Everything you need to know about SMS short codes

by | Jan 21, 2015 |

Maybe you have heard of SMS Short Codes or perhaps this is a completely foreign term for you. Not to worry, we will tell you everything you need to know about it.  What is a SMS Short Code? Brands use shortcodes to get customers to opt in for their SMS Marketing campaigns. These codes naturally differ from country to country, but usually consists of 5 or 6 digits (e.g 34561). The mobile user has to type a message on his/ her phone, then send it to the particular number to elicit a desired response. What do consumers say in their message? SMS Short Codes are usually accompanied by a keyword. The reason for this is because a business can have more than one code, or they might be sharing this code with another business. The keyword helps the service provider to effectively differentiate between campaigns. A keyword can be something like the word “competition” or the brand’s name. But, a mobile user isn’t limited to text alone. They can also send images and videos to the number.  Dedicated versus shared codes As we have mentioned previously, a business might share a code with another business, or they have the code all to themselves. (The latter is a dedicated shortcode.) Both have advantages and disadvantages, especially in terms of cost, and it will depend on your brand’s needs which one you choose. How do consumers get hold of the code? Brands usually advertise their code(s) online, in store, television, billboards, printed advertisements etc. It is up to you how you want to convey this info to your customers.  Will I...

5 Ways art galleries can use Bulk SMS Marketing

by | Jan 9, 2015 |

Art galleries have a niche target market and reaching out to them isn’t always easy. But it doesn’t have to be. With Bulk SMS, you can effortlessly win and keep the interest of your patrons (and artists) – without spending a fortune. Growing your opt-in list Giving away freebies is the best way to get people to sign up for your contact list. But what on earth can you give away – definitely not a painting! It is time to reach out to your affiliates or create new business relationships. Start of by thinking about the interests of your target market – what would they like to receive? Pairing wine and art is an excellent idea. Get in touch with a local winery and ask them to sponsor a few bottles of wine that you can give away for free. In return, invite them to your next exhibition so they can promote their goods. Sending invites Bulk SMS marketing is cheap and can reach hundreds of people at once. What better way to let people know about your next art exhibition. Getting to know the artists Most artists have their own websites with info about themselves and examples of their work. Put a link in your message that will take the receiver to the artist’s online profile so they can learn more about him/ her. It might just influence a patron’s purchasing decision or inspire them to bring along people they know will appreciate the artist’s work. Giving feedback Send a SMS to your patrons to thank them for their attendance – it shows that you care and will...

How musicians can rock out with SMS Marketing

by | Jan 7, 2015 |

Are you a solo act or part of a band? Did you know that you can use SMS Marketing to grow your fan base? It is as easy and cool as it sounds! This is how you can do it. First you need your fans to sign up to receive text messages. Growing your opt-in list might take a while, but you have many tools in your arsenal to work with. Start by offering freebies for every sign up, for example two tickets to your show, a complimentary drink or t-shirts with the band’s logo on it. These are all inexpensive gifts, but will add value to your campaign. Use your Facebook fan page and Twitter to drive subscriptions without it costing you anything. Once you have your SMS Marketing list, you can stay in touch with fans and draw bigger crowds to your show. You can: Send alerts: The fastest way to communicate with a large group of people is via texting. Now we don’t have to tell you that a lot of things can go wrong before a show resulting in delays or cancellation. Fans will feel less upset if they receive a short and fast explanation of what went wrong. But don’t only think about alerts in a negative way – you can also send messages when something awesome happens like the band signing up with a new sponsor or acquiring a record deal. Promote a mystery tour: If you have made a name for yourself in the business, you know that fans will pitch up no matter where you play. Make it exciting by sending...

Why a SMS platform is ideal for market research

by | Dec 17, 2014 |

Market research is always a time consuming and expensive process. But with the revolution of the mobile phone, getting to know your target market as never been easier. A SMS platform is perfect for this!  Availability The whole of the African continent now has access to mobile phones. Consumers are easy to reach and distance isn’t a problem anymore. You can take your research wherever you want your brand to go. Also, because they take their phones with them everywhere they go, they can answer your questions any time they want. E.g. during their lunch break at work or in front of the television in the evening.  Simplicity People simply don’t want to be bothered with lengthy questionnaires and surveys. They lead busy lives and have a short attention span, which means they lose interest quickly. Luckily, a SMS platform forces brands to keep their questions short and to the point. Consumers find this much more appealing and consequently it makes them much more willing to participate.  Speed and cost Mobile users can type and send their answers in the blink of an eye. But a brand can also bypass some of the processes that would have slowed them down in the case of traditional market research. No designing, no printing and no manual capturing of data! This also directly influences the cost of your research. You don’t need to hire people or pay for services if you aren’t using traditional processes. Not to mention, buying SMS in Bulk is cheap. And you don’t need an expert to type a text message – anyone can do it! Don’t be...

What to keep in mind for your 2015 SMS Marketing campaigns Part 1

by | Dec 10, 2014 |

Are you already enjoying a relaxing vacation or still hard at work at the office? Either way, you know that you have to start planning for your 2015 SMS Marketing campaigns sooner rather than later. And yes, it is a tall order, especially at this time of year. Everyone is feeling tired and creativity is running low. Changes are good that everybody in the boardroom is scratching their heads and simply looking at each other with “what are we going to do?” faces. Now, being a creative genius is up completely up to you. But the good news is that we can make your life much easier by giving you a few guidelines for the coming year. So while you are recharging your battery or waiting for an awesome idea to hit you in the head, here are a few things to think about for your 2015 SMS Marketing campaigns. Not just a pretty face Your brand has to focus on being more than “just another brand” and more than simply being a pretty face. You already know that you have to create content for your messages that are unique, but you have to go beyond that to be relevant. Consumers are getting all the more picky about what they are sharing with their friends, because it seems that the same old stuff gets circulated over and over again. So while it may be nice to use a different picture, you won’t get anywhere by using to same old sayings and phrases. Seeing as one of the great benefits about SMS Marketing is the fact the people can forward...

Understanding the potential of Mobile Advertising

by | Dec 8, 2014 |

To realize the potential of Mobile Advertising, one must understand a little bit about the mobile industry as a whole and where it is going. This is why you shouldn’t ignore the humble cell phone as a powerful marketing tool. Television, radio and paper-based ads are still effective – nobody can argue with that. However, the potential that mobile holds to reach consumers are growing bigger and wider with each passing year. People rely so heavily on their mobile phones that they expect more and more services and products to be made available via this channel. They don’t want hundreds of devices that function separately – they want everything streamlined on one thing. Plus they want to expand as little energy as possible to operate it. It is thus not so farfetched to say that cell phones are fast becoming the one device to rule them all The time for sitting on the sidelines and watching other brands rake in the cash, are gone. It is time for your brand to get in on the action of Mobile Advertising. Listen to your consumers. They crave mobile aggregation. They want to search, order and pay for your products in one swoop. They want your products and services at their fingertips. Regardless of age, race, gender, income or nationality, consumers all over the world are turning their attention towards mobile. They use it for anything from purchasing concert tickets, subscribing to magazines or following the latest celebrity gossip. Is your brand present? Is it shouting loud and clear: “here I am!” If your answer is no, why not? Mobile Advertising is...