[Mike Halliday]

on TV right now....


more people text than use the phone, it is the most populer method of communication, people average 50 text a week.....


how can we adapt our marketing to use this?

 how about.... text your room size for an instant quote.....or......  text your sizes now for a  3 for 2 offer  

 put on websites & leaflets?[

[neil 47]

 Mike  try ringing somone , No answer , txt them no repy , f/b message them instant reply .

they all live on f/b its there reality  , social networking is here and will be around for a long time.

spend your time getting as many friends as u can its like a instant data base and cross,s all ages and proffesions
i reckon about 2000 friends in your area should make u enough work to keep you going until u retire so a year or to aint bad

[Simon Gerrard]

Is there any software for texting of your customers?

Simon

[AshWhite]

I think Kev said recently that the next update of CM would have it

[Kev Loomes]

Thats right Ash.

There is a free update coming very shortly (still testing) for all PRO users (other versions can be upgraded), that has a texting facility.

It will allow individual texting aswell as marketing to the masses - using our filters of course. This can be to:

A clients spend - (these values can be edited) allowing you to send different texts to different types of spending clients!
Area/postcode - maybe to a wealthy area you know. Maybe you want to work in one road or town for a few weeks? This cuts down on travelling costs due to 'localised' working.
Service - Allowing you to target people who have had specific work done. Very powerful indeed.
Source - Target them with a text via a specific source i.e. great for name dropping a retailer that they heard about you from.

You can of course just text them all if desired! This isnt recommended though as it really is more cost effective and profitable to actually 'target' your clients.

The website will be updated soon - so keep checking! www.cleanersmate.co.uk

p.s. by the way it may seem that this 'must' surely all be difficult to do? The answer is no - it all takes seconds  

p.p.s unlike other text marketing which works on a website, once set up this all works within Cleaners Mate (or if you want to you can use it web based).

[Kev Loomes]

Here is a sneak peek! http://cleanersmate.co.uk/Text_Marketing.htm The version is NOT ready yet - we are still testing (and updating the website). There are also other system updates for all versions too.

We will let people know when it is ready - which will be soon!

[Steve Chapman]

Hi Kev,

What are the costs involved in sending bulk texts ?

Cheers
Steve

[Nigel_W]

Hi Kev

Using Text Marketer is brilliant. I use Capsule CRM for managing my clients and  I have successfully integrated with the Text Marketer sms system. This allows me to text to all or groups of clients in a flash. I also use their email to SMS gateway to send individual messages direct from the clients contact page. I created a custom field called SMS with a generated link that contains a mailto command. This takes the mobile number, adds the @textmarketer.biz and opens an email. I can then type the sms message followed by ## and the client receives a text which looks like it came from my mobile. Very quick and a record of the communication appears in the client record.

It is a shame that Cleaners Mate came along a little too late for me:( it sounds like you are developing a very useful tool for carpet cleaners.

Nigel

[Nigel_W]

Hi Kev,

What are the costs involved in sending bulk texts ?

Cheers
Steve

3.7 pence per text

[Steve Gunn]

It  is annoying getting marketing texts I don't like it get 2 or 3 a day claim your ppi back or you can claim after your recent accident so cannot see a lot of our customers being any different

[Mike Halliday]

This has turned around from the original idea, it's not about us texting them, but encouraging them to text us.

[Nigel_W]

Hi Steve,

I totally agree with you. I have decided not to use my system for that kind of mass marketing precisely for the reasons you mention. It is useful though for reminders, appointment confirmations and sending other important information e.g.. phone/address changes.

All of these marketing tools are a danger in the hands of an overenthusiastic operator and they will have the reverse effect of driving people away.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I agree with Nigel and Steve I wouldn't want a gardener etc who I have used previously texting me on a monthly basis may be a reminder which we may have set up between us (that's what I do ATM) I ask first then they fill out a short post card with their details and then there is a 'bond' set up.

Shaun

[Nigel_W]

Mike,

I think you have to have all  of these methods of communication available. When I was in the position of taking on new clients I would always want to speak to them to establish a rapport and make sure we were well matched in terms of expectations. If it takes a text option to trigger that conversation then it is worthwhile.

However, if you invite people to text for prices it seems that you are making price the big issue which is not my favoured route.  I am struggling though to think of another reason to ask them to text, maybe more information?
 

[Mike Halliday]

Nigel. putting on your website........ "text your room  sizes, & postcode for a price" ...... is not saying you will text back

 you are saying you will give them a price, so you could actually call them and say you are working in their area 2 or 3 times this week and could easily pop in and give then an exact quote rather than a wild guess.

 by giving them the choice to make the initial contact by text is tapping into this new information that people are communicating by text than any other medium

[Nigel_W]

Mike,

I suppose that there is nothing to lose and everything to gain by adding text invites to marketing material. At the end of the day it is about encouraging people to communicate with you and giving you the opportunity of then converting that into a sale. I think I have an aversion to mentioning the word price

I know that Text Marketer will sell you a keyword e.g. Patio. So you can ask interested people to text "patio" to your sms number and you can create an auto response text and follow up with a phone call later.

Nigel

[Steve Chapman]

Maybe people are more tech savvy in the south

But I get a few people every week texting for a quote, many professionals that just haven't got the time to call, I'll txt them a guide price and then phone them later.

Can't see the need to put it on your marketing., if your mobile number is there then people will call or txt or maybe email whichevers convenient to them.

I would rather most phone so you can have a sensible conversation with them.

Steve

[Shaun_Ashmore]

When I get a text for how much it goes like this, "ow mch 4 cleanin lvn rm m8?" I just don't respond to it how can you build up a rapport with a customer based on that? I prefer a chat then a price and then ask if they would like a reminder.

Shaun

[Allan Simmons]

Shaun's right, it's difficult to build rapport and sell on anything other than price through a text message.

Text marketing has it's place for job reminders, appointment confirmations etc, but not wanting to throw a spanner in the works, there is a data protection issue to consider depending on the TYPE of text you are sending. A requested appointment confirmation text, or if you've told them you're going to confirm the appointment by text is one thing, but texting "We're working in the area..." is another.  As our legal guy advised it's a bit wooly, that type of text 'could' require a 'built in' managed unsubscribe message unless you have 'specifically' advised the client you WILL be using their mobile number to send marketing texts, apparently it's about 'assumed consent' i think was the phrase he used.  It's a very fine line, and a little grey.  That's why for anything other than confirmation type texting it's best to use one of the online providers like Nigel suggested.  They have taken care of all the legals and provide amazing reporting tools too.

Al.

[Kev Loomes]

Agree to some extent to what your saying Al, as you know our system is great for various things related to everything to do with texting, reminders etc - not all marketing database programs have this feature but thats their loss I guess.

However, a marketing message campaign can only be judged on its results, and if people havent tried it then they cant possibly comment on its effectiveness (logically speaking). But I can understand people making presumptions its only natural.

Where our system triumphs is that not only can it be used within Cleaners Mate and also online where 'unsubscribe' is all part of the package - thus eliminating any legal issues. Like you say they really are good including reporting tools, sms to e mail and etc etc.

You know texting does work, I have to agree that texts from companies that you have never heard of before is annoying, but from your friendly carpet cleaner who a rapport has already been established with - is a different story.

I dont suppose I'm in the right position to promote it or knock it as its our product. But just from texting last month brought us in approx £1,500.00. I cant ask people to believe this or not but thats their perogative of course - which is completely understandable.

But its like anything I guess, people can make up their own mind.