| With the current hype about mobile apps it's easy to | | | | consumers to text the keyword KAYAK to an SMS |
| forget that text message marketing is the most | | | | short code for a chance to win a new Budweiser |
| popular way to reach your audience via mobile. Unlike | | | | kayak. |
| traditional marketing it's quick to implement, | | | | Vitamin Water also recently launched a successful |
| personalized and targeted. With the majority of the | | | | SMS contest. The promotion encouraged consumers |
| US population owning a text enabled mobile device it | | | | to text the keyword VITAMINWATER to an SMS |
| also has fantastic reach. The key to getting great | | | | short code for the chance to win a VIP invite to a |
| results out of text message marketing is providing | | | | basketball-viewing party at ESPN Zone in Los Angeles |
| your audience with unique value by sending them | | | | and a years supply of Vitamin Water. |
| messages and content they want to receive. | | | | Sporting teams also use text contests to engage |
| There are a host of different text message | | | | their fans. The NBA's NY Knicks used an SMS contest |
| marketing campaign options, but one that works | | | | to promote the 2009-10 season. The campaign |
| particularly well at engaging consumers is text to win. | | | | featured posters in New York subway platforms |
| Text to win are text based competitions where | | | | asking fans to text the keyword DECLARE to an |
| mobile users enter a contest or sweepstakes by | | | | SMS short code to win Knicks season passes. The |
| texting a keyword to a specific SMS short code for | | | | promotion engaged over 3300 fans via text in a four |
| a chance to win prizes. | | | | week period. |
| There are a range of text to win campaign types | | | | Text based competitions are also great as part of a |
| you can run, from instant win contests through to | | | | wider marketing campaign. Imagine you're advertising |
| random draw sweepstakes with multiple prizes. The | | | | a new product in print magazines. Why not add a |
| great thing about text based contests is that while | | | | simple text contest to the mix? You can include a call |
| you're engaging and exciting customers with prize | | | | to action in your print ad like 'text WIN to 80672 for |
| filled contests you're also building a valuable mobile | | | | your chance to win our new product!'. The |
| database for future marketing. In fact, text message | | | | proposition for readers is simple and enticing - send |
| contests are one of the best ways to build a mobile | | | | an quick text message for a chance to win a prize. |
| database due to their high response rate. | | | | Your customers will love the idea of winning a prize, |
| Many big brands across a wide range of industries | | | | you'll generate buzz and build your database all at the |
| use these SMS based contests on a regular basis to | | | | same time. |
| promote their brand and build their mobile database. | | | | With so many big brands using text to win to their |
| Consumer Packaged Goods brands including popular | | | | advantage it's only set to grow further. Text based |
| beer brand Budweiser and Vitamin Water are regular | | | | contests are a great campaign option for anyone |
| users of text message marketing campaigns including | | | | considering text message marketing. With SMS |
| text contests. Budwieser built their database to | | | | contests you can create buzz and excitement about |
| 12,000 consumers in just six months using a range of | | | | your brand while building a valuable database for |
| text message marketing campaigns. A key | | | | future marketing. |
| component was an SMS contest encouraging | | | | |