Guides

How to send SMS messages from a computer

Have you ever wondered how your bank sends balance reminders to you via SMS, or how an airline sends you your ticket confirmation using SMS? Well, they will be using a company like Esendex to do this.

There are a few different ways to do this, each of which have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right way for you will depend on how often, how many and how you plan on sending SMS from your computer or systems.

The simplest way to send SMS from a computer is to sign up for a web based platform, there is nothing to download, you simply need to log in through the website, write your message, enter the mobile phone numbers and click send, there is a bulk upload feature if you are wanting to upload thousands of contacts. There is also many other features.

For more info on how to send SMS from a web based platform click here.

If you already have a system within your business that you need to send SMS messages from, such as an appointment reminder system or an alerting system, then you may want to integrate that with an SMS API. This will allow your system to communicate with our SMS gateway, which can be set to trigger sends depending on certain outcomes.

For more info on how to send SMS through an SMS API click here.

Another way to send SMS from a computer is through email. You can configure almost any email account with a Esendex’s email to SMS platform. This will then allow you to write an email on your computer, but instead of sending the email to a normal email address, you send it to a modified email address; the recipient’s mobile phone number followed by the providers email domain name. For Esendex this would be @echoemail.net. So the send to address would look something like this 041234567#@echoemail.net

For more info on how to send SMS from an email platform click here.

The best way to find out how to send SMS from a computer is to try it for yourself. It will only take you a few minutes to sign up for a free trial with Esendex. You don’t need a debit or credit card, so there is absolutely no reason not to give it a try.

If you would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to call one of our SMS experts on 1300 764 946.

SMS and the Zero Moment of Truth

Long are the days when we would see a poster in the street and be sold on a concept, idea or product. We no longer see a TV ad and say to ourselves, “I do actually need one of those”. Marketing has got harder; you have to be present in more than just one or two communication channels to hit your target demographic, and it has to be constant.

We all like to think of ourselves as digital surfers and we know our way around the web, it is an integral part of our lives, and the devise that is changing this area of our lives is the mobile phone. We use it every day to find out valuable information on products, services, fact and figures, at any and every stage of the decision making process.

This has put the consumer in charge again, companies have to be more personal, approachable and friendly again, they need to be there before we think about it, they need to be there at the zero moment of truth.

How can companies influence this moment? Well they can do a few things; be ready to answer questions and make sure their brands are constantly in front of the consumer; there’s nothing worse than being forgotten in a price comparison, as you stand no chance at all of being chosen! Large brands can afford to use print media and TV advertising to help them stay at the front of consumers minds, but how can a smaller brand with a limited marketing budget achieve this?

Simple, take advantage of the humble SMS; use it to advertise new products, promote old products and offer special deals, deals the consumer can’t find on the internet or anywhere else. Send out an SMS at the right time and you’ll not only guarantee to put your brand at the front of the consumers mind, but you’re likely to get a few sales along the way.

The great thing about this form of advertising is that it’s cheap, just a few pence per SMS and over 98% of people will read it. Maybe only a small percentage of these will take up the offer, but your brand will remain in their mind as SMS has over a 90% recall rate. In a truly digital age, it’s important to take advantage of new technology, but don’t get completely swept up with the latest fads, trust in the old from time to time, you might just get more than you expected.

Google coined the idea of a “Zero Moment of Truth” that basically states that customers are using numerous online channels, at the time of purchase, to make an informed decision on what they are buying. http://www.zeromomentoftruth.com/

What is an SMS Sender ID?

An SMS Sender ID is a quick way to let people receiving an SMS know exactly who the SMS is from. It is basically what appears in the “sent from” address on a mobile phone; although it’s not like a normal “sent from” address, as you can’t reply to a message where a Sender ID has been used.

They work well because there is no need for the user to store any numbers in their phone. You choose who the message will appear to be from; it can be up to 11 characters long and chosen from any alpha-numeric character.

Using an SMS Sender ID is a great way to get instant brand recognition when interacting with customers or staff. Most companies choose to use their brand name as the Sender ID, for example “PIZZASHOP”. However anything can be used. In some cases you may want to use the name of the current promotion, for example “TWO4ONE”.

SMS Sender ID’s are best used for sending out messages that contain things like vouchers, promotional messages, news updates and anything else that doesn’t require a response. If you do plan on sending out SMS messages that require replies, then you’ll want to use a Virtual Mobile Number.

Most brands can’t afford to be plastered all over TV and the high streets, but sending out the odd branded SMS will not cost the world, and it will keep your brand at the front of the minds of your customers, so when they are looking to buy something you offer, they will remember to buy it from you.

With Esendex you get the option of using a Sender ID absolutely free. You can change the Sender ID as much as you want and you can choose whether or not to use one. Total flexibility.

5 top tips to prevent your phone being hacked

Hacking has always been computer-related and as Smartphones become increasingly advanced, it is important to learn how to protect them against potential hackers. This could be essential to maintaining your privacy.

A mobile hacker could possibly remotely listen to your calls, read your text messages, take pictures with your phone’s camera, follow your internet browsing activity and keystrokes, pinpoint your geographical location and even access your passwords in some very extreme cases.

With this in mind what are 5 top tips to prevent mobile hacking?

1. Set a screenlock pattern or pin on your mobile – If your mobile phone is lost or stolen then a password will instantly stop a hacker picking it up and using it.
2. As mobile phones are becoming increasingly similar to computers, perhaps we should start treating them as such to avoid hackers. Make sure you download an anti-virus app like Lookout, Norton or AVG which is even free to download.
3. Only buy apps from a well-known vendor like Google , Apple, facebook and Twitter. Hackers can embed malicious software into an app which allows them to corrupt your phone’s internal system and steal important data.
4. Avoid unofficial versions of popular apps because they often have malware hidden in the code.
5. If you suspect your phone is being hacked you could pull out the phone’s battery to stop the flow of data. However if you know which app is behaving badly try and remove it, if this is not possible you could factory reset your phone (warning this will remove all your data and photos, but is the only way to ensure your phone is clean).

Mobile marketing insight by mobile specialist TigerSpike

Two representatives from TigerSpike, the Australian mobile specialist, have provided some interesting insights about the prospects of the mobile marketing industry within the country.

In an interview published in mobiThinking, General Manager of Asian operations Alex Burke and Chief Operations Officer Alex Hall spoke widely about the mobile marketing potential that Australia has by providing data and forecasting the future of this growing sector.

In the last few months, Australia’s mobile market has grown enormously. Right now, the country has mobile penetration of 11% and enjoys good 3G coverage overall. According to the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association, News Digital Media are seeing their mobile sites grow at 89% per year.

For the mobile expert, the right development of the mobile web in Australia is narrowly linked to three requisites; 3G infrastructure, carrier pricing models and consumer propensity to adopt new technology.

“Consumers are changing their lifestyle habits, consuming content in different ways. As it becomes habit for people to use their phones to get content, demand for mobile Web services increases. This makes sense as the heavy users of their news, sport, weather and mapping services online are likely to be technology-savvy, and will want to access them on the mobile phone as well,” said Hall and Burke.

In the opinion of both Hall and Burke, although there’s a strong case to be made for almost every brand to use mobile marketing, those that solely target younger males are “missing out the most, by not getting involved.”

Mobile marketing – A potential market

Hall and Burke also suggest that companies such as Toyota, Nike, Coca-Cola and Fosters are examples of innovators within the industry. These firms hit the right target by utilising all the delivery methods at their disposal, such as SMS messaging, MMS, Bluetooth, WAP or QR codes.

However, Hall and Burke also feel that there is a unique reason which makes Australia a location with so much potential when it comes to developing mobile marketing?

“One key advantage is the adventurous nature of Australians – the willingness to give new things a go. This is critical for a new medium like mobile, as growth stems from both the brand’s willingness to innovate with mobile marketing and consumer acceptance of the new channel. Due to the size of the market, Australia is a great test bed to gauge likely success of mobile campaigns in other larger markets.”

Predictions in the world of telecommunications

The auditing and consulting company Deloitte has just published an in-depth report outlining predictions for 2012 in the areas of Technology, Media and Telecommunications.

One of the main reported findings concerns an explosion of the market for smartphones costing less than $100. According to the predictions, over 500 Million of them will be in use before the end of 2012. These figures are based on the consumer definition of a smartphone, rather than the technical one. Studies reveal that users are likely to call a mobile phone a “smartphone” device if it comes equipped with a touch screen or a full keypad, as opposed to categorising the phones according to their operating system.

Deloitte expects 300 million of these lower-priced smartphones to be sold in 2012, representing up to 20% of the entire mobile phone business. They cover the same market segment as netbooks, targeting users who require internet access without needing the graphics and range of functions offered by traditional laptop computers.

$100 Smartphones are likely to be particularly attractive in emerging markets. They generally support e-mail and messaging, feature a camera of at least 2MP and come with a selection of pre-loaded applications and widgets.

NFC (near field communications) enabled devices are also going to conquer a large share of the market. Up to 200 million of them could be sold in 2012, and the figure is likely to climb further in 2013. NFC is particularly valued for the distance payment possibilities it offers, and it opens up the door for the concept of “digital wallet” to develop.

Unsurprisingly, the global demand for consumer technology will increase this year. People rarely deliberately quantify value for money at the time of purchase, but they generally are conscious of how much a mobile device will be used.

Based on this criteria, consumer technology fairs particularly well: a $500 tablet will be used 350-700 hours a year, meaning the hourly cost of use can be evaluated as low as $0.70… against approximately $10 for a car! For mobile phones, the cost is even lower. With approximately 200,000 text messages being sent every second in the world, consumers are getting an excellent return on investment.

Top 5 reasons businesses choose SMS over email

For businesses, reaching a target market in a quick and effective way is a top priority. There are all kinds of ways that a business can reach its target market, but some are more effective than others.  So what are top reasons for businesses choosing SMS over email?

1. Spam emails are being delivered across both personal and work email networks on an increasingly regular basis. Research has shown that 90% of all emails are spam compared with 1% of text messages (Mobile Marketing Association 2009). Many people also find that important emails sometimes slip through the net and end up in their junk folder. As a result, many businesses are turning to SMS messaging to avoid being filtered out as junk and to send and receive important messages more effectively.
2. SMS is more widely read than email, 22% of all emails are opened compared to 98% of text messages (Frost & Sullivan 2010).
3. Emails are perceived as being free when they’re not, when sending from email marketing platforms, they cost a similar price to SMS messages. However when you take into account how many emails are actually opened; they are considerably more expensive than SMS.
4. We’re all attached to our mobile phones, most of the time.  SMS there enables you to reach the right person at the right time with the right message, all at low cost.
5. SMS messaging is the most used data service in the world, with most people on the planet sending text messages. There are more people sending SMS than the number of people who use Facebook or Google, and those who send and receive emails.

If you’re thinking about sending SMS take a look at our business SMS and the law document. This will guide you through the responsibility for sending SMS, to ensure they are not considered as spam.

Will you be sending a Merry Text-mas?

With mobile phone technology continuing to advance at a rapid pace, Christmas cheer is set to become more widespread than ever before as Telstra expect festive text messages to reach a figure of  more than 99 million across Australia.

According to Telstra research the first thing many of us do Christmas morning is send text messages of goodwill to family and friends – even before opening presents from under the tree.

Our Christmas habits are dominated by the power of texting, with mobile users across the globe expected to swap festive greetings in this way as the big day approaches.

If you’ve missed the Christmas post and not sent your Christmas cards yet then why not send an SMS instead – It’s cheaper, quicker and more likely to be read. Or if you’ve got staff working over the festive period or Christmas Day then why not send them a quick thank you.

The 12 best SMS campaign tactics for 2012

According to a report from the Australian Marketing Institute, almost 40% of Australian marketing executives are expecting their marketing budgets to grow in 2012, with advertising campaigns targeted at mobile devices.

The report states that 46% of marketers are doing more marketing via mobile and SMS, up from 34% in 2009. The survey shows enormous potential for mobile marketing in 2012.

The obstacles of mobile marketing continue to grow, QR codes have not become standard on mobile phones (and probably never will)  and then there are the low-reach technological innovations such as location-based “check-ins”, apps, mobile websites, mobile payments and more!  Most campaigns haven’t moved away from the simplicity of the text message.

With this in mind, what are the 12 best SMS campaign tactics to take into consideration for 2012?

1.  SMS Sender ID – By making it clear who the message is from, the receiver is aware that it is a legitimate message and can see this before they open the message.

2. Call to action – The text in your SMS that invites someone to respond.

3. SMS action plan – What will you do when you get a response? Send another SMS?

4. Personal context – Using a personal writing style such as “we” and “you”.

5. Know your Audience – By understanding your demographic you won’t offend. If you’re sending an SMS to the elderly don’t use modern day “text talk” or you could choose to send Voice SMS.

6. Personal significance – The receiver needs to be able to understand “why have you text my mobile phone?” As a rule of thumb, ensure the receiver is able to opt-out of your message.

7. SMS appeal – What’s in it for me? What’s in it for person who you are sending the message to?

8. Minimalism – Can your message be easily understood?

9. Hyperlink – Got a lot to say and texting smart phone users?  Then why not think about an integrated approach and include a hyperlink in your text, directing the receiver to a webpage. This is becoming increasingly more popular with the large number of smart phone users.

10. Viral content – Include a deal to encourage recipients to pass your SMS onto their friends and family – spread your SMS much further than your database list.

11.  Choose the right time to send – Not too early, not too late – If you’re targeting Saturday shoppers, ensure the message if received before they have started planning their day.

12. Choose the right SMS provider – Make sure that your SMS supplier delivers your messages quickly, so the messages are received when you want them to land. Do your research when choosing an SMS provider because some aggregators have message delays, making messages arrive in the middle of the night – causing annoyance.

Email SMS, Email to SMS, SMS from Email – What does it all mean?

In an age when businesses are constantly expanding or relocating staff to different areas in order to seek growth, they have to come up with effective ways to communicate with one another.

You may have offices in cities such as Tokyo, London and Brisbane. You may also have a fleet of vehicles constantly on the move in those cities. If this is the case, the idea of using Email SMS services could revolutionise the way in which your business is run.

In its simplest terms, Email to SMS means that messages are sent via email, but delivered as texts. SMS responses will subsequently be received as emails.

This means that organising a large group of staff who may be constantly on the move, but still need to communicate efficiently, can be made a great deal easier by introducing SMS from Email.

It is also worth noting that not everyone in a business will have constant internet access. Email itself is by far and away the most popular and effective way for colleagues to communicate with each other throughout the world.

However, for a variety of reasons, all of these people cannot have internet access all of the time. From this point of view, Email SMS is a very useful substitute for basic email.

Another consideration is that integrating Email SMS to an existing system is not a complex process. When using the system, it is simply a case of adding a different suffix to an email address so that it is sent as an SMS instead of an email.

The world of technology within business is constantly evolving and right at the heart of this evolution is the way in which business professionals communicate with each other.

SMS from email is one of the most popular, and most effective, business communication solutions.