SimpleTexting lives up to their name by keeping their text marketing plan as simple as possible. Within this text marketing review you will find information on Simpletexting pricing, text marketing features, and the pros and cons of using a mobile marketing company like Simpletexting.
Simpletexting keeps every feature of their text marketing program very basic, which makes it easy-to-use, yet has enough functionality to handle most business’ text marketing campaign needs. While their analytics are minimal, they do offer the ability to track linking, subscribers, messages, keyword growth, and voting or text-to-win results.
Shortcode –
Some short codes are easier to remember than others, and their shortcode (like their name) is very “simple” to remember, 555888. Using a short code that is easy to memorize, or has multiple same numbers, is beneficial from a marketing aspect. A simple shortcode is especially helpful if you intend on placing opt-in information on signage (or visible ads) where customers will only have a brief view of the keyword and shortcode.
Adding Contacts –
Simpletexting is one of the few text marketing companies around that still allows customers to import customer lists. However, new CTIA regulations state that new contacts can only be added to a text marketing program IF they have given prior consent to receive texts within a 48 hour period. These new regulations are done in an effort to keep people from sending messages to numbers they have been collecting for sometime (typically without explicit texting permission), importing the numbers, and texting them. This practice, whether they are a customer or not, is considered spamming. To prevent spamming all contacts must be added within a 48 hour window. The best way to add contacts is always to have them opt-in from their cell phone using your unique keyword. Many text marketing companies, including SimpleTexting, have web form or website widgets which allow customers to opt-in from your website, which is just as effective, and gives the same amount of consent, as using their cell phone.
Text-to-win or Text-to-vote –
A great way to build your database is use text-to-win or text-to-vote programs. With SimpleTexting these programs are easy to set up and use. Real-time results can be broadcast to participants quickly and easily. The text marketing software will even randomly choose your text-to-win winner for you, and send them a winning text.
Autoresponders/Scheduler –
Autoresponders are a great way to reach out to your customers immediately upon opt-in. Once a customer texts your keyword to the shortcode then you can set up an autoresponder message that will be texted to them. Autoresponders are a great way to welcome customers or give them a text which offers them some type of incentive to visit your business ie. a coupon, a discount, a free item etc…SimpleTexting offers autoresponder capability as well as a scheduler. Once a customer has opted-in to your campaign, and received an autoresponder message, a scheduler allows you to schedule messages in advance that can be sent to your entire database. With this program you may also sync your scheduled message with your Google calendars.
Messages –
Outside of the normal SMS text messaging options, SimpleTexting has additional tools to enhance their text messaging services. They provide their users with a URL shortener, making it easier to copy and paste website addresses/links into a text message. The URL shortener also has the capability to track clicks to the link, allowing you to see the effectiveness of using links within your texts. Simpletexting also allows you to attach images to your text messages, which is considered a multimedia message service (MMS), which is typically more expensive through other text marketing providers.
Pricing –
As far as the cost of SimpleTexting marketing campaigns go, this too has been kept on a very basic level. Customers basically have two options, free, or pay as you go. The free trial period is only for 14 days and allows customers 1 keyword and 50 messages. Once your 50 messages are used up or you are ready to upgrade you may change the account through your SimpleTexting account control panel. The pay-as-you-go plan allows customers to pay $25 a month for unlimited subscribers and 400 messages. Once the 400 messages are used, additional messages are billed at $0.03 cents per message.
Overall, if you are looking for a very “SimpleTexting” marketing program then this company may be worth taking a look at. On their website they have “mobile university” video which allows potential customers the opportunity to preview their control panel and functionality prior to signing up. While their prices seem very low for small business marketing ventures, if customers are consistently using well over 400 messages a month the per message cost may add up quickly.