From Bulk To Premium, Sms Is Cost Effective And Highly Efficient

From Bulk To Premium, Sms Is Cost Effective And Highly Efficient

by | May 11, 2016 |

With the continued evolution of mobile marketing it is easy to forget just how effective some of the discipline’s original workhorses are. SMS, for example, is the original mobile marketing bearer. This familiarity is a great advantage because it means the humble text message is both personal and trusted. Let’s take a brief look at the available variations of SMS in mobile marketing: Bulk SMS Sending and receiving large numbers of SMS messages to multiple recipients is the most cost effective way to reach a guaranteed audience. Bulk SMS by InTarget means that in a matter of minutes your brand can be visible on the most personal of consumer devices. Bulk SMS, however, doesn’t imply a ‘one size fits all’ type of approach because InTarget can send the same content to all recipients or each message can be personalised. BulkSMS replies How many times have you wanted to reply to a commercial email or text message that annoyingly stated it was being sent from an unattended mailbox? Inexplicably, marketers often expect consumers to engage in two-way conversation using a variety of mediums, instead of just one. Two-way bulk SMS enables your current and potential customers to continue the conversation using a text-based medium that is convenient to them. No phone call or email necessary. InTarget’s bulk SMS replies feature taps into the growing trend for all of us to talk less and text more. Premium SMS Premium SMS offers all the advantages of text messaging technology, with a convenient payment element included. Consumers are able to pay for goods and services simply by sending keywords to short codes using...

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...

How consumers can avoid Premium SMS scams

by | Jul 25, 2014 |

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...

Direct Carrier billing vs Premium SMS

by | May 26, 2014 |

Two of the mobile billing methods offered by Integrat, are Premium SMS and Direct Carrier Billing. What is the difference between the two and how do you know which one is better suited to your business? Premium SMS It works the same as sending a normal SMS where the mobile user (sender) pays a tariff each time he sends a text to someone. The purchase is added to their mobile account bill, or debited from their prepaid account. Subscribers can be billed in two ways: MO billing (mobile originated) messages are billed when a consumer sends an SMS to a premium short code. MT billing (mobile terminated) messages are billed when a consumer receives an SMS on their handset. The most well-known type of purchase this method is used for, is mobile entertainment like ringtones and games. MO billing is probably the more popular of the two. Once the merchant confirms that they have received the payment, they will send the goods or open their service to the receiver. As you can imagine, Premium SMS holds numerous advantages for both the business and the consumer as it is virtually instant. However, if something goes wrong with the sending or receipt of the SMS, there are no guarantees that the consumer will receive her goods. Direct Carrier Billing It works much the same way as it also charges purchases directly to the consumer’s mobile account. However, it is a more secure way of doing mobile transactions and are often used to purchase goods outside of mobile products. Another added advantage is that it allows the consumer to build a relationship...