Photo / Thinkstock
If you had my cell phone in your pocket yesterday, you wouldn't have received any text messages from the kids.
They're on Vodafone. I'm on Telecom and they're too cheap to spend 20 cents. However you would have had three text messages that morning.
The first:
'Hi. This is Smith & Smith Penrose. Just a quick txt to make sure you are happy with our service and to wish u a great day. Enjoy.
The second:
CLM Glen Innes. Hi there, we haven't seen you much lately? Hope you are OK and we look forward to seeing you soon!
The third:
Appt Reminder:
Reminder of apt @ Greenland Clinic or any offsite clinics for Deborah on (Date) and (time). Confirm by text.
Did any of these messages bug me? No. I'm delighted in fact. If you received them, would they have bugged you? I'm betting no.
Were these typed out one by one by the sender on their cell phone? No. They were sent from a computer. So I'd like to ask why aren't more businesses setting up a system for sending SMS messages?
If you're not, you're missing out. Here are nine reasons why.
1. Cell phone penetration. According to Roy Morgan statistics as of December 2010, 83.5 % of New Zealanders have cell phones, 86.8% of Australians.
2. Familiarity - If anyone has a child with a cell phone, they have been texted. From 84 year old grandparents to executives to working moms. We are familiar with receiving texts as communications.
3. Your message is immediately with them. We all carry our cell phones in pockets and purses.
4. Many can be sent at one time (text message merging akin to a mail merge) with one push of a button.
5. Automatic. Many industry software systems have the text messaging built in so that it can generate not only automatic appointment reminders but also mark the records that a message was sent.
6. Easy for the recipient. Less time than reading an email or conducting/returning a phone call.
7. Cheap. The cost is negligible through to approximately 20 cents each. You can pre-purchase bulk text messages on the internet - as low as seven cents per message. You can use your mobile phone providers modem in your computer to send them and of course there are companies such as Vensa (for health).
8. Saves time for the sender. Text messages vs. phone calls saves staff time - both in dialling and having to spend time in conversation and niceties - when it's not really necessary.
9. Boosts income. Most businesses with appointments find that by instituting text messaging, no shows are cut by 40%. No shows are an asset lost forever.
In closing if you'd like to investigate further, speak with your mobile phone provider about what sms (text) messaging services they offer. To do it cheaply, perhaps using a prepay text 2000 plan could be an answer.
Search online for bulk sms messaging options and finally - find out if your industry software has text merging built in.
But let's be sure I'm not putting the horse before the cart - you are collecting your client and prospect cell phone numbers and keeping them in a separate phone field?
* Debbie Mayo-Smith is an International Speaker and No#1 bestselling author of 10 books.
Contact Debbie on:
debbie@debbiespeaks.co.nz
http://www.successis.co.nz/books.htm
Linkedin
http://nz.linkedin.com/in/debbiemayosmith
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/debbie.mayosmith.motivational.speaker
The Government has committed funding to the sector in an effort to support future plans.