How Customers Connect

On their cell phones, consumers enroll in your promotional text program by entering the assigned short code number and prefix-campaign keyword that you create. Consumers find this connect information by seeing point of purchase displays at your business location, through a handout that you may give them, or listings on your web site, email signature, direct mailers, billboards, or other standard marketing materials. This same connect information should also be promoted in your traditional advertising channels, much the same as you would promote your website address.

When you create your BizTxt for Business account and promotional campaign, our system will automatically generate personalized PDF's. The PDF's can be printed off and used as point-of-purchase displays or handouts at your business location, such as the Three-Up display shown here -- which also works well as table tents and handouts.

The BizTxt for Business personalized PDF's will provide the basic tools to start promoting enrollment instantly. However most businesses will develop their own point of purchase displays and incorporate the how-to-connect information, such as the image on the right exemplifies.

Mobile technology and our ability to create and send ad promotions to cell phones are expanding every day. However, the biggest question asked by our business clients is "How do we get consumers to connect with our business so we can communicate with them via text message?"

Your success at using this cutting-edge technology to better promote your goods and services is really dependent upon using time-tested basic business principles:

1. Develop a written plan- Take a few minutes and write down your goals and action steps to make the service successful for your business. Solicit input from key staff members to expand program ideas and to engage their ownership in the program.
2. Have one person in charge - This individual should understand and utilize mobile technology. This insight makes it easier to develop campaigns, address consumer questions and manage the simple consumer account manager interface.
3. Cross media promotion: Look at your current promotional activity. Integrate your BizTxt for Business keyword and short code number information in:
   • Your website
   • Email campaigns
   • Social Network Websites
   • Print ads
   • Radio ads
   • Direct mailers
   • TV Ads
   • business collateral (business cards, signs, letterhead, etc)
4. Introduce the program to your staff — The lack of staff understanding the who, what or why of a program accounts for most program failures. We recommend that you have your staff connect with at least one of your BizTxt for Business campaigns via text message. This simple connection will help them understand what the service can do and what is being communicated to customers.
   
   We often encourage BizTxt for Business accounts to establish a separate campaign where they have their employees opt-in. This campaign is used to communicate with employees concerning meetings, company policy, weather updates, short term staffing needs, etc.
5. Internal Incentive for the staff to promote enrollment — Create an incentive for your staff to continue promoting enrollment to your customers via text message. A simple incentive, contest or recognition at staff meetings keeps the importance of continuing the promotion to customers to enroll in the service. This step can also serve to answer the staffs' question, "What's in it for me?"
6. Hand-out flyers to current customers — Our service automatically generates collateral that can be used to direct customers to connect with your business via text message. Make sure that each customer receives or is notified of this new service when they are at your business location. Many businesses will often create personalized PDf's with their BizTxt for Business keyword and short code.
   
   Our service is often used by businesses that are based at home. These individuals use the methods listed in the cross media promotions listed previously along with incorporating it on business cards, bumper stickers and stationery.
7. Develop promotions that create action — Create promotions that invite the consumer to take action. The promotion or incentive must have value for your customer base and we recommend that you tie a timeline for redemption.

We suggest you try different promotions and develop an internal process to evaluate each promotion. We also suggest that you don't overload your customers with numerous campaigns. Be responsible in what is delivered, when it is delivered, and how often it is delivered.

Consumer enrollment is the single key factor in the success of any business text marketing program. Creating consumer awareness and encouraging them to enroll is not difficult. You need to be persistent in promoting consumer enrollment and we suggest you allow time for consumers to become aware of the program and connect with your business on their own terms.