When Sending SMS Becomes Spammy…

SMS mobile marketing has become the preferred tool by businesses and organizations when they want to launch new promotional campaign for any of their products or services. Recognizing that the most accessible and personal way to reach target is through mobile phones, even non-profit organizations are considering texting as medium to call for more donations.

Since more and more institutions are engaging on SMS mobile marketing, mobile marketing experts are starting to find ways to avoid spammy text messages reaching mobile subscribers’ handy phones. Because unwanted text messages might ruin the entire industry.

The argument on SMS spamming is this: When do we consider SMS campaign a spam? Followed by more questions such as— “Who will determine if a text message campaign should not reach mobile subscribers?”, and “Is this move by the mobile marketing experts against the freedom of expression?”

From a mobile marketer’s point of view, both business establishments and mobile marketing companies should work together to take good care of this vast growing marketing phenomena. Mobile marketing benefits businesses since it allows them to directly interact with its target, as for mobile marketing companies, it allows them to fund future endeavors.

As for the argument on spammy SMS, as long as it’s not violating any of the standard rules and guidelines, as well as the campaign is not in conflict with the industry’s best practices and companies running the text promotion are engaging themselves in ethical and healthy competition, then there’s no reason to shut any SMS mobile marketing campaigns.

SMS Alerts, The Fastest Way To Go

During the late 90’s, the easiest way to stay connected with the latest news and events from your favorite online and print publications, groupies, radio and television programs is thru newsletter. This is when you register your email address to become a member of their mailing list, and in return, are expected to receive timely updates from the newsletter publishers. As organizations and businesses find means on how to keep clients, advertisers, and employees up-to-date, they opted for SMS mobile marketing to continue what they started with online newsletters.

SMS mobile marketing is mobile marketing’s answer to businesses’ viral marketing needs. Since SMS messages are sent to interested customers who provided their mobile numbers, it means you are sending significant advisories to well-targeted market only. Knowing this, more and more companies are beginning to switch to, or if not add SMS as part of their add-on service to keep clients within the circle.

For instance, Chicago Tribune’s move of embracing mobile marketing by launching their SMS-based classified systems. It allows job hunters to get detailed job listing in an instant, using their mobile phones. They might not be the first publication to offer such service, but it’s a good and immediate solution to cope up with trend and competition to attract readers and advertisers.

Let’s Face it. A large percentage of today’s market are mobile users. These mobile users look for convenience when buying or making queries about products and services they find interesting. To be able to beat the competition, companies should be willing to integrate SMS mobile technology into their campaigns.

Bringing Mobile Marketing to the Academe

It’s about time that academic institutions are beginning to recognize mobile marketing as one of the most effective tool of our time. SMS mobile marketing in particular, has become the most reliable and one of the most effective channels to reach specific markets.

Aside from including the significance of SMS mobile marketing campaigns in school text books and curriculum, it is also relevant to expose the students to actual case studies, standards, and best practices to be able to cope up with the trends of the marketing industry.

Being the future marketers, it is just right for the students to already be involved with the ins and outs, if not the basics, of mobile marketing as early as possible. And besides, this was supposed to be done way way back. So that by the time they are already the actual practitioners and experts, they are already aware of the basic campaigns – from simple message alert campaigns to mobile polls and surveys up to…who knows where SMS mobile marketing will lead us.

Why SMS Mobile Marketing Is the Best (Alternative) Option

Mobile marketing continues to become the most preferred marketing and advertising tool for most companies today. More and more businesses are acknowledging the effectivity and efficiency of SMS as the alternative, if not, their preferred new promotional medium instead of the conventional avenues, mainly because of the stiff advertising competition.

More advanced companies are taking advantage of new marketing tools in their promotional efforts because they know that it will let them tap more and well-targeted consumers. Also, because they are aware that conservative companies, which is still big in number, are still hesitant in adopting mobile marketing as part of their campaign efforts.

These conventional companies should start doing their research to know what the advantages they are missing. In fact, an online survey conducted with 800 mobile phone users as respondents revealed relevant figures that might serve as wake up call for businesses to integrate SMS mobile marketing in their marketing mix. It shows that 24 percent of the respondents actually took advantage of mobile offers.

If you’re one of the “not really into changes” companies who are still iffy why you should consider SMS as your campaign medium, here are some of the many reasons why you should:

• It’s a paperless campaign, You’re helping the environment by sparing thousands of trees for paper coupons, perfect for corporate social responsibility campaigns.
• Well- targeted audience. When you push a single SMS mobile alert to target, the receiver of your information are the actual recipients you want.
• Hassle-free because there are tons of mobile marketing companies that are willing to provide their expertise, and some even offer it for free.
• SMS mobile marketing is a good viral marketing tool. You can always forward text messages to other mobile users.
• It’s portable. Your market’s mobile phones are your movable advertisement wall.

There’s nothing wrong with traditional marketing, but if you want to be ahead or at par with your competition, it would be better to embrace new technology and go where the market is leading.

SMS Mobile Marketing says “Your pizza has been sent!”

Companies, through the help of mobile marketing experts, are starting to integrate SMS or texting in their organizations as add-on service to customers. These businesses are starting to acknowledge the importance of interacting with clients to create and maintain brand trust and loyalty.

A worldwide company by the name of DHL, recently added SMS mobile marketing in its services. DHL clients will be informed via SMS if their document or package was delivered safely to the right recipient. Now clients won’t be left wondering (or worrying) anymore during the delivery period.

Come to think of it, DHL’s new SMS campaign is also applicable to other service-oriented industries such as the Flower and Gift Shop business and for the Food and Beverage companies.

Wouldn’t it be a better place if you’re tummies won’t be left rumbling and wondering what time are you going to get your pizza, or if the delivery guy is already on the road with your pizza? After all, a pizza should just be a text away.

Mobile Marketing For Your Brand Loyalty Needs

With lots of players in the industry, companies are battling each other out to get the most percentage of their market’s loyalty, as well as turn first time clients to repeat customers. As a result, most big businesses opted for mobile marketing to keep patrons away from competitors.

Recently, big multinational companies such as Estee Lauder and IKEA chose mobile marketing to keep frequent buyers coming back in their stores and purchase more of their products. Both company’s mobile marketing campaign aims to intensify brand loyalty among shoppers through mobile alerts and mobile coupons.

It’s one smart move for these popular brands to launch their respective SMS campaign. Embracing marketing trends will keep them ahead among rivals. At the same time, they are aiming at a well- targeted segment of the market- the mobile subscribers who are at the same time, their regular customers.

America’s New Texting Hero

America found a new hero. But he is not here to save the day. He’s here to prove how GenY-ers are into SMS or texting.

July 7, 2008, the date when the US of A hailed 20-year-old Nathan Schwartz as the National Texting Champion. Besides the title, the new champ grabbed the $50,000 cash prize. He texted the contest phrase “Does everybody here know the alphabet? Let’s text. Here it goes … AbcDeFghiJKlmNoPQrStuvWXy & Z! Now I know my A-B-C’s, next time won’t you text with me?” in 60 seconds. Amazingly crazy! The event was sponsored by LG Electronics MobilComm USA.

Contests such as this prove how SMS or texting has become part of our lifestyle. From our simple hellos to family and friends, to huge corporate mobile marketing campaigns, texting becomes the best channel to have our message delivered to our target receiver.

Key Players of Mobile Marketing Campaigns

When we talk about the elements needed for a successful mobile marketing campaign, we are most likely referring to the following: strong selling proposition, specific message receiver, easy to understand call to action, and the actual mobile marketing execution. However, we are forgetting one important aspect in completing the campaign, the people who will implement the plan.

For big companies planning to launch a mobile marketing campaign, it is very important to educate middle management about the importance and impact of mobile marketing in their efforts.

Why the mid level? Simply because it is the most vital part of the organization. The people under this level are those who will lead the rest in the actual execution of the mobile marketing plan. Given the situation, top management should consider exposing them to mobile marketing campaigns and strategies before actually starting the promotions, especially if they are planning to invest big amount of money for the mobile marketing campaign.

But for companies who prefer to avoid all the dramas and stresses of preparing and delivering a campaign, there are mobile marketing companies offering free SMS solutions to answer a business’ various levels of needs in reaching out to tv, radio, print, and brand market. And most of these mobile marketing companies offer pre and post operation assistance to their clients.

An International SMS Affair for A Cause

Nelson Mandela, the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and citations such as Nobel Peace Prize, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the International Gandhi Peace Prize will celebrate his 90th birthday with a cause.

As part of Nelson Mandela’s July 18th celebration, all his charitable institutions all over the world unite to commence an international SMS “birthday” drive. The mobile marketing campaign will allow supporters of Time Magazine’s former “Person of the Year” to key-in their birthday wishes and messages to Mandela using SMS or text messaging.

The Mandela premium SMS campaign will run in over 20 countries including South Africa, Spain, Germany, U.K., and U.S. To facilitate this fundraising this SMS event, each participating country will have their respective short codes.

Once again, mobile marketing proved that it can also be an effective marketing tool for non-profitable organizations.

Nelson Mandela, then Pope Benedict XVI… who’s next to join the international SMS affair?

Their Say On Mobile Marketing

Mobile marketers gave their own say on mobile marketing as a modern campaign avenue in reaching target and addressing the market’s need.

On the recently held Mobile Marketing Association’s Mobile Marketing Forum, representatives from advertising agencies, content providers, aggregators, carriers and other industries related to mobile marketing revealed interesting facts and figures on how they perceive today’s mobile marketing situation.

One interesting stat from the poll conducted by the attendees show that mobile marketing is still underdeveloped. According to the respondents, this is reason why advertisers are not using mobile marketing as tool in their campaigns.

Being the primary stakeholders, mobile marketing solution companies should address such concern. As mobile marketing continues to be the most promising tool in delivering information and advertisements, they should provide their clients with materials on how to successfully implement SMS marketing campaigns.

As for the clients of these mobile solution companies, they should have a concrete marketing campaign with an easy to understand call to action.

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