Thursday, 11 December 2008

Common FAQ's Answered on SMS and Mobile Marketing

1. What is mobile marketing?

Mobile marketing is a groundbreaking new way of communicating with customers and prospects. Check out http://www.mmaglobal.com/glossary.pdf for great ideas about how mobile marketing and interactive communication can generate sales.


2. What’s the difference between mobile marketing and text messaging?

Text is a subset of mobile marketing that relies on consumers’ decisions to “opt in.” That means anyone who receives the message has already taken the first step toward participating in a campaign.


3. How does mobile marketing worka?

Say your client needs an interactive way to entice consumers to sample a product. Mobile marketing can take a traditional ad – a broadcast spot or a billboard – and introduce a call to action with a five-digit short code: “For a free sample, text ‘try me’ to 12345.” Since 136 million Americans are already texting regularly, some of them are bound to send that message – and to receive your client’s coupon for a free sample. They use information in the response message to redeem the offer, and are entered into a database of consumers who have chosen to take part in the campaign.


4. Aren’t mobile marketing and text messaging mostly for kids?

No. Recent studies show that parents of teens are the largest group of text messagers. The fastest-growing group is 25- to 34-year-olds.


5. Will we need new equipment to launch a sms marketing program?

Not with txtNation. When you partner with txtNation, txtNation help you develop campaigns and provide a web-based interface with which to implement them.


6. How do mobile coupons work?

When users respond to a campaign, they receive message s on their mobile phones that include a word or number they can redeem for a free cup of coffee – or whatever the advertiser is offering. When they show up at the retailer, the advertiser can use these codes to track which customers followed through with the promotion.


7. Do we sign a contract with txtNation?

Yes. Because txtNation invests in training every client and provides ongoing consultation with an account manager, our partners commit to working with us for a minimum period of time.


8. How much will it cost me?

txtNation are happy to discuss our fee structure – just contact us to speak with a txtNation representative.


9. Why would an adult text message?

136 million Americans text message regularly, and parents of teens are the largest group. They’ve figured out that the best way to communicate with their kids is the way kids are communicating with each other. These adults are also active participants in mobile promotions that suit their interests.


10. How do txtNation partners handle technical problems?

They don’t. Our 24-hour customer support is always a phone call or email – or a text – away.


11. What’s so special about txtNation’s customer service?

txtNation provide every client with a dedicated account manager who has the expertise and case studies necessary to help you generate revenue consistently. These eager and knowledgeable employees have experience with marketing and advertising campaigns. That’s why they can turn creative briefs into executable programs in 48 hours or less.


12. What type of program or creative assistance does txtNation provide?

What don’t txtNation provide? txtNation train you on mobile marketing possibilities, then work with you to develop solutions and campaigns that meet the specific need of your clients. txtNatoin can give concrete examples of strategies that have worked in similar situations elsewhere, and help get your creative juices flowing by talking you through the possibilities of your particular market and revenue goals.


13. Do you offer a training program?

In addition to partnerships, which always involve extensive training of clients’ sales teams, txtNation offer a special seminar program to one broadcast client in each market. Contact us for details.


14. Who should manage the program in our organization?

It depends on what your goals are and what your existing team structure is. Once tell you about how easy it is to manage a productive relationship with txtNation, you’ll have a better idea of how to identify your point person.


15. Is there a “best” way to sell the program?

It all depends on the customer. That’s why txtNation's unrivalled creative and tech support are so important to your mobile marketing program’s success: txtNation work with all of your salespeople to help them develop exactly the right pitches for their customers.


16. Why do we need TxtNation? Can’t we just ask listeners/viewers/customers to send a text message directly to us?

Unlike other mobile marketing companies, TxtNation provides comprehensive, consultative support. txtNation work with you on strategic and creative goals in addition to offering industry-leading technology.


17. What will it cost listeners/viewers/customers to participate in our mobile marketing programs?

It depends on their cell phone plans. Many people who text regularly have unlimited access to this feature. Others pay for each message – though never more than 10 or 20 cents.


18. Do all the consumers in a sms marketing program have to opt in?

Consumers can ‘pull’ information on anything they desire without opting in. If they want to continue receiving information from a brand or station, they have to opt in. “Push” mobile marketing is all about targeting consumers who have made an affirmative decision to be a part of your campaign, and brands never send messages to consumers without explicit consent.


19. Can customers opt out of programs they’ve already opted in to?

Yes. Typically they just reply to a marketing message with the word STOP. Clear instructions for the opt-out procedure are always provided. In fact, there are lots of words programmed the system to understand.


20. How soon can we start making money with mobile marketing once we’ve partnered with txtNation?

The day your shortcode goes live across the carrier network. We can walk you through the entire process and the built-in timeline.


21. How will we know what to charge advertisers for participation in an sms advertisting service?

We have thousands of case studies of successful campaigns, and we’ll work with you to develop best practices for your particular situation.


22. How do we set concrete goals for our sms advertisting program?

We can help you create benchmarks suited to your particular situation before you even start the program.


23. How long should a sms advertising campaign last?

It depends on the business objectives, the offer and other factors. Our account managers have the expertise and resources to guide you through these decisions.


24. How will we know mobile advertising has been successful?

When your program meets or exceeds the goals we help you establish.