[Steve Gunn]

Customer booked the job through text,turned up today paid me then they went out left me to it,just received text thanking me for a great job and she would be recommending to anybody who needs their carpets cleaned

will it catch on?   

[Steve Gunn]

By god she has as well 2 jobs booked from this job today love customers like this who do what they actually say they'll do

[Paul Moss]

Text her and see if she wants to by a Host machine 

[wynne jones]

Makes sense, she texts them there and then, they text you. Normally someone says they will recommend and forget or they tell someone and they say they will get around to it but don't.

If only there was some software that would let you send texts from your database. 

[Fran84]

There is Wynne

[*Hector*]

Is there really ?? 

What would that be ? 

[david@zap-clean]

Did a job this week arranged entirely via Facebook IM. Including a prompt for payment.

[Billy Russell]

Text her and see if she wants to by a Host machine 

[Neil Jones]

Same here, got a text Sunday saying can you clean EOT on Wednesday, said yes, she gave me her address, I turned up, cleaned the carpets, then she said how much do I owe you. I could have said five grand and she probably would have just said no probs. love jobs like that

[Chris Straker]

I do more texts than voicemail now, people respond when it suits and I don't go disturbing clients in meetings etc.

Was more than surprised when I did my first job via text, the only face to face was when I knocked at 7am to collect keys, went back later after first job and carried out work. I text her when done and she even paid money direct to bank account so only actual contact was about 1 minute on the doorstep  

[clinton]

I Have a few clients that text to arrange for cleaning but as yet none from new clients.

Sounds good if it does generate work mind from texting.

[John Kelly]

Most pc's come with desktop SMS. surely that can be used for database sending.

[*Hector*]

beg to differ John.... My steam powered thing, is from the dark ages, and me not being computer literate, (I can switch it on, and type stuff) have yet to find this sms stuff.....

[wynne jones]

beg to differ John.... My steam powered thing, is from the dark ages, and me not being computer literate, (I can switch it on, and type stuff) have yet to find this sms stuff.....

Have a look at this Hector, I know you like to keep costs down but this would pay for itself in no time and is easy to use.

http://www.carpetcleaningsoftware.co.uk/Latest_Features.htm

[Allan Simmons]

Just be careful whatever you use you comply with the legislation.   When we started texting we took advice and if you haven't specifically stated you will use the telephone number to text them marketing, ie you just have it on your system because they gave you it as a contact number, it's a grey area if you can send marketing texts.  However, it's usually covered if you use an online supplier to do the actual fulfilment of sending the text message as they have the automated unsubscribe/STOP requirements covered and some will also screen against "TPS" before sending. There are many to choose from with varying features depending on how easy or clever you want to be.  It also means you can merge client details into the body of the text message too, such as their name, last job date or anything else you can export in the datafile.

[wynne jones]

Just be careful whatever you use you comply with the legislation.   When we started texting we took advice and if you haven't specifically stated you will use the telephone number to text them marketing, ie you just have it on your system because they gave you it as a contact number, it's a grey area if you can send marketing texts.  However, it's usually covered if you use an online supplier to do the actual fulfilment of sending the text message as they have the automated unsubscribe/STOP requirements covered and some will also screen against "TPS" before sending. There are many to choose from with varying features depending on how easy or clever you want to be.  It also means you can merge client details into the body of the text message too, such as their name, last job date or anything else you can export in the datafile.

Allan, I always thought you can text them, phone them etc because they have been customers in the past?

[Allan Simmons]

This was the grey area we were warned about Wynne.  If they have given you the number as a contact number in the past that is not consenting to text marketing messages now.  You can call them as they have given you that as a contact number, and if you have said you will send them a text to confirm the appointment, or confirm when you're on your way you can do that, but there is apparently no implied authority to 'blanket' text market.  Nobody has been prosecuted however.

We were advised that if we use a third party company who have the "Text StOP" blah blah unsubscribe system in place, and they screen against the tps then we could 'chance it'.  As they are existing clients it's not like they are reciving a cold sales text, like the PPI claim people do, so there should be no problem as the people know you and can unsubscribe/STOP easily.  I think they said we have to be able to show we have unsubscribed them if they request, and we have to be able to show we can ensure we don't text them again.  Basically a flag in your system, even if that's a card file, to say "No Text".  It was recommended that going forward we ask people when they give us a mobile number if we can also send texts and flag it.

I think as we're a franchisee we have to tread more carefully than I would if I was an independent, so I tend to 'er on the side of complying, rather than just doing and seeking forgiveness after.

[markpowell]

I was going to start the thread myself a few weeks back but never did.
I get loads of quotes and bookings via text, prob 1 in every 5 jobs i get, so i think it is definately catching on.

[wynne jones]

Allan

I get about 5 texts a day telling me my loft isn't insulated and that I have PPI money coming my way. 

[Kev Loomes]

Hi Wynne

Its quite simple really.

Yes you are allowed to text, but only if:

• You have obtained the individual’s details in the course of a sale or the negotiations for a sale of a product or service to that person (in other words a job or a quote);

• The messages are only marketing your similar products or services (of course it will be); and

• The individual is given a simple opportunity to refuse the marketing when their details are collected and, if they do not opt out, you give them a simple way to do so in every future message.

Thats the beauty of our database, it can all be done easily within the Cleaners Mate program, and an opt out feature is already there to comply with the law. All we do is have a short few words at the end of our marketing text i.e. 'to no longer receive texts please reply to this message with STOP'. This is a manual process, but users prefer this than going on to the website and having it automated from there. Horses for courses.

Its the simplest thing to do - even if you are not that good on computers you will be able do it  

So, for all the many users who use the text marketing system, carry on as you are - but obviously make sure you always comply properly - its just good business practice anyway.


Thanks


Kev


By the way, yes I get those texts too Wynne - they are 'unsolicited' which is why we all hate them. But from someone you know (even if they are a service) is a whole different kettle of fish