Everything consumers should know about Premium SMS

by | Dec 5, 2014 |

Have you ever seen Premium SMS offered as a payment option but you weren’t sure what it was and how it worked? We will tell you everything you need to know about it.  What is Premium SMS? In a nutshell, it is a way to pay for goods and services by sending a text message to the provider of that service. The provider will then deduct the money from the sender’s airtime (if you are on pay-as-you-go) or from your mobile bill (if you have a phone contract.) The message will look something like this: “To enter our competition, text your name to 12345.” The phone number will usually be very short. What kind of services is it used for? Currently, it is being used to pay for virtual goods (entertainment and for your phone or computer. Like ringtones, games, wallpapers, chat services, competition entries, voting, and various mobile applications. What will it cost? The goods/ services are usually inexpensive – most likely because consumers feel safer transferring a few bucks opposed to hundreds of bucks. Also, should something go wrong with the transfer, the consumer won’t lose too much money in the process. The rate of the Premium SMS service will depend on the provider. It is important to look at the terms and conditions of the service before you send your SMS. Consumers often make the mistake in thinking that they are doing a once-off payment, but in the meantime they have signed up for a weekly/ monthly deduction. How do I cancel my Premium SMS subscription? The provider is required by law to offer an easy...

4 Ways travel agencies kan make a killing with SMS Marketing

by | Dec 3, 2014 |

Travel agencies work in a fast paced environment where the devil is in the details. Things can easily go wrong or change in the blink of an eye. Here is how you can use SMS Marketing to increase sales and customer loyalty. Last-minute deals Did someone suddenly cancel and now you have an open booking? Instead of crying over money lost, use text messaging to alert your clientele about last-minute deals. Because SMS is instant, you can send the info and receive a response in no time. You will require a customer opt-in list for this of course, but who would not want to be on such a list if it means they have the chance to get an amazing deal. Hot offers Your customers might not be following you on Facebook, or maybe it has been a while since they last spent time on your website. Maybe they haven’t checked their emails in the last 24 hours. But you know that they carry their phone on their person 24/7. Spare them then the hassle of looking you up or browsing through endless travel websites and brochures. With SMS Marketing, you can put hot deals in the palm of their hand. Give helpful hints and tips Once you know where your customer is going, you can send them some helpful info. After all, making a booking is only one part of a traveller’s journey. Put them in touch with car rental services, alert them to any rules or regulations they should be aware of, remind them to take along important essentials like a passport and money etc.  Follow up...

Why should you hire a Mobile Advertising team?

by | Dec 2, 2014 |

Mobile marketing is often used as an afterthought – even more so for Mobile Advertising because it hasn’t been around for long. Most businesses aren’t sure how to use it, let alone where to start. When you browse for mobile tips and tricks on the Internet you will find various articles claiming to know it all. You might be skeptical about some of the things you read and hear, as you very well should be. Which information can you trust, and which are just the opinions of amateurs? The simple answer to all of this is to hire a specialist. It could be an advertising agency or a permanent employee who has expert knowledge on the subject. This person should be able to help you with various things, including how to discern between what works and what doesn’t. This will obviously help to safe you money because you don’t have to spend your marketing budget on figuring out how to use Mobile Advertising successfully. Apart from a person who is knowledgeable about these advertising methods, you also want a good graphics designer on your side. Mobile has limitations that desktop doesn’t have, especially when it comes the size of your display. It is absolutely crucial to use images and graphics correctly. Rather don’t try to do it yourself, or you will probably end up with ads that look anything but professional. Equally important, is your marketing messages. Once again, you have limitations when it comes to content. You can’t try to fit a whole essay into your ad, whether you are constructing a SMS or a banner ad. A...

How hotels and lodges can utilize Wholesale SMS during the holidays

by | Nov 28, 2014 |

Is it your business to offer accommodation to holiday goers and tourists? Lodges, hotels and resorts can make use of Wholesale SMS to make their clientele’s stay a wonderful one. Start by listing all the things that people need or would like to know when going on vacation. You probably already have some info on your website about interesting places nearby to visit. But you can give them even more valuable information. Making the booking Text the caller a list of available rooms Send them a confirmation of payment received Send a list of items they have to bring along that you don’t supply (if any) How they can get hold of transportation if they don’t have their own (details of car hire services or cab companies) If you are in a malaria hotspot, send them a reminder to take preventative medication beforehand On the road: Anything can happen while you are traveling by car. You can get a flat tire or get into an accident. On the other hand, your vehicle also needs petrol and the driver needs to stretch his/ her legs regularly. This gives you the opportunity to use Wholesale SMS to text the following info to travellers: Directions to your lodge Petrol stations, tourist attractions and rest stops they can encounter along the way The contact details of emergency services in the vicinity While they are there A daily weather update in the early morning can help them to plan their activities for the day Ask local shops and restaurants in your vicinity to let you know of any specials they are running and forward...

Differences between desktop and Mobile Advertising

by | Nov 26, 2014 |

Should you go with desktop or Mobile Advertising? There isn’t a cookie-cutter answer that would be fitting for every single brand out there. We can, however, list a few key differences between the two that could help you to make up your mind. Content Because a mobile screen is much smaller your advertisement (and therefor your copy and images) have to smaller as well. This could result in less “oomph” being present, because you have to settle for less as well. It is much easier to write content for a desktop advertisement – you can list the benefits of your product, produce a call to action and have more “in your face” graphics. Mobile advertisers have to work smarter with their content so they can send the same message in fewer words. It is not impossible, it just takes a little more creativity. Accidental clicking Because a mobile user has to constantly zoom in and out of the mobile screen, this sometimes leads to accidental clicks. If you are paying for every user’s click, it could become a bit annoying, and it could mess up your statistics. But, at the same time, mobile ads generate more clicks than desktop ads – and all clicks can’t be accidental. To counter this problem, marketers need to look at the design and placement of a Mobile Advertisement. It has to make sense and placed in a location that attracts attention. User-friendliness Desktop advertisements are considered more user-friendly. Not only does the user have a large screen that enables him to view everything clearly, but he also has a mouse to help him...

4 Brilliant tricks to drive sales with a Bulk SMS campaign

by | Nov 24, 2014 |

A single SMS can’t say it all, but a Bulk SMS campaign can cover all your bases. One text message might not make a lasting impression, but with Wholesale SMS you can make a greater impact. How can you make use of multiple texts to create something awesome? Make it fun If you have video at your disposal, it is easy to give your product an edge. If your customers don’t own smartphones, images combined with text can be equally impactful. And if text is all you got? Then you will just have to be creative. Look to your brand’s logo, motto and values for inspiration. Be clever and quirky; make cool rhymes or striking similarities. You can even poke fun at your competitors (just don’t get into legal trouble) or tie it in with the latest happenings around the world (for example celebrity gossip, the antics of politicians or a change in the weather). Make it shocking Use Bulk SMS to give your customers something to think about. Make a statement like: “did you know, for the past five years nobody has made a change to (this product). You have been deprived of all the benefits of (this product) all this time. But not anymore. We have revamped it and made it so cool, even (a celebrity’s name) will love it.” Be bold! You want your customers to say: “Well thank goodness for (your brand)!” Talk about all the benefits Your product has a list of benefits, right? It isn’t wise to try and cram all those benefits into one SMS – it is just too much for...