SMS list (12 posts)

Topic tags: sms list
  • Are you currently building an SMS list in addition to your email list? 

    I just finished inputting some data for a client and thought I’d share the numbers with you. 

    As a frame for you, this client is a restaurant and their method of list collection is by having their guests enroll in a rewards program. 

    The servers are to offer each guest an enrollment card right after they have placed their order.  This is to happen on their first visit so there is no prior experience with the restaurant (which I think adds to the data as it could be compared to a squeeze page on a site as the person doesn’t know exactly what to expect on the other side). 

    Here’s the stats: 

    • There were 461 guests who signed up for the rewards program
    • 418 gave their email address on the form
    • 358 gave their mobile phone number and permission to send SMS messages
    • 315 gave both email and mobile number for updates
    • 113 gave only email address
    • 43 gave only their mobile phone number

    Guests on this list ranged from 18 to 75 with the majority of them falling in the 21 – 33 age bracket. 

    Enrolling for Rewards does not require any of the information, we only ask for a name so we can tie them to a card. 

    As for the offer, here’s how it reads: 

    “You’ll Receive News, Special Offers and Event Notifications All in Your Inbox”

    I believe that SMS is crucial for businesses today and will always put my number and permission on web forms if they ask. 

    What are your thoughts and are you building a SMS list yet?

  • @dakotalocal

    This is interesting, and I’d love to hear some follow up info on how it all works out. Mind posting in a month or two with the results?

  • @rich-brooks  What type of info would you like to know? 

    I’ve had the program going for the past 2 years at another of their locations. 

    I just thought to grab the data while working through the night because I know most here probably don’t have access to this type of data. 

  • I am a mobile marketing reseller in the Houston area (of course my are is not limited to where I am located). SMS mobile marketing is a must have for almost any business today. Get a ValPak ad, it’s $400 min 1 time shot, run a Best Coupons ad for over $800 and it’s a 1 time shot. Spend anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on your database and it’s a weekly reminder to the consumer that you are here and want to earn their business. Done properly, it shouldn’t be a give away but should increase traffic and increase the average ticket.

    Don’t make the mistake of just signing up with some company left with a user name, password and 10 minutes of instruction. I always offer my customers either a 90 day “hold your hand” period and teach them step by step how to do it right or offer managed service where I do it all.

    If you have any questions, contact me, I would love to answer any of your questions.

  • I was just at a farmers market and one stand was doing the same info gathering. I only took their card and will decided later if I want to supply the info. Sort of surprises me how few people make that effort.

  • @dakotalocal  SMS marketing is priceless!  A couple of lines of text to remind someone of a sale or a deadline is sure to increase sales!

    I’ve just begun adding this component to my marketing mix.

  • ran across this thread and like the idea of adding SMS…easy to send a short text how does this compare to using twitter? @dakotalocal

  • @dakotalocal – nice stats! You obviously run good programs for your clients. It did jump out at me that you were having people fill out a form and write down their phone numbers for inclusion into a text list. Have you though of adding a keyword or even creating a mobile site to collect all of this data so their is no re-keying or data entry? The added benefit would also be that there would be no chance of an unsolicited text message being sent out to an incorrect phone number. Lot’s more to discuss here if you like – you can send me a message and I would be happy to share some examples of this. We have also taken the ‘Enrollment/Loyalty Card’ concept and built it into our text programs for our clients.

    Thank you again for the informational post.

  • What program do you use to send the mass SMS messages to your customers. My company was looking into that and I had no idea where to start and didn’t want to use my personal phone.

    I would love to hear what has and hasn’t worked as far as ways to send/receive SMS messages to and from customers and potential customers.  :)

  • I have a very (very) short SMS list and have only used it a time or two.  Adding this service for my clients however is a must.  

    On thinking of adding this service for my client list I need avenues for list keeping. Inventing those would not be hard but it would be time consuming to keep a database up to date here in the office. Plus the expense of adding a line to a cell phone for the actual messages.

    I suppose a good example of “how to” would be to copy the procedures for MMS, make a few adjustments and go from there, eh?

    @dakotalocal said: “I believe that SMS is crucial for businesses today and will always put my number and permission on web forms if they ask.” - I don’t add my personal cell phone to any forms as I would not want my incoming messaging to look like my email inbox does at times! Yikes!

    Eileen :D

  • As I’m driving around, I enjoy getting a text from a local restaurant with a lunch time special. I’ve taken advantage of their daily offering a number of times.

  • @warrenveach Hi Warren

    That might not be so bad, just the restaurant thing.  But my newest phone service already has allowed some SPAM into my messaging and I try to reserve messaging for family on this particular phone. 

    And you know, once you send your cell phone number “out there” the number can be added to lists to be sold and distributed to any number of venues.  I’m just too picky about my cell, I guess. 

    Eileen :D


Add your voice to the discussion

Existing members: . If you do not have a SME account, .