Thursday
Feb222007
SMS to Web Marketing
Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 7:10PM
Most new phones can access the internet from a URL sent by SMS, but yet I hardly ever see URL's in SMS's... even in marketing SMSs where more information would be really useful. I'm sure that's about to change though as mobile marketing gathers momentum in SA.
Still, it's a good, simple thing to do. WAP sites can be used to collect user registrations, accept restaurant bookings, provide more information, or even a brand experience.
A company could even send out an SMS with a link to their latest blog post every time it's updated (it would help if the blog was well, written and interesting too). I could imagine myself wanting to get sms updates when certain of my favourite blogs are updated... kind of a RSS/SMS mashup.
Still, it's a good, simple thing to do. WAP sites can be used to collect user registrations, accept restaurant bookings, provide more information, or even a brand experience.
A company could even send out an SMS with a link to their latest blog post every time it's updated (it would help if the blog was well, written and interesting too). I could imagine myself wanting to get sms updates when certain of my favourite blogs are updated... kind of a RSS/SMS mashup.
Reader Comments (18)
Dave, watch this space, I know of a company which just did a demo in Stellenbosch doing almost exactly what you're talking about. There is huge potential for companies able to bridge the gap between the web and cell phones.
Dave, I have been playing with the idea for a while now. Kinda put the project on the back burner til Student Sale is running.. I'll inform you once I carry on working with the mash-up. :)
Shoo,Andrew, this is definately a hot space.... After I wrote this, it got me thinking about device and media convergence. It's happening!
Mobile is big, most especially, companies should be looking for all the coolest ways to make useful websites designed to be viewed on the small screen, and make it easy to access them via mobile scanners, sms, short codes and whatever else is easy like that.
Oh yes, this is just reminded me, http://www.textmarks.com/" rel="nofollow">TextMarks is a service is the states which sms's you blog updates. Personally I don't think the market is big enough yet for something like this in South Africa. Perhaps in two or three years time maybe.
Tyler, dude... Student Sale is such a great idea that I wish existed when I was studying. Looking forward to the launch, and I expect that you'll carry over the communications on the site through to sms.
Oh yes. If there is one that you will see on any web service I ever bring out in the future is some sort of mobile integration. I am planning on utilizing SMS and MXit for Student Sale.
2007 and 2008 are all going to be about Mobile 2.0 and Productivity 2.0... combine the 2.0 and your going to have something very good on your hands. When ever I think of bringing something to the mobile phone it's always about something fast or speeding up a certain activity. After Student Sale launches (blog post to follow in a few days on launch infomation) and is running smoothly I am going to focus all my attention towards creating web based applications for the mobile phone / pda. I have a few wild concepts. But for now I must focus on one thing at a time. :)
No need to re-invent the wheel - get in touch with http://www.rafiq.za.net/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Youtr Group of Web AddiCTs and ask them about how they're doing the Mxit integration with iDrive.
Rock on, Tyler!
we just did a basic implementation of this where you click through from our (brilliant) newsletter, enter your mobile number and have the bmw.mobi/za address sms'd to you.
the take up has be quite astounding.
Can it be that the cost factor might be having that parachute effect on this? I mean, sms'es are kinda cheap, but, you're not going to be sending only a few. You will need to really send a few thousand. And that costs.
Sure companies will be interested for sure, but I don't think this will work well with the average web owner or small company.
AND... the big killer. nobody likes getting marketing stuff via sms. I don't, my friends don't, my family don't. Will this really be as effective?
I think the whole approach could work well in application usage. like having your clients update details or something like that.
Am I right?
Tonight at....
You have been invited to.....
Message=> Options = >Delete
Be careful of when you send those sms messagesm trust me ;)
Adrian, it depends (as with just about everthing in Marketing)... 20c-40c per view is the cost of SMS... it's delivered in a personal space too... and it works out a lot cheaper than most other forms of above the line advertising. HOWEVER, you've got a point about people not liking promotional sms's - so it's up to the marketer to make sure that the people who he's sending the smses to are expecting the SMS (permission based). This usually requires opt-in in some form or other.
I, for example, like recieving sms's from my favourite bands because I want to know where they're playing so i can support them. But when I get smsd by companies who I haven't given my details to, then I get peeved and the effect is actually negative - they've paid for my discontent and essentially wasted time, money and effort.
That said, the application that you mention is a goodie - SMS is increasingly being used for Customer Relationship Management like that.
Rafiq... You're right, cellphones are a personal space and we've definitely gotta be careful. Same applies as above answer to Adrian - it's all about permission.
Hi there
Check out www.smsbug.com, here u can send sms from your mobile, from your number worldwide at one cost! They also have WAP push and BULK SMS functionality available through their API :)
Regards,
George
SMS prices are getting crazy cheap now! Try http://www.fishtext.com/, their rates start at EUR 0.008. SA is 1 eurocent.
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Wonderful, that's just what I was shooting for! You just spared me alot of looking around
Please, keep up the good work and continue to post topics like this. I am old fan of your blog.
I've subscribed to your blog, very much like your blog, nice to meet you, hope you can write better articles
This is really a great stuff for sharing. Keep it up .Thanks for sharing.