May 25, 2010 by Molly Anderson
A recent article for ClickZ talked about the rise in popularity of all sorts of coupons, especially those of the mobile variety. A new report from Borrell Associates says that the trend will likely continue on all mobile devices as cell phones become the premier platform for delivering customer discounts.
As stated in the article, mobile coupon spending in the U.S. is expected to rise from $90 million in 2009 to $6.53 billion in 2014, according to the 2010 U.S. Local Mobile Advertising and Promotions Forecast. This astonishing growth is likely due to phones becoming better equipped to deliver coupons and apps, and because of the proximity of cell phones to the end-user.
One important item to note from the Borrell study is that the redeemed value of mobile coupons is 24 percent higher than Internet coupons and almost half as high as paper ones, presumably because the majority of mobile coupon recipients have “opted-in”. Developing a customer list of opted-in members and reaching out to loyal customers with Opt It Mobile gives your business a great advantage against tough competition.
In the ClickZ article, Gordon Borrell, CEO of Borrell Associates, urges readers not to be enticed by fancy media-rich apps, but to instead focus on texting inexpensive coupons to loyal customers. The low cost of mobile marketing via SMS is much more likely to have a positive effect on ROI.
May 23, 2010 by Molly Anderson
During this weekend’s National Restaurant Association Show being held May 22-25, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Opt It’s own Michael Lamb will offer thoughts and input as part of a panel discussing “Better Connections through Mobile Solutions.” The education session is scheduled for Sunday, May 22, 2010 at 2:00 PM.
Upwards of 75 percent of today’s North American population is using mobile phones. Michael will uncover Opt It’s most current strategies for using mobile devices to better communication and connections with clients.
March 24, 2010 by Molly Anderson
Here at Opt It, we understand the power of text message marketing. Our experience allows us to harness this power for our clients and get them the results they need. It was no surprise to us when CTIA – The Wireless Association released survey results this week showing the continued growth of text messaging to be “explosive”.
The survey, which looked at the second half of 2009, determined that wireless data service revenues grew a whopping 25.7 percent from the second half of 2008 to the end of 2009. Text messaging continued its exponential growth, with more than 822 billion text messages sent and received on carriers’ networks during the second half of last year. This translates to 5 billion texts per day and an unprecedented opportunity to get your brand or business information in front of your customers.
As more folks make texting a part of every day life, launching a mobile marketing campaign for your business is the smart thing to do. The time is now to reach clients with ease, using the medium that they prefer and to give them the information they desire. The time is now to grow your business and your bottom line. Give us a call to hear more about how Opt It helps businesses like yours launch mobile campaigns and increase both your reach and your revenue.
We look forward to hearing from you.
February 19, 2010 by Molly Anderson
Co-founders Brian Stafford and Michael Lamb were guests on Chicago’s CBS 2 morning news show, “Monsters & Money” on February 19. The interview focused on how Opt It, Inc. is revolutionizing the way companies get the word out to consumers via text messaging.
Video is no longer available online.
July 14, 2009 by Molly Anderson
No one can deny the popularity of the iPhone. Everyone’s had the experience of being at a gathering or party recently when a friend or co-worker has pulled out their iPhone just to demonstrate new functionality or the latest downloaded app. Its user-friendliness and sleek, sexy look are second-to-none. iPhone apps even have their own distribution channel built in, adding to a top-notch user experience. This next generation device is certainly an industry leader that is ahead of its time. But at Opt It, we’re concerned that the iPhone might not be the most effective venue for your mobile marketing campaign. Here’s why:
Currently in the U.S., 87 percent of the population has some sort of mobile device. Of that percentage, only 2.4 percent own an iPhone, limiting the reach of any business looking to establish a mobile marketing campaign. In terms of text message marketing campaigns specifically, texting can reach a whopping 98 percent of cell phone users, making it a very powerful marketing tool. When it comes to getting your important message to the largest audience, text messaging is the most successful tool available.
iPhone Applications Advantages
- Next generation device securing its place as an industry leader.
- Slick user interface design allowing for ease-of-use.
- iPhone features allow applications to have a very unique user experience.
- Apple has deployed a built in distribution channel for iPhone applications.
Text message marketing advantages
- Text messages can reach 98% of cell phones in the U.S., which is 88% of the total U.S. population – only 2.4% of U.S. mobile phone users have an iPhone.
- Text messaging is enabled on all phones bought today – no applications to download.
- It is supported on all carriers – iPhone is only supported on AT&T (12% of AT&T subscribers have an iPhone).
- Deployments on shared short codes can be immediate – no waiting for an application to get approved and loaded into the distribution channel.
Here’s the bottom line: when it comes to user experience and next generation devices, we here at Opt It love the iPhone. But for businesses looking to launch a mobile marketing campaign, text messaging is the most effective and immediate way to reach your audience, hands down.