St. Clair County Businesses Connect to Customers Via Text Messaging

Dec. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- 90% of the U.S. population carries a mobile device that sends and receives text messages. Clever marketers have found this is a prime opportunity for businesses to connect with their customers. Text message marketing can help build client relationships, as well as bring in new customers.

You may have already seen signs around St. Clair County giving you the opportunity to opt in to receive text message alerts and special VIP treatment from local businesses. For example, Dawn Anderson, a local internet marketing consultant, has placed these opt-in messages in some neighborhood restaurants and auto repair shops.

These opt-in messages allow businesses to capture customers’ cell phone numbers and send them special deals via text-message. Customers simply show the text message to the business to redeem the offer, no printing required. They can even forward the message to their friends so they can take advantage of the special deal, as well.

Here are some interesting statistics:
•   57% of people report that they want to receive Mobile Coupons on their phone.
•   2/3 of Mobile Phone Users Subscribe to SMS Text Messaging
•   New text messages are read in an average of 14 minutes

An example of how this works is: customers gain access to an offer by texting a keyword such as “wine” or “coupon” or “eat” to a short code, such as 55505. Then they receive a welcome message or coupon as a text reply. Customers then receive periodic new offers automatically, and have the option to opt-out at any time.

Text message marketing is still rare in retail. Most retailers have yet to embrace it and consumers need to be educated and shown how to interact when they see the opt-in codes.

Businesses are finding that integrating text messaging into their marketing efforts can make the difference between survival and death. “Because mobile marketing is becoming so successful today,” says Ms Anderson, “I think it won’t be long before businesses and consumers embrace it.”

This is a great time to have special deals or VIP treatment from local businesses sent to your cell phone (no spamming). Just text the keyword “stclairdeals” to 46786.

If you are a local business interested in using text messaging to contact new or existing customers, visit Ms Anderson’s website, http://webedgeconsulting.info/textmessaging/about on your computer or smart phone to get started. You may also email her at Dawn.MobileExpert@gmail.com

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We offer online marketing and mobile marketing to offline businesses to help our clients get more customers using text messaging, mobile websites, PC based websites, article marketing, press releases, and other avenues. http://webedgeconsulting.info/textmessaging