| In the restaurant business, you are always looking for | | | | message word "lunch" to your number. Many people |
| new ways to reach your customers. You use direct | | | | will do it. Then once a month or every couple of |
| mail, email, radio, TV, but the effectiveness seems to | | | | weeks, send them a text message promoting an |
| be falling off a cliff. People are getting bombarded | | | | event or lunch special. |
| with so many messages that it is getting harder to | | | | This new technology may sound hard or confusing, |
| get your message across, except for now. | | | | but when you do it once, you will fall in love with it. It |
| Text messaging is the new marketing craze, and it | | | | is so powerful to send a message out and |
| has the facts to back it up. Compared to email, text | | | | immediately see the results at very little cost. |
| messages are opened 98% vs. 19.8%, according to | | | | Costs will vary from company to company, but you |
| the latest quarterly report from the marketing firm | | | | can pay as little as $49 to get started. Many |
| Epsilon. In addition, look at the usage of the cell | | | | companies will charge per message sent out and that |
| phone. According to the International Association for | | | | is usually around 9 cents, but some offer unlimited |
| the wireless telecommunication industry 84.5% of the | | | | plans. The cost and the effectiveness compared to |
| U.S. population has a cell phone compared to 66% in | | | | any other media give you the highest return on your |
| 2005. They yearly SMS (short message service) | | | | investment. |
| messages sent in 2005 were 7.2 Billion compared to | | | | There are companies that can provide you with |
| 75 Billion in 2008. The statistics are unbelievable, and | | | | excellent SMS services. Consider these tips before |
| this is why every restaurant should start collecting | | | | you pay for an SMS service. Here are a few services |
| cell phone numbers and permission to market to | | | | that I have researched. |
| these customers. | | | | Clubtexting.com: Customers subscribe to your text |
| Since we started using text messages, sales have | | | | messaging list simply by sending a text containing |
| increased 10% for the periods we promote. The key, | | | | your unique keyword(s) from their cell phone. One of |
| though, is getting people to opt in to receive text | | | | the best features of using is that they have a |
| messages from you. Here is how text messaging | | | | widget that you can place on your website where it |
| works. Each text messaging company has a 4 or 5 | | | | will allow you to collect phone numbers through your |
| digit number that you use to market a word. The | | | | website. |
| word becomes your group, so if you tell someone to | | | | Accelerantgroup.com: EAText allows you to use text |
| text message the word "lunch" to 45231, then that | | | | messaging as a paging system. When a guest arrives, |
| word is your lunch customer group. You can group as | | | | the host asks for a name and mobile phone number. |
| many groups you want, but each word will cost | | | | The guest is free to wait on site or leave and return. |
| money. Once someone text messages the word to | | | | As a table becomes available they simply click on the |
| your number, than that gives you the right to | | | | guest's name. A customizable text message is sent |
| communicate with them by SMS text. They will | | | | to your guest welcoming them to return and be |
| automatically get a message from you that states | | | | seated. Information about daily specials can be |
| they have opted to receive messages from (name | | | | included with the alert. |
| of company) and standard text message costs apply. | | | | "Your table is now available. Our special this evening |
| Before unlimited text messaging, this used to be a | | | | is..." |
| problem using text message for marketing purposes. | | | | CMStext.com: This service offers the ability to |
| Most people do not want to get charged, but now | | | | generate multiple keywords to group your clients in |
| the majority of people have unlimited text messaging. | | | | and also has the ability to setup birthday reminders |
| The best way to get your customers to opt in to | | | | to text your message yearly. Use SMS texting to |
| your text message club is to give them an incentive | | | | market your restaurant. Don't miss out on the |
| immediately. Offer your customers a 10% discount or | | | | advantages SMS texting can have on your business. |
| a free dessert, if they simply type in the text | | | | |