BussinessTexter

[lancewarren019-blog]

It wasn’t long after texting became commonplace that businesses began to use it to market their brand. Today many businesses big and small are using SMS as a marketing channel. But there is a more recent trend developing within the SMS channel. Businesses are finding new ways to use it that don’t involve marketing. Businesses are finding creative ways to use SMS to provide excellent customer service and to make customers lives easier. Here’s a look at a few of the unconventional ways businesses are using SMS, and using it effectively.

Customer service notifications

Rather than simply marketing products, SMS is a great way to provide your customers with excellent customer service. Using SMS to send customer service notifications is becoming a lot more common place. Businesses are using SMS to remind their customers about appointments rather than having to call them. Brands can notify customers when their orders are being shipped, and can provide updates via SMS as the package travels. They can also notify customers by text when their package has been delivered or when it’s ready for pick up at the store. These are just a few of the many ways brands are using SMS to provide customer service

Automated response

Another growing trend in SMS marketing is automated response. Customers can text their questions to a short code and receive an instant and appropriate response thanks to automated text response technology which can interpret and understand the customer’s question and choose the appropriate response. Common questions such as those regarding business hours and locations can be answered automatically freeing up your phone lines. It’s also convenient for customers, especially those without smartphones, who need information but prefer not to call on the phone or who are unable to get someone on the phone.

Still a great marketing channel

Of course, these new trends in the SMS channel don’t mean that SMS marketing is decreasing in popularity. SMS is still one of the best marketing channels out there. Many of the brands that are finding ways to use the SMS channel for customer service are also using it in more traditional ways to market their brand.

Because many of your customers may welcome the idea of SMS customer service but don’t like the idea of receiving advertisements via SMS, brands might want to consider registering for two different short codes, one that customers can opt in to in order to receive mobile deals and coupons, and another for customers who want customer service notifications but without the ads.

Mobile Technology News brought to you by businesstexter.com

Source: businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-11/the-end-of-free-facebook-marketing

[lancewarren019-blog]

SMS: For more than just marketing

It wasn’t long after texting became commonplace that businesses began to use it to market their brand. Today many businesses big and small are using SMS as a marketing channel. But there is a more recent trend developing within the SMS channel. Businesses are finding new ways to use it that don’t involve marketing. Businesses are finding creative ways to use SMS to provide excellent customer service and to make customers lives easier. Here’s a look at a few of the unconventional ways businesses are using SMS, and using it effectively.

Customer service notifications

Rather than simply marketing products, SMS is a great way to provide your customers with excellent customer service. Using SMS to send customer service notifications is becoming a lot more common place. Businesses are using SMS to remind their customers about appointments rather than having to call them. Brands can notify customers when their orders are being shipped, and can provide updates via SMS as the package travels. They can also notify customers by text when their package has been delivered or when it’s ready for pick up at the store. These are just a few of the many ways brands are using SMS to provide customer service

Automated response

Another growing trend in SMS marketing is automated response. Customers can text their questions to a short code and receive an instant and appropriate response thanks to automated text response technology which can interpret and understand the customer’s question and choose the appropriate response. Common questions such as those regarding business hours and locations can be answered automatically freeing up your phone lines. It’s also convenient for customers, especially those without smartphones, who need information but prefer not to call on the phone or who are unable to get someone on the phone.

Still a great marketing channel

Of course, these new trends in the SMS channel don’t mean that SMS marketing is decreasing in popularity. SMS is still one of the best marketing channels out there. Many of the brands that are finding ways to use the SMS channel for customer service are also using it in more traditional ways to market their brand.

Because many of your customers may welcome the idea of SMS customer service but don’t like the idea of receiving advertisements via SMS, brands might want to consider registering for two different short codes, one that customers can opt in to in order to receive mobile deals and coupons, and another for customers who want customer service notifications but without the ads.

Mobile Technology News brought to you by businesstexter.com

Source: businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-11/the-end-of-free-facebook-marketing

[lancewarren019-blog]

Tips for a successful SMS survey

As a business owner, you know that success of your business depends on knowing what your customers want. It’s impossible to know enough about your audience. In order for businesses to survive, they need to constantly gather information about their audience, discover their likes and dislikes, and adapt to reach their needs. There are several ways to go about gathering this information. One of the most common is the survey. Surveys work well because they are done on a volunteer basis. Your customers’ participation is strictly voluntary and you can trust that for the most part, their responses will be truthful. But what is the best way to go about conducting a survey? Here are a few tips.

SMS: an effective channel

There are various methods of conducting surveys. These days, surveys by mail are all but extinct. Businesses know that customers won’t take the time to fill out a survey and mail it back. Plus, there are much more effective methods out there. Email and phone surveys became the new norm. However, many email requests for surveys go unnoticed; some email providers even send them straight to the junk folder where they’re eventually deleted unread. Surveys tend to come across as more intrusive and unwelcome and many consumers screen their calls. The new channel of choice for conducting surveys is SMS.

SMS surveys are ideal for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s practically guaranteed that your recipients will at least see your request for their participation. That’s more than can be said of other channels. Most importantly, people tend to associate texting with casualness and ease. Something about a survey conducted via text seems so much more welcoming to your customers.

What makes a good survey?

A good survey requires careful forethought and planning. In the case of SMS surveys, they also require an investment of money. The investment is well worth it, however, when you consider the valuable information that you get in return. Unfortunately, not every survey yields great information. As a general rule, the quality of the feedback will depend on the quality of your survey. Since you’re going to invest some time and money into conducting a survey, take care to do it right.

A good survey asks specific questions that won’t evoke a “yes” or “no” answer. For example, if you ask if customers are satisfied with your products, they’ll just answer with a “yes” or a “no.” If you ask them how many times they’ve returned one of your products that forces them to give an honest, thought-out answer. The answer to the second question will be a lot more helpful to you.

The most important factor in the effectiveness of a survey is its length. The longer your survey, the less likely your customers are to participate. It’s much better to have a three question survey that most of your customers will participate it than a ten question survey that very few will participate in. Make sure to tell your customers up front how many questions your survey is so they know what to expect.

Mobile Technology News brought to you by businesstexter.com

Source: businessreviewusa.com/marketing/4780/3-Steps-to-a-Successful-Survey

[lancewarren019-blog]

Location based marketing: Is big brother watching?

Imagine, you walk into a store, upon going through the doorway, your phone buzzes. You pull it out and see a text message with a mobile coupon sent from the retailer whose store you have just entered. If you own a smartphone, there’s a good chance this has happened to you. This isn’t a coincidence, it’s location based marketing. Thanks to advances in mobile technology, stores can send deals to customers when they’re most valuable because they know where their customers are. Here’s a closer look at location based marketing and what it means for you as a small business owner.

How it works

Beacons are what make location based marketing possible. Retailers pay a fee to use beacon technology in their stores. Beacons work by emitting a low powered radio transmission with a very limited range. When a smartphone comes within range of that beacon, it triggers some kind of message. Larger retailers who have their own app might send a push notification via the app. Any smartphone users who have the app will receive a notification. More commonly, location based marketing is used with text message marketing as most small businesses don’t have their own app. In that case, any customers who’ve opted in to receive that particular brand’s texts will receive one upon coming within range of the beacon.

Why it works

Coupons sent via mobile channels are typically much more effective than coupons sent via email and regular mail. Mobile coupons don’t need to be printed or clipped out. Shoppers need only bring their phone with them to the store, which they do already anyways. The difficulty is getting the mobile customer to the store to redeem the coupon.

With location based marketing, you don’t have that problem. Not only will the shopper have their phone, they’re already at that store. In one study, shoppers who received a beacon message were 19 times as likely to take advantage of a sale or coupon as those who didn’t receive a beacon message. It’s apparent that location based marketing is extremely effective.

Is it wrong?

Not surprisingly, there have been some concerns raised about location based marketing. Any time brands are collecting data about their customer base and using that data to boost sales, people are wary. For business owners worried about the morality of location based marketing, here are some things to keep in mind.

Shoppers consent to it. Whether you’re using push notifications through a mobile app or text messages, only shoppers who’ve consented will receive those messages. Customers choose to download a retailer’s app and they can choose whether they want to share location data with that app. Shoppers who receive text messages must first opt in to be added to the texting list.

Finally, merchants aren’t the only ones who benefit from it. In most cases, shoppers are visiting a retailer with intent to purchase anyways, location based marketing enables them to find out about special deals they wouldn’t have been aware of otherwise. So for those that are concerned big brother is watching, take comfort in the fact that he’s just trying to help you save while you shop.

Mobile Technology News brought to you by businesstexter.com

Source: business2community.com/mobile-apps/beacons-next-big-brother-shopping-experience-01000245

[lancewarren019-blog]

Thanksgiving sales: The mobile stats

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and along with it, the biggest shopping day of the year. This year, electronics took a  bigger role in Black Friday shopping than ever before, and after shopping all weekend, many people came out of it with a new phone. Many people are wondering, however, how the competition of Android vs Apple played out. Did Thanksgiving weekend bring out more Android fans or Apple fans? And how many of those people are doing their shopping online rather than in-store?

  More people shopping Apple than Android

  Unfortunately for Android, Apple seems to have been the winner for Black Friday weekend this year. On average, iOS users spent $118.57 per order during the holiday weekend while Android users spent an average of $95.25. Though this doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple got more sales than Android throughout the weekend, it does indicate that Apple tends to make more money per transaction than Android. Technically, Android still has a bigger market share, but Apple apparently has more affluent customers who are willing to spend more on electronics, according to Digital Trends.

  More people shopping on mobile

  Another trend we saw this year for Black Friday and Thanksgiving day shopping was that people were using their mobile devices to make more purchases than ever before. Digital Trends reports that 29 percent of Thanksgiving day sales came from mobile devices, and 27 percent of Black Friday sales were done through mobile devices. Both of those are increases from last year and show just how much people are beginning to rely on their phones for everything.

  Using mobile to your advantage

  More and more people are becoming dependent on their smartphones for everyday purchases, as we saw with Black Friday sales. On top of that, people are constantly buying the newest and most improved mobile devices, so they can have faster access to things than ever before.

  If you haven’t already, your business should make every effort to switch to a mobile marketing strategy. People rely on their smartphones for everyday use and are apparently getting even more use making purchases through them than ever before. By getting on top of your mobile marketing and automated texting, you’ll be able to reach customers in a way they are comfortable and will be able to sell in a way they are comfortable.

  Mobile technology news brought to you by businesstexter.com

  Source: digitaltrends.com/mobile/affluent-ios-users-spent-thanksgiving-android-users/

digitaltrends.com/mobile/mobile-devices-account-nearly-1-3-online-purchases-thanksgiving-black-friday/

[lancewarren019-blog]

Thanksgiving sales: The mobile stats

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and along with it, the biggest shopping day of the year. This year, electronics took a  bigger role in Black Friday shopping than ever before, and after shopping all weekend, many people came out of it with a new phone. Many people are wondering, however, how the competition of Android vs Apple played out. Did Thanksgiving weekend bring out more Android fans or Apple fans? And how many of those people are doing their shopping online rather than in-store?

More people shopping Apple than Android

Unfortunately for Android, Apple seems to have been the winner for Black Friday weekend this year. On average, iOS users spent $118.57 per order during the holiday weekend while Android users spent an average of $95.25. Though this doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple got more sales than Android throughout the weekend, it does indicate that Apple tends to make more money per transaction than Android. Technically, Android still has a bigger market share, but Apple apparently has more affluent customers who are willing to spend more on electronics, according to Digital Trends.

More people shopping on mobile

Another trend we saw this year for Black Friday and Thanksgiving day shopping was that people were using their mobile devices to make more purchases than ever before. Digital Trends reports that 29 percent of Thanksgiving day sales came from mobile devices, and 27 percent of Black Friday sales were done through mobile devices. Both of those are increases from last year and show just how much people are beginning to rely on their phones for everything.

Using mobile to your advantage

More and more people are becoming dependent on their smartphones for everyday purchases, as we saw with Black Friday sales. On top of that, people are constantly buying the newest and most improved mobile devices, so they can have faster access to things than ever before.

  If you haven’t already, your business should make every effort to switch to a mobile marketing strategy. People rely on their smartphones for everyday use and are apparently getting even more use making purchases through them than ever before. By getting on top of your mobile marketing and automated texting, you’ll be able to reach customers in a way they are comfortable and will be able to sell in a way they are comfortable.

Mobile technology news brought to you by businesstexter.com

  Source: digitaltrends.com/mobile/affluent-ios-users-spent-thanksgiving-android-users/

digitaltrends.com/mobile/mobile-devices-account-nearly-1-3-online-purchases-thanksgiving-black-friday/

[lancewarren019-blog]

Ensuring your safety: Apple Watch health data

The one thing on everyone’s minds with the Apple Watch is whether or not it is really all that secure to keep personal health information on the devices. With all the talk of iOS data security breaches lately, many people aren’t trusting of the new health data services, especially the FTC. In fact, rumors have spread that the reason for the delay in releasing the Apple Watch is because security hasn’t been improved enough to get the backing of government groups or health organizations. So, is the Apple watch health data really secure? Or should you avoid getting it?

 Apple tells the FTC

 According to Reuters, the FTC has been worried about the idea of the Apple Watch collecting and using sensitive health information, especially considering the laws already in place to protect people from having this sensitive information stolen. Because of this, the FTC has actually asked Apple for assurances that the Apple Watch health data will be secured and won’t be something that can be easily hacked. One particular concern is that Apple will actually sell the health data to third party companies in order to make extra profit, which Apple has denied heavily. In fact, Apple has been meeting regularly with the FTC and other health organizations all over the world to ensure that private information is kept safe and that nobody needs to worry about losing this personal information.

All about the HealthKit platform

The idea that Apple came up with to set itself apart from the competition with the Apple Watch was to provide customers with the HealthKit platform. HealthKit is an app that connects the Apple Watch and iPhone to each other to track health information. This information can be used on a personal level to keep track of basic health patterns and may also be sent to your healthcare provider to help them with diagnosis or recovery management. Apple says that the whole app was created with privacy in mind because it allows a user to store personal information and then share it with those they feel need to have it.

What else can the Apple Watch too?

You may be wondering how the Apple Watch can work for you, especially if you are not interested in tracking and monitoring health information at all. Well, the good news is that the Apple Watch should be able to send and receive text messages. As a business, you’ll want to stay up to date on your text marketing because this will be a perfect way to continue to market to and communicate with your customers. As more people adapt to wearable technology, you’ll want to make sure you are on top of the latest technology trends in order to stay on top in your industry.

 Mobile technology news brought to you by businesstexter.com

 Source: reuters.com/article/2014/11/13/us-apple-ftc-exclusive-idUSKCN0IX2I520141113