A Proper Text Message for Radio Stations

Bob Bentz    Media, Text Messaging    

Advanced Telecom Services’ Bob Bentz explains how to make a proper text message response to P-1 listeners of radio stations.  Radio text messaging is a big part of the mobile marketing business of Advanced Telecom Services and its subsidiary Spark Network Services.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ_K4YmG3j8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

National Letter of Intent Day Today

Bob Bentz    900 numbers, Mobile Marketing, Text Messaging    

Today is National Letter of Intent Day.  It’s the day when college athletes sign their binding

commitment to play collegiate sports at the university of their choice.

There was a time when this was the single biggest day of the year at Advanced Telecom Services.

Advanced Telecom Services, with the help of some great college sports publications like Gator Bait at the University of Florida, helped make the day a huge success.  It is said that in the South, and especially in the Southeast Conference, there are two seasons — college football season and college football recruiting season.  It is the first Wednesday in February when details are released by major universities to announce which high school athletes have signed for their universities.

There are still some universities that release their college football recruits by 900 number, but more are starting to do it now by text message alerts.  Many universities are tweeting their recruits as the letters arrive.  For the most part, the 900 numbers were replaced by the internet which could not only make the announcements, but could also allow you to see the athlete scoring a touchdown for his high school team.

You can read more about the days of 900 numbers and college football recruiting in an article published today at Fanhouse.com.  Interviewed in the article is David Stirt, who began his 900 number here at Advanced Telecom Services when he was the publisher of Gator Bait magazine.

While this day may not be as important for Advanced Telecom Services financially as it once was, it is still very important for a very personal reason.  Alyssa Dunlap, daughter of ATS co-founder Bret Dunlap, has signed her collegiate letter of intent to play lacrosse at Vanderbilt.

Congratulations Alyssa!

Premium SMS on Deal or No Deal

Bob Bentz    Mobile Marketing, Text Messaging    

If you thought ‘Deal or No Deal’ was only a game show, you are mistaken. Ask various economists, psychologists and statisticians, who vouch for the academic value of one of the most popular show on American television. These people described ‘Deal or No Deal’ as an experiment to understand people’s decision making behavior. This game involved participants, whose decision making abilities were put to test and they could win billions of dollars. The game became so popular that its various versions were adapted in over seventy countries worldwide. It was also developed as a video game and that too sold like a hot cake.

The most striking feature and the reason behind the unmatched popularity of this show was the use of the biggest premium SMS service in USA. It allowed viewers to participate in the show through SMS from wherever they were and win huge cache of money. The pattern became so popular and user friendly that it set a benchmark for interactive television shows. Since then, many different shows on television took to premium SMS services route to attract viewership.

Mind boggling figures

‘Deal or No Deal’ turned out to be the shot in the arm for premium SMS service worldwide. It triggered viewer interaction through a means as short and simple as an SMS. The figures below speak for them.

• In 2006, premium SMS services revenues were $273 million in USA alone.
• Almost 80 percent of this revenue was from the various mobile contents.
• $35 million was generated through text message voting and text message sweepstakes.
• Deal or No Deal garnered nearly half of premium SMS revenues in the first quarter of 2007.
• Various premium SMS services are able to reach more than 90 percent of mobile users in the US.

Mobile marketing and premium SMS

Not only television shows, but business houses now are also subscribing to mobile marketing technique like premium SMS. This service allows players– in this context, consumers- to participate in various SMS campaigns. These campaigns are intended to pass market information to consumers.

Mobile marketing through premium SMS service can be specially designed to suit customer preferences and choices. Generally, premium SMS is offered to customers without any charges. However, they may be charged for using premium SMS if it involves prize money. Premium SMS can offer text message sweepstakes by asking mobile owners to participate by text message voting. It has evolved as the best amalgamation of mobile advertising and interactive marketing.

Given the time constraints and busy schedules of the people, mobile marketing through premium SMS is going to be the latest tool on the communication platform. Its undemanding character, unlike telemarketing calls, and round the clock accessibility makes them very user friendly and effective.