The Third Stage

Using SMS to Screen for mobile marketing

What is SMS to screen?

SMS to screen is a facility that lets a user text in details to a 5 digit shortcode, which can then be  viewed by a client at their discretion online. This facility is most commonly found being used in conjunction with radio station DJ’s who prompt listeners to text in their views or their traffic information to a short 5 digit code.

What can SMS to screen do for a business?

This tool is ideal for market research, collecting qualitative data on your audience’s thoughts about a particular product or feature in real time is a priceless asset. This can be a valuable direct response tool for any business when launching an advertising campaign; it provides clear, and direct feedback about the advertisement, product or service. It can also be a quick and cost effective way of capturing people’s details or thoughts while they are on the move. With the ability to collect a potentially useful database of prospective customer numbers that will be stored in a self managing database this is also a great way of obtaining prospects that are directly interested in your product, service or advert.

How can I find out more about this service?

The best way to do this is to talk to the professionals, click here and to tell us a bit more about what it is your interested in, or try our service yourself and text the word TEXT plus your name and email address to 82088 (UK only, one standard rate sms) and one of our friendly team will contact you as soon as possible.

Do you have any examples of how your business has used SMS to screen to meet your needs? If so we would love to hear about it, feel free to leave a comment or contact us.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 17 Have your customers gone mobile?

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

Have your customers gone mobile?

The first thing in order to answer this question would be to find out how many of your readers respond to emails on their mobile phones or portable devices.

How to monitor if they are going mobile would be to create a text version of your HTML message and place it on a page at your Web site. Then, put a link to this version at the top of an email message, next to the link to your Web version. This way you can track who is subscribing to you.

There are also three things that makes mobile a new and innovative way to communicate to your audience.

Firstly, you have a platform to work off. You will be capturing your audiences attention through a much smaller screen.

Secondly, you will be supplying content to your consumer through this new medium so content rendering is an important aspect to consider. Text usually renders well on most devices but you will need to re think your messages so that they are attractive on the smaller screen.

Thirdly, you have to consider that not everybody is living there life through mobile as yet but people do mainly pick up emails and open texts whilst either travelling to and from destinations or when able to retrieve a message.

The main key is to ensure that any messages that you send out to your audience are optimized so that they can be previewed on most mobile platforms.

Some simple steps are as follows:-

1. Offer a text option and an alternative to HTML.

2.Ensure that if you add any URLs then these can be tracked.

3.Keep your message brief so that your readers  are led to an opt to click button to enable them to   read the rest of the message. Always ensure that your message has an opt in and opt out option.

Unlike static and one-way communications channels, mobile is about context and behaviors.In following the correct steps to market through mobile can be especially effective in reaching mobile consumers.

For more Mobile Tips and Advice and information please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 16 eReading Revolution

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

eReading Revolution.

While books and newspapers continue to be a dominant platform for reading, there is an increasing shift towards using mobile devices and eReading.

As eReading' is one of the latest trends to hit both the mobile and literature market because it allows users to choose to read anything from a magazine article, to a blog, to a single book chapter to an entire novel from a mobile device. The content is both free and paid for in an effort to capture a wider audience, as well as revenue.

Recently Google launched its Book Search and has made the entire texts of 1.5 million out-of-copyright books available for searching and reading on mobile devices. Each book has been formatted to work best on the iPhone and handsets running Google's mobile operating system, Android.

In an article in Top Tech News, electronic readers were listed as the second fastest-growing products in 2008 based on estimated shipment revenues, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. E-reader shipment revenues grew 265 percent, according CEA, who expects revenues for e-reading devices to increase 110 percent this year and companies such as Sony are paying attention and want a piece of the e-book market. Sony has come out with the PRS-505 Portable Digital e-Reader System. Stanza, an e-book reader software developer, has sealed a deal with Random House to allow several books to be read on the iPhone.

For more Mobile Tips and Advice and information please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie .If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 15 Is micro blogging becoming the new mobile marketing tactic?

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

Is Micro blogging becoming the new mobile marketing tactic?

The online marketing world is developing at such a rapid pace that every day we turn on our computers we find that there are new applications and tools within the social networking world.

Trends set around micro blogging, a network service that allows mobile users and other internet connected devices to stay in touch with updates within a network, such as Twitter or Facebook in real time are ever evolving and developing, allowing us to add new tools and information to our mobiles.

Micro blogging is great for those who wish to send out an update in less than 160 characters to either a mobile or web and the spontaneity of capturing information to share and publish easily, yet this tool can not only be used for social network sites but for businesses, who can send out a bullet type message and interact in the same manner as communities do on the internet via their own specifically targeted mobile platform to get user customer and feedback and to make brand awareness, using a branded mobile platform being a great digital tool.

One other interesting point is that with mico blogging, mobile marketers will have to consider mobile seo as this will become just as important as internet seo as how else will consumers find your product or services on the mobile? as finding products on the go will be key to many businesses using this medium to connect with their audience.

With micro blogging becoming the next big thing, how can people monitor this by using platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or even mobile social sites like Utterli without breaking the rules of mobile marketing?

For more Mobile Tips and Advice and information please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie .If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

 

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 15 Mobile video subscriptions are forecast to top 534 million by 2014

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's  blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

In a recent article from fierce mobile content, market analysis firm Pyramid Research forecasts that Worldwide mobile video subscriber totals will grow five-fold between 2008 and 2014 to surpass 534 million. This significant percentage of mobile net additions will come from emerging markets. Pyramid notes that while about 2.5 percent of global wireless customers currently subscribe to mobile video services, that number will increase to roughly 8.5 percent by 2014, citing the availability of improved devices and networks as the keys to driving adoption. Pyramid anticipates that the Asia Pacific market will lead the mobile video growth spurt, increasing to more than 281 million subscriptions by 2014--while the Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea markets already lead in terms of mobile video subscriber penetration, the report also forecasts dramatic uptake in India over the next five years.

Reports also reveal that consumers show preference to what type of content they stream and download. Popular categories reveal that News has one of the highest downloads and that sport comes second. With mobile content now being so affordable, organisations are expanding their content options to their customer whilst carrier prices remain competitive.

For more Mobile Tips and Advice please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie .If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 14 The Growth of Mobile Web Usage

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's exciting new blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

In a recent article in the mobile marketing magazine Forrester claims that Mobile Internet usage in Europe is growing and is poised for mainstream adoption. That’s the conclusion of a Forrester Research survey of more than 14,000 consumers across seven EU countries. 24% of online European (and of UK) consumers now regularly access the Internet from their mobile phones, the report notes, creating new opportunities, but also confusion, for brands unsure about their target audience and their mobile strategy. It has been noted that the success of Apple’s iPhone has acted as a marketing catalyst that showcases the potential of the mobile platform. But, the analyst says, an app is not a mobile strategy.

A report, titled: ‘Mobile Internet Creates New Opportunities For Direct To Consumer Strategies’, breaks down mobile Internet usage across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Sweden and Italy have the highest rate of mobile web adoption, while France has the lowest percentage of subscribers using the mobile web. The report also provides recommendations to consumer product strategists looking to implement an effective mobile Internet strategy. To view the report visit Forrester.com. Please note there is a cost to view the full report.

For more Mobile Tips and Advice please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie . If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

 

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 13 Growing demand for mobile content

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's exciting new blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

Research shows that mobile content services are on the verge of enormous growth and that the demand for mobile content is beginning to be driven by the growing number of consumer oriented features that mobile devices are now offering the market place. A key to understanding how to grow your mobile market potential is by understanding what your consumers want. It has been announced  that India is the fastest growing mobile market inthe world as figures reveal that while January and February added respectively 15.4 and 13.4 million new subscribers, March broke a new record with 15.6 new users, bringing the total amount of mobile subscribers to 391.8 million.

Alistair Hill, an analyst at comScore, said: “Mobile offers attractive opportunities for advertisers to target audiences based on the type of content consumed and device owned. This targeting ability is extremely valuable for marketers trying to increase their advertising efficiencies in the face of shrinking ad budgets.”

The mobile channel creates an exciting opportunity to build a dialogue with the consumer, and an opportunity to build an ongoing relationship with the consumer. If you are looking for a new way to reach out to your community visit our business opportunities page.

For more Mobile Tips and Advice please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie . If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 12 Responding to mobile marketing

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's exciting new blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

Research reveals that mobile marketing text messaging techniques are the most responded to.

In 2008 a survey revealed that 70% of consumers who have responded to a mobile marketing offer say that they have responded to a text, compared with 41% who have responded to a survey and 30% to email offers. You can view the full report at Direct Marketing Association.

As mobile marketing applications consist of product and service information, ads and voting, research informs us that age is not strongly predictive in determining who responds to a mobile marketing message as interest levels in mobile use are very similar. According to the Mobile Marketing Association, 2 way text messaging is the most important mobile feature across all age groups however findings do show that daily mobile usage is mostly common with 13-24 year olds.

The results within the surveys reveal that mobile marketing will hold its own and continue to grow as the mobile creates a stimulus to influence a consumers response and interaction.

For more mobile tips and advice please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie or if you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 11 Viral Marketing of Mobile Content

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's exciting new blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

Viral Marketing of Mobile Content

We hear about the term viral marketing more and more on a daily basis but knowing how to put this into practice and what it really means is something that we question. However, viral marketing in itself describes any strategy that encourages visitors to pass of a marketing message creating a potential for growth in exposure.

As viral marketing continues to grow throughout the social media world, figures reveal that mobile marketing in itself is expected to grow to over $24 billion worldwide in 2013, jumping from just $1.8 billion in 2007, according to ABI research. These figures inform us that the mobile and web is the most cost effective form of viral marketing whilst creating a brand awareness and that viral marketing has considerable value in the mobile market. Yet to create a viral that produces something of value to your business and not just for entertainment needs consideration. Below are a few of tips to help you with your viral.

1. Give away something of value to your audience. This could be some simple as free information, ringtone or game. Remember a branded game provides a great awarenessss tool for your business.

2. Keep your viral simple to transmit. Nobody wants a viral that takes ages to download or to read. Remember it takes 3 clicks for somebody to lose interest in what you are offering.

3. Leverage web aggregators that bring in lots of people and redirect them to other sites to use your service or buy your product.

Keep watch of this series for further information. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie or of you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice # 10 : Keeping mobile marketing simple

Mobile Marketing Information, Tips and Advice is The Third Stage's exciting new blog series dedicated to bringing you expert knowledge and some of the latest information, tips and advice on mobile marketing that could be of real use. Please read, enjoy and share your comments.

As a business you may ask yourself, How do I incorporate mobile marketing into my direct marketing strategy, or How do I keep ahead once I have the mobile channel implemented into the business marketing strategy.

The answer to this is, keep it simple. Mobile marketing does not need to be complex and over complicated. If you consider a campaign to raise awareness of your brand, deliver information, or even to create responses, whatever you do must be easy for the subscriber to engage with and gain value from. Keeping a mobile campaign simple yet interesting will create what is known as a viral marketing campaign if carried out correctley.

One other benefit to implementing mobile marketing in your business and marketing strategy is that you can embed your advertising into mobile content, such as games. According to one article written by Mobile 2.0 games reach a broad target group with high awareness. Mobile Advergaming is a way to promote brands, products or services by providing (free) games, branded and connected to the product. The user benefit is the game, the brand can raise brand awareness, image and strengthen relationships in a fun yet positive manner.

As mobile services grow and develop from strength to strength information can be directed at communities through words, pictures, ringtones, games immediately and shared with millions over the mobile WAP and web.

For more mobile Tips and Advice please check back soon. If you would like to contribute an article please contact Marie . If you would like to find out more about our services please contact us.