But, I am getting Text Marketing for FREE!?!?!

Oh, you are, are you?

Don't count on it.

FREE or low cost SMS comes with a cost - to YOU.  How?  As usual...I'm glad you asked! 😉

Here are a couple things to consider or ask when you are in front of a sales person selling you a text message based marketing plan...

1: Ask to see their mission statement

Any company worth their weight will have this.  This lets you know immediately that they have a purpose.  They wake up every morning with a reason that they do what they do. It doesn't need to be a well crafted work of art.  maybe something like we have here at mobiNotify.

We do what we do everyday to help local, regional and national businesses get access to cutting edge marketing tools that help grow their business and help them get an unfair competitive edge in an increasingly unfair business world.  We want each and every customer to feel that we are in the game with them and working to get them to their goals and dreams faster than they ever realized.

If that doesn't say we are seriously here to help you, I don't know what else we need to throw in there.  😉  If a company you are dealing with does NOT have this in their arsenal, then I would be leery of moving forward with that company.

2: Can I export or import my database?

If you can't, you WILL not be happy with this service!  Why? Well, systems that DON'T allow you do this are NOT usable databases.  Meaning you won't have the ANY access to the database to send individual SMS messages to ONE person in your database.  You won't be able to send appointment reminders.  You won't be able to upload your OWN customer contacts! You can not add numbers/contacts manually!

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, you will be at their mercy when they have YOUR database and THEY WON'T RELEASE IT TO YOU!  YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH THEM!  THIS IS A HOSTAGE SITUATION.  CALL SWAT!  This is not good!

There are several MAJOR companies that do this.  Most likely - your local newspaper.  Next, Major Radio, TV and cable chains. People schlepping the service out of the trunk of their car.  Others include your favorite question search engine.

One client we talked to recently was in this trap.  She had 823 clients in her text database, a great database - but the company she was with would not release her database (they said that they "can't - don't have the capability" to do this) and she was in fear of losing the hard work.  They raised the rate on her this year...she is not paying nearly double what she could get it for through a notable reseller.

Getting your SMS program Free is good - ONLY if you don't intend to use it as a TRUE marketing tool and you know that they can take it away when you stop placing ads with them, running radio promotion, or when they raise rate to astronomical levels (NOTE: the preceding words were DRIPPING in sarcasm).  Then, how much is it worth to you?

NOTHING. Nada. ZILCH!  You have to start over.  My advice, look for a credible SMS reseller that is a true marketer and has your business' best interest in mind - not theirs or Wall Street's!

3: How is the message getting delivered - is it through a TRUE "PREMIUM" SMS GATEWAY?

Simply put, the cell companies have a tough enough time dealing with the SMS traffic they have via subscribers, let alone from marketers, Google, Yahoo, etc.  But, they like companies like mobiNotify that DO IT RIGHT!  What does that mean?

Glad you asked!

There are several ways to get an SMS to the carriers.

One is through Standard SMS messages using the SMTP (email) gateway.  That is a fancy tech-speak way of saying, the messages are less reliable.  These messages get put in line and have a lower priority that other messages.  If the traffic on the network is high (as it most always is) this method of delivery can delay your messages and possibly not get released until the carriers say so.  We tested a system where it took 90 minutes to get a message out.  WOW!  Send it out at 11:15 and lunch is OVER by the time some people might get it!

Other ways can be through websites, chat clients, and more.  Again, as I mentioned before...if you are looking to use this as a true contact medium for your business, then these are clunky, archaic ways of sending your message out...if it ever gets out!  😉

Now, we do it RIGHT!  mobiNotify uses premium text message credits - so your message gets out nearly instantaneously!  The Premium Gateway is the upper tier of SMS messages that get priority from the cell carriers.  That means instead of yielding and waiting for a lane of traffic to clear up, our messages always have a driving lane to merge in with the carrier's SMS traffic!  That means YOUR MESSAGE gets through to the desired recipient in an efficient manner.

3: I have a keyword that is tied in with another brand (XYZTEXTMYBIZ) or two keywords (XYZTEXT MYBIZ)

NOT GOOD.  Keywords are menat to enhance our brand.  They should extend your brand. With that being said, beware of co-branded keywords and 2 keyword systems.  Not only will they most likely not have the database features you would like, they will also not be easy for your customers to remember, understand or want to join.  Your BRAND is important.  Don't share it! Get your own keyword.  Studies have shown that 2 keyword systems or co-branded keywords are not as efficient when it comes to building a database.  More room for input errors!

Bottom line?

Get with a reputable reseller.  They will have a plan to build a database, they have invested in the system (it is not cheap to do it right!), and have the marketing knowledge to give you the tips and tricks to create successful database campaigns. If not, the mega companies have other agendas - and many of them are bigger than yours! So they are not focused on the core of what you are looking for in your SMS Marketing system.  Losing your database or being held hostage to pay an ungodly amount just to keep access to your database is NOT how your business should be treated!

All the points above are WHY you aren't getting a FREE or low-cost SMS system with you in mind.  If you are ok with that, keep doing what you are doing.  It might be for you... (again, DRIPPING SARCASM)

But if NOT, BREAK FREE!  We are a simple call or email away (steve@mobinotify.com). If we can ever be of assistance, please contact us at anytime!

Have a great day!

Steve