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Sending SMS with Url’s is Patented! Protect yourself!

Blog, Bulk SMS Providers, Canada Mobile Marketing, Mobile Advertising Companies, Mobile Advertising Platform, Mobile Marketing Canada, Mobile Marketing Companies, Mobile Marketing Platform, Mobile Marketing Services, Mobile Text Marketing, Text Messaging Services

SMS with Url’s is Patented!-Most businesses are completely unaware that sending SMS with Url’s is patented. And not all SMS providers have acquired a license to protect their business from a lawsuit. The company Helferich Patent Licensing LLC owned by Richard Helferich has been on a rampage with lawsuits for more than a year. Many suits have been settled in the amount of $750,000 plus a $0.025 charge for each text message sent both in the past and present. For companies who jumped on the mobile marketing bandwagon early, these charges can be significant.
It is not just technology companies that are the subject of mobile-related patent infringement lawsuits. Increasingly, the mobile marketing activities of media companies, retailers, sports leagues and others are also the focus of such lawsuits. Companies such as New York Times, CBS, Best Buy, the NBA and more have been named in lawsuits. These suits against marketers are significant, especially since they appear to be multiplying.
Some companies under litigation chose to settle vs. undergoing a long and expensive litigation. Helferich’s lawsuit is pretty straightforward; they offer to settle for $750,000 which will give them the appropriate license required. According to the post more than 100 companies have taken the deal. A small list of these companies includes: 7-Eleven, Anheuser Busch, Ace Hardware, Adidas/Reebok, Domino’s Pizza and Best Buy. Those that are choosing to fight are not faring well as the courts are upholding in favor of Helferich.
For these large corporations the cost can be absorbed and they will move on without much impact overall on the business. But for small and medium sized businesses this could completely destroy them.
Don’t miss out on the massive mobile audience and protect your company from potential litigation. If you are deciding on a mobile SMS provider or are running mobile campaigns, be sure to check with your text message provider to see if they have acquired the appropriate license. If not, you don’t have to turn off your mobile marketing program. Just give us a call, and we’ll walk you through a free demo. We can quickly set you up and import your current subscriber list.

3 Must-Ask Questions For A Text Message Provider

Blog, Mobile Text Marketing, SMS Gateway Provider, Text Messaging Services

avid short code marketing header 3 Must Ask Questions For A Text Message Provider AvidMobile

If you’re in the process of looking for a text message provider, you’ve probably noticed that it can be pretty confusing to sort through the data and compare plans. It seems like every provider has a different structure, making it hard to compare apples to apples. (Trust us… that’s not by accident!) AvidMobile strives to make our pricing as transparent as humanly possible. Even so, you’ll probably want to get a few people on the phone and ask the serious questions before choosing your business partner. Here are 3 must-ask questions, in our opinion.

How Much Will It Cost Me To Send 1 Message?

Prices vary A LOT. So it’s important that you are able to break down the cost to basics. Some SMS providers use a credit-based system, where you agree to purchase a number of credits that translate to a tiered pricing structure. This is usually the case if you’re sending worldwide. For example, it might cost you 1 credit to send to the US and 2 credits to send to Germany. Other providers might charge you an SMS-based model, which means that all texts cost the same and you choose a flat rate based on how many messages you will send.

What Other Fees Will I Have To Pay, Besides The Per-Message Charge?

In this industry, if it sounds too good to be true — IT IS! Some SMS providers will post really, really low prices… only to sneak hidden fees into your final bill. (Anyone who has paid a Cable TV bill before knows what we’re talking about here!) Are there monthly charges? Are there fees for setup? Are there annual renewal fees? Are there fees if you need to upgrade to a new plan or cancel your service before the year’s end? These are all things you need to know! (PS. There are no setup or hidden fees with us!)

Are There Any Minimum Purchase Requirements?

Some gateway providers ask that you buy at least 1,000 credits. This type of SMS marketing can be a risky venture if you’re not sure how successful your campaigns will be. We recommend that all beginners start off with a flexible plan that allows you to start small and scale up when you need to. Here at AvidMobile, we pride ourselves in adaptability. Only buy what you need! Run your enterprise “lean and mean!”

Call 1-888-511-MOBI or email us for details on using AvidMobile as a text message provider.

PS. Give our online text message campaign software a try with this demo!

 

Text Marketing Business Niche: Supermarkets

Blog, Mobile Coupons, Mobile Text Marketing, Text Messaging Services

avid header5 Text Marketing Business Niche: Supermarkets AvidMobile

Grocery shopping is a great fit for mobile “because it enables consumers to always have a shopping list and coupons handy on their smartphones,” according to Mobile Commerce Daily. Initially, supermarket chains were hesitant to adopt this new technology, but there are signs that widespread adoption is just around the corner.

How Fast Is The Text Marketing Business Growing?

“There’s been huge growth this year in grocery retailers building a mobile presence for the first time,” said Rebecca Roose, senior product marketing manager at MyWebGrocer. “We noticed a big spike in Q1 2012 – there’s been a 110 percent increase in grocery retailers with a mobile presence year-to-date over 2011, and that’s just in the past six months.”

What Are The Advantages of Text Marketing For Grocers?

Grocery retailers who have adopted text marketing find they are building stronger loyalty ties with consumers and are enjoying the benefit of increased sales. Mobile shoppers spend 68 percent more than traditional in-store shoppers, says Ms. Roose. She added that mobile shoppers tend to build lists on their phones that are based on sale items. In other words, “They’re not going to shop anywhere else.”

Mobile technology allows for supermarkets to personalize offers based on purchase history. For example, Stop & Shop locations in the Northeast offer a mobile shopping app called “Scan It!” that combines mobile self-scan and bag, express check-out and personalized coupons. Brookshire’s offers personalized rewards for shoppers who engage with their shopping app or mobile website.

Advanced features for text marketing include:

  • The ability to send instant coupons in real-time
  • In-store navigation and store finder
  • Mobile circulars
  • Shopping list building capability
  • Mobile deli ordering

Challenges of Mobile Marketing for Grocery Retailers

“It’s not enough to have a few QR Codes throughout the store or to develop a mobile app,” cautions Joy Liuzzo of WaveCollapse consulting firm. “The supermarkets need to plot out how mobile will flow through all their current touch points. Getting the integration right will give supermarkets one of their biggest opportunities – repeat and loyal shoppers.”

Here at AvidMobile, we strive to make the whole text marketing business process from strategizing to implementation as painless as possible. We have a number of mobile marketing consultants on hand to help you develop your mobile program. We also provide the software and technology that makes text marketing possible. Our database has over 40 hours of tutorials and advanced lessons in mobile marketing to ensure that you, not only create a mobile strategy, but you reap the endless rewards of a well-executed mobile marketing strategy.

app Text Marketing Business Niche: Supermarkets AvidMobile

Check  out our live text marketing business webinar or contact us at 1-877-511-MOBI!

Mobile Marketing Agencies Help Supermarkets Connect With Consumers

Blog, Mobile Advertising Platform, Mobile Coupons, Mobile Marketing Companies, Mobile Text Marketing

Here at AvidMobile, we have a number of grocery store clients who use SMS to deliver coupons to their loyal customers.  Thanks to technology provided by mobile marketing agencies like us, supermarkets are able to provide real-time savings and useful information right where shoppers need it most — in the palm of their hands. A new study by Harris Interactive confirms that consumers trust their vendors to direct-deliver coupons and are eager to use SMS technology.

Mobile Marketing Agencies Make SMS Coupons Reality

The study found that 81 percent of U.S. adults were comfortable with grocery stores using information about past purchases to send custom-tailored coupons. By contrast, only 33 percent were comfortable giving Facebook the same sort of permission. In fact, they trust their favorite supermarkets more than they trust Amazon, Google, credit card companies, or their mobile providers!

Placecast Mobile Marketing Agencies Help Supermarkets Connect With Consumers AvidMobile

According to Placecast CEO Alistair Goodman who commissioned the study, “Amazon is a company just a few years older than Facebook, but they have created a scenario where consumers understand and accept the benefit their data provides for the service they are receiving – much like consumer’s acceptance of grocery coupons tied to purchase data.”

The Opt-In Is Ever So Important In SMS Marketing

The survey found that 2 in 5 U.S. adults were comfortable with local merchants sending them mobile offers, as long as they gave those merchants permission to do so. There are several ways a grocery store may go about getting permission. The most popular type of opt-in is asking consumers to send a text to your designated short code to receive some type of incentive. For instance, Little Caesars recently received a staggering 62 percent double opt-in rate for their promotion, which asked consumers to text CRAZY to 269411 to enter for a chance to win a Nintendo Wii and receive a free Crazy Bread mobile coupon. Supermarkets may run similar contests or dole out universally accepted coupons that way. Another method for opt-in mobile marketing agencies often use is an online form or survey asking for permission to contact shoppers via mobile.

Mobile Marketing Agencies Make Innovation Possible For Supermarkets

This year, supermarket chain Publix announced it will test mobile ordering for its deli department in 50 trial stores. Shoppers will be able to order custom subs, wraps, cheeses and sliced meats by visiting www.publix.com/order on their mobile phones. Several locations are also experimenting with in-store devices for order placement.

“In today’s digital world, mobile accessibility is important to our customers,” explained Maria Brous, director of media and community relations in Lakeland, FL.“As a retailer passionately focused on our customers shopping experiences, we are always evaluating technology that enhances that overall experience. In addition, we recognize that our customers are on the go and prefer conveniences at their fingertips,” she added.

For one of the most experienced mobile marketing agencies on the web offering mobile technology, contact AvidMobile at 1-877-511-MOBI. You can also demo our mobile marketing software platform at www.avidmobile.com/free-trial.

Text Marketing White Label For Real Estate Professionals

Blog, Mobile Marketing White Label, Mobile Text Marketing

 Text marketing white label services are a great asset to real estate professionals. Chances are, you are paying out of pocket for your advertising and you sense that the marketing landscape is shifting toward mobile. But how do you make the jump? The answer is to find a white label business who will partner with you, offering support and technology in exchange for a small monthly fee. It’s much more economical than hiring your own software developer.

How Real Estate Agents Use Text Marketing White Label Services

  Real estate agents place text codes in print ads or brochures and receive mobile messages from interested prospects who would like more information about the advertised properties. The immediacy of mobile contact offers an opportunity to engage buyers while interest is highest. Sometimes buyers are standing right in front of the home when they text the agents. Sometimes a scanned QR code placed on a brochure outside the home can take smartphone users right to a landing page with videos, virtual tours and much more information that couldn’t be fit on a small printed paper.

“The use of mobile marketing tools is only going to increase within the next few years as consumers continue to turn to their mobile devices for their real estate needs,” says US Properties real estate broker Deborah Hall. “We are an immediate gratification society that has been conditioned to not want to wait for information, and via mobile marketing tools, we can get information immediately.

Text Marketing Funnels More Interested Buyers

 For a real estate agent, time is money. Therefore, it is advantageous to find buyers whose interest in the property is high. Text codes allows buyers access to the maximum amount of information right away. Once they’ve been able to browse on their own a little, they will be very interested in a specific property by the time the agent is contacted. Also, real estate agents can use text links to share new properties they think particular clients might be interested in. There is no more “I’ll send you an email when I get home.” Agents with smartphones can scroll through and send information via their phones as they are meeting with clients and giving tours to maximize their time together.

Finding A Text Marketing White Label Partner

To find a reliable text marketing partner, you should look for a company (like AvidMobile) that has been around for many years. We understand that there is a learning curve with new technology sometimes, which is why we’ve provided over 40 hours of tutorials, videos and educational materials to you, free of charge. Our mobile marketing platform is very intuitive and easy-to-use. If you’d like, stop on by our site and test-drive a demo today!

http://www.avidmobile.com/trial-sign-up

AvidMobile Text Marketing Business News

Blog, Mobile Advertising Platform, Mobile Coupons, Mobile Text Marketing, Text Marketing Reseller, Text Messaging Services

am AvidMobile Text Marketing Business News AvidMobile

Every once in a while, your friends at Avid Mobile have some text marketing business news we’d like to share with you. Keeping you abreast of our latest happenings will help you see why we’re the top provider of mobile marketing technology, training, and services. Whether you’ve been our customer for years or you’ve just discovered our website for the first time, we want you to know and love us!

New Mobile Coupon Module Released May 14th!

Mobile coupons are all the rage these days, so your text marketing business simply must have an easy way of creating and sharing them with subscribers. Our new mobile coupon module makes it easier than ever to generate a unique coupon that is fully integrated with your online e-commerce store and/or retail locations. Mobile coupons are inexpensive, instantaneous, and able to be shared across channels to maximize the exposure of your ad campaigns. Best of all, you’ll be able to analyze, track and optimize your coupons in real time.

Get Not One — But Two – Short Codes With Avid Mobile!

Did we ever tell you that we provide TWO short codes to all of our resellers in the United States? That means you can count on us to have no down-time! Sometimes catastrophes happen, but that doesn’t mean your entire promotion has to collapse. If there were any issues with a code — say, if someone started spamming — there would be a back-up code live and ready to go, so you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. Having two codes also means that you can check for your desired keywords on the other code if they are not available on one.

Avid Mobile Reaches Out To Real Estate Agents…

Avid Mobile understands that real estate agents need a mobile marketing strategy to better serve their clients. That’s why we’re offering special services for the industry. We’ll provide in-depth training to show you how to use our technology to automate new listing notifications, send out mobile coupons, link clients to your newsletters, send out real-time announcements, conduct surveys, and track subscriber statistics.

Avid Mobile Support Surpasses Industry Standards!

Perhaps the most exciting news from your favorite text message advertising provider is that we’ve bulked up our customer support team. We are now the ONLY company offering 1-on-1 SALES training! Many companies will offer tech training so you understand how to use their text message marketing software, but they won’t show you how to create effective campaigns that translate into more sales to help your bottom line. We do!

coupons loyalty merchant services 243x300 AvidMobile Text Marketing Business News AvidMobile

Thanks for taking this time to keep up with Avid Mobile news. We’re always looking for ways to better serve our valued clients, so shoot us an email with comments, questions or suggestions. If you’re new to our site, feel free to contact Avid Mobile to learn more about our mobile marketing platform. 

Sincerely,

Rob Clifton

CEO – President

 

Text Message Marketing Software – Call 877-511-MOBI!

Blog, Mobile Advertising Platform, Mobile Text Marketing, SMS Marketing Software, Text Messaging Services

avid header5 Text Message Marketing Software Call 877 511 MOBI! AvidMobile

Text message marketing is a burgeoning industry and continues to be one of the fastest growing trends in 2012. Businesses big and small are looking to expand their marketing campaigns to mobile devices to better reach their busy, on-the-go customers. There is always new research that emerges to show us that, indeed, marketing with text messages is the way of the future.

The 2012 Channel Preference Survey found that:

– 68 percent of online consumers use text messaging at least weekly.

– 16 percent have made a purchase after receiving a text marketing message.

– 25 percent prefer text messaging over all other channels for real-time travel alerts.

– 9 percent of consumers ages 25-34 prefer text marketing over all other channels for delivery of event tickets.

A Recent TextMarketer Survey found that:

– Businesses are getting an average response rate of 29 percent from their SMS messages.

– The five industries that use text marketing the most are: Recruitment, Software, Marketing, Retail, and Financial Services.

– Mobile U.S. ad revenue is expected to grow from $3.3 billion in 2011 to $20.6 billion in 2015.

– 45 percent of customers notice all mobile advertising.

Mobile Marketing Tips

While the statistics we’re seeing are very encouraging, there is a right way and a wrong way to approach this engaging new medium.

  • Keep the message simple. Just present your offer and tell customers what action they need to take to get the deal!
  • Avoid hype, lingo and sales-speak. You want your offer to sound genuine and nothing like spam!
  • Offer immediate value. Give people something they can use right away — before they forget about it!
  • Brand each message. There’s nothing worse than a message from God-knows-who! Let them know it’s you.
  • Make your mobile club special. Deliver information and coupons consumers can’t get anywhere else in store or online.

Are you looking for text message marketing software? Call AvidMobile to learn more about our user-friendly platform!

It’s easy to get started with a mobile marketing campaign once you have the right tools! Most companies sign up with a mobile service provider who covers the technology side of things, allowing marketers access to campaign-generating software. The best companies charge a monthly access fee, but do not charge annual renewal rates or other nickel-and-dime fees. Typically, companies can receive training on how to craft text campaigns, as well as back-end support and educational materials to help them get the ball rolling. Free trials are a great way to test-drive text message marketing software before you buy it, so visit www.avidmobile.com/trial-sign-up to give ours a whirl.

avid logo Text Message Marketing Software Call 877 511 MOBI! AvidMobile

 

Text Provider: Do You Need One ASAP?

Blog, Mobile Text Marketing, Text Marketing Reseller, Text Message Reseller, Text Messaging Services

Avid Logo Text Provider: Do You Need One ASAP? AvidMobile

You will need a text provider if you want to capitalize off the fastest-growing media channel today! Despite the recession, 86 percent of companies have spent money on mobile ads since 2008. According to IAB Research, 73 percent of market analysts are positive that mobile marketing will be an enduring trend for at least the next five years and that the 3 billion phones sold so far makes mobile the most widely-used technology on the planet. In the US, 92 percent of adults have a cellular line, says Nielsen Mobile, and 96 percent of those subscribers can receive a text message… so you’d be crazy to miss out on that tremendous base of prospects!

speed of text Text Provider: Do You Need One ASAP? AvidMobile

There are many ways for companies to use text marketing.

Just think of all you can do for your corporate clients! You can…

  • Send out text reminders about promotions
  • Share company news
  • Deliver coupons in real-time
  • Build relationships with prospects
  • Run surveys and contests
  • Send video or multimedia messages
  • Reinforce existing campaigns with original content

Once you have access to AvidMobile’s technology, you will need to build a subscriber list.

The key component of your text strategy will be building an opt-in subscriber list. As your text provider, we are there to help you every step of the way! We recommend three ways to build a list. One is by having consumers text a keyword to a five-digit code (usually in exchange for a coupon or other free incentive offer). Another way is by having consumers sign a paper authorization that they will agree to receive mobile messages from the brand. A third way is by having a consumer type their mobile number into an online form. You can build your database through real world promos, point of sale and the internet (including your website, social media and email).

How Does A White Label Service Work?

  • You pay us a monthly fee for the use of our system.
  • You set your own prices and make your own marketing packages.
  • You determine the frequency of the messaging.
  • We deliver all messages at the times scheduled by you.
  • We provide back-end customer service and support.
  • We offer educational and training materials to help you become better at what you do.

With 95% of all text messages read within 5 minutes of delivery and a 97% read-rate, you really can’t go wrong! Enjoy call-to-action rates of 9 percent or much, much higher! Learn more about our SMS white label text provider services by attending our FREE webinar. Sign up Today! http://www.avidmobile.com/webinar

 

Mobile Marketing Agencies Are Capitalizing Off These 4 Trends Right Now

Blog, Mobile Advertising Companies, Mobile Marketing Companies, Mobile Marketing Services, Mobile Text Marketing, Short Code Providers, SMS Providers

Avid Header1 Mobile Marketing Agencies Are Capitalizing Off These 4 Trends Right Now AvidMobile

Mobile marketing agencies are capitalizing off four hot trends in text message branding today, according to Mobile Marketer magazine…

Social Media Integration

“There is really a great synergy between mobile and social and great benefits to be had by doing these two things together,” says Lisa Abramson, director of marketing at a New York ad agency. Their company discovered that a social media full-page call-to-action ad increases consumer participation by 57 percent. In fact, one client boosted engagement 75 percent by adding a social media page promoting their mobile campaign. Surveys show that mobile users are social as well; in fact, 67.7 percent of mobile users access Facebook at least once a day (compared with 54 percent of people who access Facebook from their PCs.)

Full-Page Mobile Ads

If you want to make money, mobile marketing agencies say “Bigger is better” when it comes to ads. Full-screen ads fare FIVE TIMES better than banner ads. Users appreciate large ads because it’s easier to opt-in on their smaller smartphone screens and helps them reduce the number of false clicks to reach where they want to go. Mobile users also say they prefer having a few high-quality ads, versus small (but bothersome) banner ads, which take up valuable screen space.

Contextual Ads

Unlike PCs, there is no way of dropping cookies or targeting mobile ads based on where the users are clicking. So, the best mobile marketing agencies can do is align ads based on the editorial content they are simultaneously delivering. A contextual ad is a good tool to fuel click-through rates. There is a FIVE TIMES higher click-through rate for contextual mobile ads. Even though it’s difficult to target mobile users, the best mobile marketing agencies have their ways. For instance, they can review data from surveys about users of a particular type of device, be it an Android or a Blackberry. They can also geo-target people by location. Data can also be gathered by individuals who download games, ring tones and access mobile social networking sites.

cartoon Mobile Marketing Agencies Are Capitalizing Off These 4 Trends Right Now AvidMobile

Photo by CSECTIONCOMICS.COM

 

Early Engagement

Sometimes a user can access a video or other rich content by clicking the call-to-action. However, more often, mobile marketing agencies are opting to engage mobile users first and then offer a call-to-action. This trend solves the problem of mobile users ignoring mobile banner ads. Agencies can use a video, animations, or a 3D banner that rotates images and tells a story before users click on the ad. For instance, a Chevy Silverado ad rotated a page highlighting truck specifics and showing the special offers, while other panels let users click to watch a video or click to “like” the truck on Facebook.

Contact AvidMobile, the leader of mobile marketing agencies, to learn more about our software and text promotions: 1-877-511-MOBI 

Mobile Message Marketing Tips

Blog, Mobile Marketing Strategies, Mobile Text Marketing

Peter Shankman is a marketing consultant and founder of the HARO website that provides qualified sources for reporters working on tight deadlines. This week, he spoke at the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism and had a lot of good mobile message marketing tips. “I would give my right arm for a 3 second attention span,” he told the crowd. Nowadays, a person only has 2.6 seconds to make a favorable impression, he says. He added that this may sound a lot like the length of time it takes to read a tweet, but it’s most important that people consider the concept, rather than any one particular brand.

“The Future of Marketing Is Mobile,” he said.  

shankman Mobile Message Marketing Tips AvidMobile

One of his most salient mobile message marketing tips was that business owners need to produce better writing.

He explained, “Bad writing is killing America. Bad writing will kill any chance you have of bringing customers in. Make sure the people talking on your behalf know how to write.”

Instead of spending time texting people are boring company news or how great you are, Shankman recommends posting messages that make people smile, laugh, want to share with others. You want to send out messages that have value and thoughts that really enrich someone’s day. According to Shankman, ”No one cares about how great you or your state are if you have to tell them. Your job is to get other people to do it for you. That is true social.”

He offered four other tidbits of advice for mobile message marketing (and online marketing too):

  • Be brief, whether it’s a blog, a call-to-action or a mobile message marketing text.
  • Respond to problems right away. ”If you have a problem, own it,” he said.
  • Ask customers how they prefer to communicate, be it email, social media, or mobile, to increase loyalty.
  • Network regularly and be nice. “Your network is only as strong as the weakest person in it,” he said.

Have A Backup Plan For Success For Your Mobile Message Marketing.

One of the problems people often make is that they have a contingency plan for failure, but they don’t have a backup plan for success, Shankman said. One time a USA Today article picked up a story about these Titanic t-shirts he was making and overnight, his servers crashed with over 10,000 people flooding to buy. In retrospect, he wish he had developed a plan for success. With respect to mobile message marketing, you need to understand the power of text marketing for promotions. On a slow day, you may send out a flash sale to your subscriber list with a juicy coupon, but you need to make sure you have enough people on-staff to handle the volume to avoid leaving an unsavory taste in customer’s mouths.

For more mobile message marketing tips, visit AvidMobile. We have over 20 hours of mobile training tutorials and powerpoints!

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