The Mobile Marketing Blog - TellMyCell

Four Floor-Filling Mobile Marketing Tactics for your Nightclub

 

We’re two months into the New Year, and if you haven’t stepped up your game attracting new patrons, there’s no better time than right now. Whether your establishment is new in town or you’re simply looking to implement a few marketing changes, there’s a number of innovative promotional strategies that might just help fill your club’s dance floor in 2015. Check out four approaches for making your club the hottest ticket in town: 

 

Learn What Customers Want 

Find out what customers want from your business this year as a way of making your club more patron-friendly. Conduct a formal or informal survey and collect feedback; consider asking about food and drink menus, dance floor music choices, specials and promotions customers enjoyed in the previous year, general ambiance, restroom facilities, DJs, and anything else that could help narrow in on what event goers want. Use the information to make improvements to your establishment, and track how patrons respond. 

 

Utilize Social Media

Start a social media campaign if you haven’t already, as various social networks are an ideal way to connect with the younger section of your target audience. Celebrated as the new word-of-mouth marketing option, spend a little time finding out which channels are most popular with your audience and create accounts. Add links in your profiles to print marketing materials and menus to help yourself establish a following, and use channels to promote events, create posts on special deals, and engage in personalized conversations with customers. 

 

Take Advantage of Text Messaging

Use text messaging as another effective method of connecting with younger customers. Young people communicate via text message much more frequently than they do traditional mail or phone calls. As people use their mobile devices more than ever, they’re more likely to connect with businesses on the go. Choose a creative SMS platform to create a text message marketing campaign that invites customers to opt-in and receive special discounts and information about upcoming events and promotions. 

 

Try Theme Nights

Introduce theme nights, such as a designated weekly ladies night where female club goers get in for free or can enjoy special drink discounts. A singles night is another option, or those that involve costumes, such as cat parties. Theme nights show the fun, playful side of your establishment, which will help keep customers coming back. And make sure to integrate your touch points, promoting all promotional ideas throughout your social media and mobile marketing channels. 

 

5 Ways Mobile Has Affected the Fitness Industry

It’s the same old story every January in gyms and fitness centers around the country: a high sign-up rate starts the year off, then membership declines steadily as the months progress. For four out of five Americans with a gym membership, those lofty New Year’s resolutions are just that—good intentions that never come to pass. 

A solid membership standing is challenging for any fitness center. However, mobile marketing  for gyms is playing a substantial role in transforming what the fitness world calls the “New Year’s Bump” into actual brand loyalty and fitness accountability. 

So how does text messaging marketing benefit gyms? Check out a few of our favorite ideas: 

 

Personalized Workout Plans 

Any quality fitness regimen requires adjusting as time goes on, since the person is losing weight and gaining strength. Additionally, many respond well to morning workout reminders, including what it entails, and duration of regimens. As a trainer, you’ll want to determine a long-term strategy with a member and schedule daily texts that go out right before their workout begins. Motivational texts sent halfway through the workout also help. 

Alerts

New gym members are often concerned about working out during the fitness center’s busiest times, whether self-conscious about weight or simply wanting more personal attention. Regulars also like to know how busy the gym is, so sending mass alerts during “quiet hours” is a great way to ensure members are clinking those dumbbells.  

Diet Plans

Creating a nutritious, varied diet plan for yourself isn’t difficult, but staying on said plan often is. It’s even challenging for some to remember when and when not to eat. Scheduled SMS messages are therefore very helpful, as messages can feature recipes, nutritional information, shopping lists...all of which go out at particular times. 

Class Schedules

Using SMS to issue class schedules is another highly-effective marketing practice for gyms. Texting about different instructors and cancelled classes helps reduce client irritation, and sending information about what classes are happening when significantly increases participation.  

Promotions

Text messaging is an excellent way to let clients know about promotions, discounts, and incentive programs. For example, create a referral incentive and reward clients for bringing in friends. 

These are just some of the text message marketing ideas that lend themselves to gym owners and personal trainers. Try out a few and see if you don’t notice a positive difference in attendance. 

 

Text Messaging Can Improve Clinical Trial Participation

 

In the business of clinical trials, it can be difficult to raise interest and acquire volunteers for participation, due to the challenges associated with patient engagement. The analysis of a recent study of clinical trial patient recruitment has determined that SMS text messaging can produce dramatic results. While there are many ways to garner patient participation – via letters or through email – firms that conduct clinical trials are finding that the most effective way to reach new volunteers can be achieved through the simplicity of text messaging technology. 

The study examined the evidence from the Johnson County Clin-Trials (JCCT), a research facility that conducts between ten and fifteen vaccine clinical trials every year. Primarily using email to reach their volunteers, they have come up against some resistance when trying to reach prospective recruits. Studies regarding the effectiveness of electronic correspondence have revealed that emails have an open rate of about 22% – a far cry from the response rate necessary to conduct these clinical trials.

As a result, the Johnson County Clin-Trials decided to employ SMS text messages as a means for electronic communications, based on the effectiveness of text messages in reaching individuals. As opposed to email, 98% of SMS users read their messages, and 90% of these users open their text messages within three minutes of receiving them. Here are the key findings from JCCT’s method:

 

1) A marked increase in response to messages

The use of text messages to reach potential volunteers produced a response five times greater than that of their previous method, via email. The study achieved a 1% increase in enrollment for every 1.5% increase in text messages sent. This was much greater than the response increase expected in the hypothesis for the study.

 

2) Positive responses to the SMS method

JCCT patients responded positively to the SMS method. The method practiced compliance with HIPAA and 21 CFR Part 11, making sure that the process was validated. Also, all users were required to opt-in to receiving SMS (per FCC regulations). Overall, the individuals who were contacted welcomed the correspondence, and preferred text message to other forms of communication.

3) Effective two-way communication via SMS

Many patients used the SMS platform to respond directly to the outgoing SMS message. Patients expressed their concerns, questions, and queries for more information. The platform, created by Mosio, provided a framework to have both interactive and automated conversations with future patients, and consequently allowing them to enroll directly. This also reduced the burden of JCCT personnel, freeing them up for other tasks necessary for the clinical trial. 

4) A balance of resources for the clinical trial firm

The SMS text messaging method employed by JCCT allowed the firm to free up resources due to the effectiveness of the technology. Not only did the method boost trial recruitment, but there was evidence of cost savings for the firm. Finally, the study benefited from effective scheduling with the technology, as well as a subsequent improvement in the quality of the clinical trial’s results.

Upcoming studies of clinical trials like that of the Johnson County Clin-Trials will compare the SMS method to other common recruiting approaches in order to quantify the effectiveness of each approach. With a focus on trial retention, future researchers hope to reduce attrition rates and increase adherence with existing clinical trial participants using the SMS method. Clearly, the simple technology of SMS text messaging has been a breakthrough for patient recruitment and engagement, and we can expect to see a great deal more communication taking place through SMS and text messages in the future.

 

AT&T’s Text Message Alerts are Too Easy to Mimic

 

AT&T Text Messages are a simple way for AT&T to communicate with its customers. The texts, however, are much too simple and easily duplicated, which presents a big problem for AT&T customers.  

Due to the simple technology of text messages, there is no way to authenticate the identity of the sender. Also, the body of these text messages contains only a brief message that can be mimicked by hackers and scammers. Consumers could be receiving bogus text messages that have links leading to dummy websites, which then steal the customers’ information. 

Essentially, it’s a classic phishing scheme akin to the ones we’ve seen in our email inboxes.

Computer programmer Dani Grant discovered the breach of security when she received a text message from AT&T. “If the official texts look like phishing, it’s impossible for the customer to distinguish between what’s phishing and what’s not,” she said in a recent interview with CNN Money.

Because AT&T’s text messages originate from a “short code” rather than a verifiable phone number, customers have no way of knowing exactly who is trying to alert them. Short codes are four or five digit numbers that can send and receive texts, and can be acquired by anyone – not just cell phone companies.

Furthermore, the links within these text messages are not always obvious links to AT&T’s official site. While AT&T will sometimes use the link “att.com” – clearly a link to their official website – sometimes they will use the URL “dl.mymobilelocate.com.” This creates confusion for the consumer: how is a customer to know if a strange URL will lead back to AT&T’s website, or some dummy site that a hacker created?

Dani Grant went ahead and created her own false website, as well as a fake text message to see if these official AT&T texts could be duplicated. As it turns out, her text message is identical to AT&T’s official alert. Grant then reported this error to AT&T as a security flaw, though they have declined to comment on the matter.

There is no easy solution to this problem. Cell phone companies prefer to use SMS for their alerts because it is inexpensive and has a broad scope in terms of reaching their customers. Clearly, this method of texting is open to security threats, though, so consumers should insist on greater security measures to be taken by their mobile carriers.

Remember, don’t be fooled by all “official” text messages from your service provider, because these messages could be coming from a clandestine source. Carefully monitor messages, and delete when it seems “phishy.” By practicing prudence when interacting over SMS, you can protect yourself from scammers.    

 

Single App Voice & Text Messaging Just Got a Bit Better

 

The Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas earlier this month. Scores of innovations, from smart homes to smart phones, were unveiled by designers from around the world. 

Text messaging took center stage. Six15 demonstrated their SMS glasses, which transmit text messages from your mobile device straight to the lens, without the need for using hands.  

But perhaps the most exciting new text message-related product was a new dual-purpose messaging app for both Android and iOS devices. UbiSpeak was developed by Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation (UCIC), the people behind The Ubi, a voice-controlled computer.

Using voice recognition software, it generates both a voice message and a text message. If the recipient also has the app, they’ll get both versions of the message; if they don’t have the app, they’ll get the SMS along with a link to the audio version. 

UbiSpeak isn’t the first of its kind - both Android and Apple have their own versions of something similar - but it is faster and more reliable. The makers say two mediums transmitting the same content gives users ‘a lot more confidence when… sending a quick message.’ 

Like a number of messaging apps, it automatically populates your contact list with the people who you text most often. Other features include a VIP contact option, which will automatically play messages from people you designate - even if the phone is locked.

The app marks a new chapter for UCIC. The Toronto-based startup made their name with The Ubi, a WiFi connected, voice operated computer that uses Android to process spoken commands. You can operate your lighting, for instance, so you can always get that basement light to go on when you’ve got your arms full. Their technology is pretty smart - and it gets better at understanding you over time. 

UbiSpeak (and it’s forbear) is far from perfect, because speech recognition technology is proving one of the hardest nuts to crack. Progress is slow, and it may be decades before truly accurate voice recognition hardware is available. But that’s why it’s even more important that pioneers like UCIC keep pushing boundaries. The more consumers use voice recognition apps and home computers, the more data we can draw on to find out how people use them. In the long run, that will expedite the slow progression towards flawless, 100% accurate voice recognition technology.

 

Text Messaging Glasses Unveiled at CES

 

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) always throws up some exciting new innovations. One of the most talked about gadgets at this year’s event was a pair of glasses that displays incoming text messages without the recipient having to even look at their phone, let alone touch it. 

Unveiled to the public for the first time at CES in Las Vegas earlier this month, Six15’s concept is simple: a Bluetooth connection links a mobile device to the glasses, tracking the head and eye movements to navigate incoming or stored text messages, which are displayed on the lens. 

One battery cycle holds out for 1500 text messages, but Six15 promise future versions with greater capacity and extra features like thermal imaging. The final consumer product is not expected to market anytime soon, but judging by the reaction at CES, hopes are high.

The technology is pretty clever. A built-in head tracker allows augmented reality apps to communicate with the glasses, and patented ODIN see-through optics puts the lenses at around 6mm in thickness (around half that of the much-maligned Google Glass), capable of delivering a wider field of view and bona fide transparency. 

Iterations of the glasses could come with optional thermal and visible cameras for other business applications, and Six15 have announced their intention to devise features specifically for individual applications.

Most importantly in marketability terms, the device represents the first see-through display that’s compatible with existing operating systems. By doing away with an additional OS built into the glasses, a major stumbling block to a viable consumer product has been eliminated. 

The uses are obvious. Any situation that calls for a person to retrieve data whilst maintaining awareness of their environment - such as walking down the street - is ideal for the glasses. The makers say their device could improve warehouse safety, or be used to display GPS locations for first responders in medical emergencies. 

This is not Six15’s first foray into smart glass tech. They’ve been providing similar devices for the military, a pedigree that will stand them in good stead when it comes to winning over consumers. They’ve successfully merged the technology used for defense with some of the key demands made by the consumer market.

In a thinly-veiled slight on the aforementioned Google Glass, the makers say their glasses are ‘a more realistic and less obtrusive application to wearable tech and head-mounted displays, unlike other devices currently in the market…’ 

Six15’s product remains (intriguingly) nameless. But it was the talk of the town in Las Vegas, a genuine leap forward in terms of performance and wearability. We await the final consumer-ready version with excitement.

 

The Best LTE Phones on the Market

In the cell phone world, ‘LTE’ refers to Long Term Evolution, and is widely considered the heir to the current “generation” of UMTS 3G technology, based on WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, and HSPA. 4G LTE is essentially the smartphone standard, but which LTE phones are the best? Let’s check out a few of today’s frontrunners: 

Samsung Galaxy S4

A very popular device following its launch, the Samsung Galaxy S4 remains a top LTE choice. While not as fast as other models, its speed is still comparable, and it also supports HD voice. HD voice is carried over 3G/4G networks depending on your provider, meaning you’ll always enjoy the best clarity. 

Moto X

Advertised with 4G LTE, the Moto X features a variety of “clever” Motorola apps and enhancements, as well as all day battery and stock Android experience. However, its camera has been reviewed as “inconsistent,” and the phone does not include a 64GB option or removable storage. Several updates have improved the phone’s speed among other things. 

iPhone 5S

A fast phone with a fingertip reader and a new camera, additional features include 10-hour battery talk time, excellent screen resolution, 64 GB built-in memory, and dual-core. An expensive smartphone, the battery has been described as occasionally “suspect.” 

Motorola Droid Maxx

The Motorola Droid Maxx features efficient connectivity, as Verizon 4G LTE speeds are “pretty decent.” Celebrated for its “huge” battery, the smartphone also includes touchless control and hands-free features. The display isn’t terribly sharp, however, and the phone only works through Verizon.  

Nokia Lumia 1020 

Known for its sizable 41MP shooter, the Nokia Lumia 1020’s LTE speeds are decent, which includes browsing the web. The device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC and LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 17, and the camera is utterly fantastic. 

HTC Droid DNA

Another smartphone exclusive to Verizon Wireless, the HTC Droid DNA features a sharp screen reviewed as the “perfect complement” to Verizon’s lightning-quick LTE network. Download speeds are crazy-fast, as are upload speeds. It’s also a good price and includes an ah-mazing camera. 

iPhone 5 

The iPhone 5 LTE from AT&T is as “fast as advertised,” with downloads described as “blazingly” quick. Believed to be the best iPhone so far, it features a high-quality camera and interesting UI features. It’s also quite expensive and includes an aging OS. 

Blackberry Z10 

The Blackberry Z10’s “modest” 4.2-inch display makes it one of the more portable modern smartphones, and it includes NFC features, which makes it easy to wirelessly transfer content between handsets and other enabled devices without the need for a network connection.

How to Text Audio Clips on Android

 

If you’ve ever wanted to say more than a text but less than a call, you’re hardly alone. Luckily it’s now possible to send audio clips through Android phones, allowing you to say what you need to say without typing it out or ending up on the phone for hours.  

Android has made the process quite straightforward, as you either install a third-party app or perform the needed steps through the default Messaging app, with the latter capable of sending and receiving audio clips. 

Let’s take a look at how to text audio clips on Android.

 

Reset

Should Google Hangouts function as your SMS client, you’ll need to reset your Android device to default. Simply open Google Hangouts on your device, swipe right from the left edge on the main window to open the sidebar, and tap Settings. Next tap SMS, then SMS enabled, and finally the Default SMS app. Select Messaging from the clips, and voila! You’re now ready to send audio clips. 

Attach

Attaching audio clips varies a wee bit depending on your device, the Android version you’re using, and which third-party audio recording apps you’ve installed. However, the process is essentially the same. First you’ll open Messaging, then create a new message to a contact. Tap the Paperclip icon, then Record audio (which may say ‘Record voice’ depending on your device), and tap the Record button to record your message. Hit the Stop button when you’ve finished recording your message. 

What happens next, again, depends on your device. For example, the Moto X requires tapping ‘Done’ so the voice message is automatically attached to the SMS message. If using another device, such as the LG G3, you’ll see a list of all the messages you’ve recorded. Select the recording you want to add to your message, then tap the Paperclip button, found to the right of the Play button. This attaches your message. Tap the Send button to send your message on its merry way. 

Wrap-Up

Audio clips are ideal for whenever you want to send a little more than a standard text message but don’t have time for an actual phone call. Simply attach an audio clip to an SMS message, but remember how draining recordings are on your data. If you find your audio clip is really long, do the old-fashioned phone call thing.

The Most Famous Texts Ever Sent

Figures from 2010 put the estimated number of active SMS users at 3.5 billion. No other app even comes close to reaching half the world’s population, which is why stories and screenshots of funny, moving or just downright bizarre text messages abound on social media. 

Add a dose of celebrity into the mix and even the most ordinary of text messages can take on new significance. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the most famous - and infamous - SMS messages ever sent, from Day 1 of the entire texting phenomenon.

Date: December 3 1992
Message: ‘Merry Christmas’ 

A little over twenty-two years ago, Neil Papworth sent the world’s very first SMS message. Those two words sparked a communications revolution, laying down the 160-character blueprint for short form messaging to come in the shape of Twitter and other social networking sites. 

Date: August 23 2008
Message: ‘Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee’

Nearly 3 million supporters received this text message from Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. The fact that such important news was announced this way made it clear that Obama was setting out his stall as the tech-savvy, forward-looking candidate opposite John McCain, the very picture of the old guard. Prior to that campaign, VPs were announced at televised campaign rallies; using SMS sent a very clear signal to the electorate: you use this technology, we use this technology, ergo we’re the same. By contrast, one of John Adams’ first moves as VP was to propose to the Senate that the newly-elected (and title-less) George Washington be dubbed “His Highness, the President of the United States, and Protector of the Rights of the Same” - not easy to announce in a text message.

Date: November 13 2009
Message: ‘Thatcher has died’

Canadian Transport Minister John Baird sparked a diplomatic panic when his alarming news - texted initially to a couple of friends - spread among high-ranking politicians and military officials. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on the cusp of issuing an official statement to mourn the death of the Iron Lady. Except she wasn’t dead. ‘Thatcher’ was the name of Baird’s tabby cat. The press pounced and the faces of Canada’s political establishment went Maple Red.

Date: January 2010
Message: ‘LOL’

In stark contrast to his American counterpart, British Prime Minister David Cameron has shown himself to be a bit dense when it comes to text-speak. He famously signed off texts to former News International boss Rebekah Brooks with ‘LOL’ - thinking it meant ‘lots of love’. And people call him out of touch?

Date: April 25 2014
Message: ‘The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus & Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human’

This bizarre random fact (which sounds like a morsel of banality from E.L. Wisty) was typed in 17 seconds by Marcel Fernandes Filho as a way of demonstrating the speed of the Fleksy keyboard app. It worked, and the company retained it’s Guinness World Record title as the world’s fastest keyboard. The phrase has been used to set small-screen speed-typing records for years, and earns itself a place in the SMS lexicon as one of the oddest commonly-typed series of words.

SMS Helping Kids Get Vaccinated for Flu

  

A new study has proven SMS messaging to be an effective way of ensuring young patients get protected against influenza. 

The research was undertaken at Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University, under the auspices of a team led by Dr. Melissa Stockwell. They studied 660 children aged between 6 months and 8 years old, an age range that requires two doses of the flu vaccine, administered 28 days apart. The first dose primes the immune system; the second dose protects it. Kids who fail to get both doses are not fully protected against the virus, a fact which prompted researchers to find ways of increasing follow-up appointments. 

The team sent text message alerts to remind parents of young patients to bring them in for the second dose. They began by splitting the participants into three groups:

• Group 1 received an educational SMS containing information on the importance receiving two doses of the vaccine.
• Group 2 received a conventional reminder SMS, simply alerting them to the time and date of the second appointment.
• Group 3 received a written reminder only.

The results showed that kids who received the educational text message were much more likely to attend their second appointment. Nearly three quarters of Group 1 showed up for the second dose, compared with less than a third of Group 2. Of Group 3, 57% attended for the second shot.

Feedback from the families was positive, with nearly 61% of parents citing the text message alert as either the primary reason or part of the reason they attended the second appointment.  

The findings could ultimately improve flu vaccine coverage, which is low among young children. Dr. Stockwell equates failure to receive both doses to ‘wearing half a bicycle helmet’ and says many kids are ‘unprotected when the virus begins circulating.’

Previous studies have shown that appointment reminders issued by mail or telephone are ineffective, especially among low-income, urban families - precisely the demographic most at risk for under-vaccination.  

Mortality rates are hard to accurately gauge, but CDC estimates anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 flu-related deaths occurred in the United States between 1976 and 2007. The most at-risk groups are the elderly and the very young, but because seasonal influenza often leads to death from other causes, the virus is rarely listed on death certificates. Experts agree that counting only those deaths where flu is listed on the death certificate would constitute a gross underestimation of the true impact of the virus.

Dr. Stockwell’s controlled trial provides the medical community with valuable information for establishing best practices for influenza vaccine reminders. It seems that text messaging is a highly effective method, one that is already being used with increasing frequency in other areas of medicine.