus of eliminating negative human factors. For example: consultants that don’t show up for work or extra money spent on overtime. IVR systems can operate night and day; through rain or sunshine. It is a reliable investment that will pay for itself in the long run. Do you need Interactive Voice Response for your business? Drop us a line at Integrat and we will gladly help you to boost your client...
by anton | Mar 3, 2014 | Mobile Products
Bulk SMS marketing is the sending of text messages (in bulk) to you customers. The reason why this marketing method is so effective is because, simply put, people are attached to their phones like wet on water. One of the most important things you have to keep in mind about SMS marketing is the limitations. Luckily there are few and the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Text messages have a character limit. Just like Twitter limits users to 140 characters per tweet, SMS is traditionally limited to 160 characters. This character limit is a really important factor to consider, because it directly affects how much you can say. But think about it this way: if you can say something significant/ compose a core message on Twitter, you shouldn’t have a problem doing the same on SMS. The benefits of Bulk SMS marketing? It is a cheap and quick way to reach many individuals at the same time. Messages can be personalised for the individual because the company already has a relationship with them. Subsequently, text messages can be used to further the relationship between the business and their clients Unlike mail, which sometimes remains unopened, the majority of recipients are likely to open the message – at the very least. This can lead to a response rate of 15% to 80%, depending on the industry. Where did it all start? According to Wisegeek.com, one of the first groups why not give us a...
by anton | Feb 28, 2014 | Services
Owning a Mobile App goes hand-in-hand with a lot of decision making – from the development to the hosting thereof. What are some of the most important decisions an application owner will have to make? What is the purpose of your app? Your app should add value to the lives of your customers in some way or another. If it isn’t perceived as addressing a problem or providing convenience/ comfort, your customers will lose interest very quickly. Will your app be free or paid for? Are you going to Engine Optimization (SEO) for better rankings in search results. Or you can provide a link from your website to your application. It is always a good idea to make use of multiple strategies. Looking for a Mobile Application host? Contact Integrat today and talk to any of our knowledgeable...
by anton | Feb 26, 2014 | Services
Choosing a knowledgeable Mobile Development team is crucial to the success of your mobile application. How have approved the beta...
by anton | Feb 24, 2014 | Mobile Products
What is of mobile marketing, but the simplicity factor is precisely what makes it so effective. For the business it provides a pretty cheap and easy form of customer service, and customers in turn will find it equally easy to understand and operate. It is a win-win for...
by anton | Feb 21, 2014 | Services
Last year some WASPS came under fire for not adhering to mobile Compliance Management in accordance to the WASPA code of conduct. What exactly happened there, and how can it be prevented in the future? City Press reported in May 2013 that an alarming amount of mobile users were complaining about mysteriously loosing airtime, only to discover that they were billed for content/ services they claimed they did not subscribe to. The Daily News also published an article about the non-Compliance Management of some WASPS in October 2013. They explained that as with disputed debit orders, the onus is on the company receiving the that consumers need to be told about the status of their bill and asked if they would like to continue with the service.” Also, WASPA’s code of conduct requires its members to do a “double opt-in” – requiring subscribers to confirm their agreement to being subscribed to a certain service. Integrat takes Compliance Management and Customer service very seriously. Clients who sign up with us are advised in terms of Compliance and we are available to review adverts and to test services. Once services are launched our call center agents monitor these for Compliance and report any violations or possible...
by anton | Feb 19, 2014 | Services
A good Mobile Application is nice, but a great one is even better! Did you know that one in four downloaded mobile apps is never used and simply gets discarded? (According to a study by Localytics.) What can you do to make sure your app isn’t amongst the “faders”? Provide the answer to a problem Any successful product is born out of a need – usually because the consumer is experiencing a problem that he/she wants keywords.” These are just a few examples of all that you can do to gain visibility among your target audience Choose the right distribution channels If you want your Mobile application to get noticed by both your audience and the big wigs, opting for various distribution channels is a good idea. For instance you can offer a free simplified (or trail) version of your product so users can test it out and spread the word about you. For all your Mobile Application Hosting needs, contact Integrat...
by anton | Feb 17, 2014 | Services
Mobile Application Hosts and app owners need to make a combined effort to make sure they bring all the elements of a good mobile app together. What do they need to consider in order to provide clients with the best experience possible? Looks and performance: When a user downloads an app, the first judgement call he will make is on the looks of the product. The second will be on performance. But, if the app doesn’t look like much, the user might not even bother to really eliminated beforehand. Also, you need to make sure your product will be able to load fast. Why? Because unlike a computer, a phone has a limited battery life and customers usually use it when they are on the move. Need an expert Mobile Application Host? Hop on to our website for more information and send as a fax, mail or give us a...
by anton | Feb 14, 2014 | Services
Any number of things can go wrong in the Mobile Application environment. Big problems data can become vulnerable. It can be leaked, modified, tampered with, or lost when transported over an insecure channel. The Mobile Application host has to make sure that the chance of this happening is practically zero. Accessibility: Clients may access more system resource than they are entitled to, hence damaging these resources or preventing other clients from accessing these resources. It might not necessarily be on purpose (almost like the “hey what does this button do” scenario) but could still prove problematic for the Mobile Application host. Data should not be available for just anyone to see or modify as they please and access to applications should be limited to those who are entitled to it only. Hosts should implement proper authentication procedures for users so the system will be able to tell if user is indeed authorized or not. Confidentiality: The client has to know he can trust the host not to leak valuable info to third parties or to steal the client’s data for their own use. Should a breech or security issue occur the mobile application host has to have measures in place to protect and restore information. For all your Mobile Application hosting needs, contact the friendly staff at Integrat right...
by anton | Feb 12, 2014 | Services
Mobile Development is just as complicated as it is fun. Developers have to take a great number of things into consideration and guide the process through a lot of different stages. How can you make the best of it? Get the best team: Real expert developers might cost you a pretty penny in salaries. But, you don’t necessarily have to have the cream of the crop, as long as you optimize your team. Create a strong team by placing every person in a position where they can realise their full potential. If a person is weak in a certain shout and we can discuss how to turn your big mobile plans into a successful...
by anton | Feb 10, 2014 | Services
According to a report on venturebeat.com, Facebook is creating a Mobile Development buzz while other web architecture is fading into the background. But what does this mean? In a survey of around 6,700 developers, Appcelerator found that 66 percent of developers points ahead of Twitter, the No. 2 choice. Three major changes led to Facebook’s newfound popularity among devs. Appcelerator told Venturebeat.com that the company abandoned its HTML5-powered app for faster native apps on iPhone and Android; optimized its mobile APIs to make it easier to connect with its social graph; and offered up extensive mobile analytics by snapping up Onavo. In the survey, 34.7 percent of mobile developers said that legacy web infrastructure SOAP (Simple Access Protocol) and XML data formats were of little interest to them. This might be because they were built for desktop computers which are always on and have a steady broadband connection – unlike mobile devices. Similarly, developer interest in HTML5 has been on a steady decline for over a year. While HTML5 would allow developers to build apps that could be easily deployed across multiple platforms, it still offers a noticeably less polished app experience compared to native development. Around 60 percent of developers surveyed said they were interested in using HTML5 in their apps, down from a high of 73 percent in mid-2012. Appcelerator found that devs now view Javascript as the most important programming language for mobile development. 47.2 percent of devs ranked Javascript their No. 1 language, while Java and Objective C trailed with 23 percent and 20 percent, respectively. For the average Joe on the street these findings...
by anton | Feb 7, 2014 | Services
Mobile devices are still a little behind on certain technological aspects in comparison with their desktop computer counterparts. This is why Mobile Development is such an important part of moving the mobile scene forward. What is mobile development? Well, it is a very broad term to describe the development of anything related to mobile phones and the use thereof – applications, tools, testing, programming, deployment etc. People use their cell phones for more than just making a call or sending a text. They want to surf the net, play games, do financial transactions and download songs as if they are using a laptop or computer. The problem is that the web was originally intended for computers, not mobile devices. If a website isn’t mobile friendly, a cell phone user has a hard time navigating through all the intricate parts. It is believed that the modern phone only has 1/3 to 1/2 of the computing resources of a low end desktop computer. During Mobile Development a lot of factors come into play – not only the issue of internet compatibility. Connectivity is a problem that mobile users often have to deal with, especially in rural areas or where there isn’t a sufficient number of cell phone towers. While computer-based internet rarely experience signal problems, the same can’t be said of a cell phone. This can interrupt service and lead to a bad user experience. But, the biggest issue that developers face is that of the ever changing mobile environment. Every time a new type of phone hits the market or changes are made to web operation, the mobile internet has...
by anton | Feb 5, 2014 | Mobile Products
Unstructured Supplementary Services Data can be divided into USSD Push and Pull. Both have advantages for a business that is looking towards something “different” when it comes to marketing and client services. You can use USSD Push for a variety of things. For example: Banking / Secure Account Management Surveys and Interaction Direct marketing campaigns and offers Application updates Scheduled reminders and alerts Unstructured Supplementary Services Data is especially valued in the financial sector. It allows your clients to receive one-time pins that they can’t save to their inbox, thus providing them with the security that their pin can’t be stolen. A client can also receive request a literally pops onto the receiver’s screen. Integrat offers v as one of our many mobile products and services. Find out more by giving us a call right...
by anton | Feb 3, 2014 | Mobile Products
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) can benefit your company in numerous ways – specifically when it comes to marketing and client services. Here is a rather than an automated voice system, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data is most definitely the answer. 7. Clients don’t have to pay to use it, and doesn’t cost a business much to implement and run USSD messages either. 8. More interactive than compared to SMS. It is almost like “talking” to a person on the other end of the line because you can exchange data more rapidly. One of the reasons for this is because the interactive navigation allows for faster two-ways messaging services and navigation. 9. Convenience at the client’s fingertips – it is simple and easy to use. 10. No internet connection is required. 11. USSD supports menu based applications, allowing more user interaction. Integrat offers USSD as one of our mobile products. If you want to take your company to new heights with the best in mobile communication, get in contact with us right...
by anton | Jan 29, 2014 | Mobile Products
Using Bulk SMS for your marketing messages is very beneficial for creating brand awareness and sales. The problem is: you only have 160 characters. How do you construct a compelling text with the limitation you have? Ask any marketer and they will tell you the more appealing you can make your services and products sound, the greater the chance of generating revenue and pleasing your customers. And to accomplish this, you need to give consumers enough info to pique their curiosity. This can be frustrating for marketers when using texting as a communication tool, because they have a lot to say, but only 160 characters to do it with. Thus, how can you get an impactful message across when using Bulk SMS? Stick to the goal You can’t put everything about your business in every message. Decide what the goal of the message is (selling a product, directing customers to your Facebook) and stick to it. Only say what needs to be said and keep it straight to the point. If your goal is to get more Facebook fans, leave the phone number and address of your business for a completely different SMS. Revise, revise and revise some more Do you really need of all the words in your message? What can you leave out? Are there synonyms for some of the words that are shorter than the original? Read the messages over as many times as you can and cut the fat until you are only left with a juicy bone. You will be tempted to use abbreviations not in the English language, but giving in to “text...
