News
How SMS can help reassure people in the current Goldtrail crisis
In light of the recent collapse of holiday travel company Goldtrail, it raises the issue of how the right messages reach those who have been affected quickly enough to reassure them. The obvious choice here should be to use the instant, and low cost communication tool, SMS text.
It has been reported that the CAA, (Civil Aviation Authority) under its ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) scheme, is making arrangements for customers abroad to travel home at the end of their holidays. They have been sending information to the hotels affected, leaving the responsibility on them to update the holidaymakers left in the dark about the consequences of the company going into administration.
Darren Daws Managing Director at the UK’s leading SMS provider Txtlocal said “This is a perfect example of how bulk SMS can be used quickly and effectively to communicate with a large group of people. ATOL, using Goldtrail’s data, could be in a position within minutes to text those customers the latest developments through our online system. Clearly, the beneficiaries from such a fast approach, are ATOL, who can concentrate more on dealing with correcting the issue at hand, rather than answering thousands of calls. The holiday makers who have been affected, can receive information updates directly to their mobile phones, and know that the situation is being dealt with, relieving the pressure for hotel staff to pass on ATOL information to customers”
SMS text can be used as a solution in all crisis management situations. There is no instant communication substitute that can reach people on a global scale in a matter of minutes, and businesses can rectify, or certainly reduce the damage by reaching out to people when things like this occur.
5-a-side football on the rise due to mobile marketing
National 5-a-side football pitch hire company, Goals Soccer Centres, have seen a huge increase in its customers hiring space to play 5-a-side football due to their SMS messaging campaign strategy.
The company identified the use of SMS messaging as the quickest and most responsive method in communicating with their ‘on the go’ target audience. Using SMS they have reached out to 100% of their current customer base, and seen a dramatic increase in the hiring of their 5-a-side pitch facilities nationwide.
Working with leading mobile marketing company Txtlocal, Goal Soccer Centres are using SMS marketing to reach out to a predominantly male target audience of 20 to 60 year olds. The company found, through research, that this group are instantly reactive and less prone to forward planning, responding extremely well to campaign offers, monthly updates and discounts via their mobile phones. The research also found that this group were far more likely to use their smartphones to browse the internet.
Goal Soccer Centres, Martin Franklin said “Mobile marketing is the quickest way to send a quick turnaround campaign message to a large audience. Rather than cold calling which only achieves around a 40% connection. It’s made a huge difference to this business, and 5-a-side football is evidently becoming more popular.”
Txtlocal have seen similar successes with clients using their array of online and mobile services including Manchester United Football Club, Shell and Google.
Slimming World Turns To Text
National Health and lifestyle club Slimming World is using text messaging to encourage lapsed members to re-sign up to classes.
Working with mobile marketing firm Txtlocal, Slimming World is using SMS marketing to reach out to past members and also to encourage and congratulate over 300 existing members who continue to reach their health and fitness goals.
“The Txtlocal system is so simple to use, and means I can communicate with my 300 members instantly to offer promotions and keep them informed,” says Slimming World Consultant, Ian Southall. “Email just didn’t work for me as I couldn’t get my messages out quick enough, and my members sometimes didn’t pick them up till two days after they were sent. Recently, I even timed some text messages around the World Cup games, so that members received a message around kick-off time, encouraging them to think twice about drinking that extra glass of wine!”
Txtlocal’s clients include Subway, Domino Pizza and Google.
Source: Mobile Marketing Magazine.
MySpace Turns to Text to Promote Secret Shows
Social networking site Myspace is enjoying success using text messaging to help promote its Secret Show music events. The service, powered by messaging company Txtlocal, enables members to subscribe on the Myspace website, before receiving free text messages to gain entry to Secret Show events, with insider information and instructions on how to gain entry. It has so far attracted thousands of users, with the shows regularly exceeding capacity.
“The Txtlocal system provides a useful messaging platform, which is effective and easy to use,” says MySpace creative producer, Amy Bliss.
Around 265m messages are sent every day in the UK, with a 23 per cent increase in the number of messages sent in 2009, according to the Mobile Marketing Association.
A 2009 report by ABI research forecast that SMS will deliver 83 per cent of all mobile messaging revenues until 2013. Txtlocal managing director, Darren Daws, supports this view. He says: “SMS is an excellent complement to other marketing channels. We are seeing many organisations adding data capture boxes to their websites, as demonstrated by the Myspace example. People can simply opt-in to receive text alerts from organisations of their choice using our services. The beauty of our online SMS service is that there are no real barriers to entry; anyone can literally be up and running within minutes.”
Source: Mobile Marketing Magazine
Online Inbox Ordering and Renewals
In order to help keep everything as easy as possible for all of our customers we are constantly integrating new features into our Control Panel. In the past it has not been possible to order Short Code Keywords and Dedicated Inbound Numbers (DINs) through our Control Panel directly, our latest feature allows you to do just this.
Purchasing
Purchasing a Short Code Keyword or a DIN has never been easier; you can set up a new inbound system and start receiving texts right now by following these three simple steps:
- Just browse to the Inboxes area of your Control Panel.
- Click ‘Add New Short Code Keyword/Dedicated Inbound Number’.
- Purchase a Short Code Keyword or Dedicated Inbound Number of your choice.
More Discounts and NO Contracts
Not only can you now choose to take out either a Short Code or DIN for 1 month at a time but you can also make up to 40% savings if you choose to take one out for a 12 month period.
Renewal
Renewing current Short Code Keywords and DINs can now also be done seamlessly through our Control Panel, we will contact you via email when it is about to expire. This email will contain a link which, when followed will take you to a simple renewal screen where a payment to extend the life of your Short Code Keyword or DIN can be taken.
In addition to email notifications, warning messages will be displayed on the inbox in question to ensure you’re kept aware of the current status and expiry date of your Inbox.
If you have any questions at all about this new system, please do not hesitate to contact us on either 0845 009 3180 or sales@txtlocal.com. For more information about Short Code Keywords and Dedicated Inbound numbers, please visit our website.