1. What is a text message?
Text messaging, or texting is the common term for the sending of "short" (160 characters or fewer) text messages from mobile phones using the Short Message Service (SMS). There are over 250 million mobile phone subscribers in the United States. Over 80% of those subscribers are able to receive text messages and over 50% are sending and receiving text messages on a monthly basis.
2. What is a shortcode?
A shortcode is a 5 or 6 digit number used to send and receive SMS and MMS messages on cellular networks. Only companies that use shortcodes to send text messages are actually approved by the carriers to send text messages into their networks.
3. What is a keyword?
A keyword is how people join your mobile community. People text keywords to 46786 to join lists or trigger an auto-response message. For example:
Text OPTIT (OPTIT is the keyword)
to 46786 (46786 is the shortcode)
to join the Opt It mobile VIP group.
Text SAMPLE (sample is the keyword) to 46786 (46786
is the shortcode)
to have an auto response message sent back to your mobile phone.
Every Opt It client has their own unique keyword(s) for creating their own unique mobile programs. Keywords can also have an unlimited number of sub-keywords and interests allowing to segment the members in your mobile community.
4. What is a sub-keyword?
Sub-Keywords enable you to extend the functionality of your keyword. You can provide information on specific events, segment your list of members and provide auto-response messages for RSVP's or time sensitive offers. For example:
Text OPTIT INFO (INFO is the sub-keyword) to 46786 to join a mobile community, receive an auto-response or forward the message being sent into Opt It Mobile to either a cell phone number, email address, your inbox or to a URL.
Members can be placed into interests by texting in sub-keywords allowing you to track and segment based upon usage patterns.
5. What is a sub-account?
A sub-account provides the ability to assign specific privileges and access to only certain keywords. Example: The night manager only has access to KEYWORD1 and only the ability to send messages and unsubscribe members. There are multiple privileges available to create user roles based upon responsibilities for that person.
6. What is a mobile community?
When you have your keyword setup as a subscription allowing people to opt-in and receive text messages from you they are joining your mobile community. A mobile community is made up of all the people who have opted-in to receive periodic updates from you directly to their mobile phone.
7. What is an interest?
Interests enable you to segment your mobile community and provide the ability to send messages to those smaller groups inside your mobile community. This is useful for segmenting your list by gender, location, opt-in date, sub-keyword sent in or even for delivering messages to your employees.
1. To what networks can I send messages to?
We are directly connected into and approved by all of the major carrier networks and most of the little ones too. Our access reaches 98% of all cell phones in the US.
2. How many characters do I get to use for my text message?
Text messages are 160 characters in length and we do not add any ads or other information in messages so that you can use the full amount of characters for delivering your message.
3. Is there a limit to the number of people I can have in my mobile community?
There is no limit to the number of people you can have in your mobile community. With the our newly launched Mobile Message Queuing (MMQ) technology, messages are being delivered up to 15x times faster which means your messages reach the members of your mobile community within minutes of sending your message.
4. How quickly are messages delivered?
Messages are either delivered immediately from Opt It Mobile or can be scheduled for future delivery. Our proprietary Mobile Message Queuing (MMQ) technology enables delivery of messages 15x faster.
5. How do members opt-out of my mobile community?
A member at any time can text KEYWORD STOP to remove themselves from your mobile community. You can also remove members while logged into your Opt It Mobile account.
6. Do the members of my mobile community get charged to receive my messages?
There are no additional charges over the standard rates that your members pay to the carriers for sending and receiving text messages. Most people that do a lot of texting have unlimited plans for sending and receiving text messages to their mobile phones and are aware of the costs involved in becoming a member of your mobile community.
1. Are there setup fees?
Depending upon the requirements for your mobile program setup fees start as low as $99 for Opt It Mobile Lite.
2. What is the cost?
Most text messaging companies charge on per message basis resulting in variable costs every month. Opt It Mobile Lite includes pricing for unlimited messages based on the number of members in your mobile community and allows you to send an unlimited number of messages. This means NO MORE variable costs and allowing you to budget your text messaging campaigns more effectively.
For more than 2,500 mobile numbers or if you have questions regarding pricing for custom or more complex programs the easiest way to get started is to call Opt It at 312-263-1100 and speak with one of our staff members.
3. Do I have to sign any long term contracts?
All of our plans are designed to accomodate our clients needs and can be month to month or longer depending upon requirements.
1. How do people join my mobile community?
Using Opt it Mobile people join your mobile community in multiple ways including:
When sending out text messages you control what the message says, when it goes out and who it goes to - all through your account at www.optit.com.
2. Can I have more than one mobile community?
Mobile communities are based upon keywords and you can register as many keywords as you would like.
3. How do I know how many members are subscribed to my mobile communities?
When you are logged into your account you can view the number of members in your mobile communities along with the ability to sort your members to see how many people have joined over the last 7days, last week, last month etc...
4. Do I have to know the cellular carrier of my members?
No, you do not need to the cellular carrier of your members. Opt It can work with any carrier. All we need is the members cellular number.
1. What kind of support do I receive with my account?
There are different options that you have for support:
Phone:
888-577-6577 from 8-6pm CST
Email: support@optit.com
Your account: While logged into your account you can
view the Opt It user guide and also view demo videos of how to use the
Opt It Mobile applications.
If at any point in time you have questions regarding our applications, your account or additional features you would like to see - we are always available at the contact information above.
1. Can I send out coupons to my customers?
Coupons can be sent out to the members of your mobile community for redemption on a website or point of sale system. By including a unique code in your message, your members can use this code during the redemption process to take advantage of your offer. Opt It Mobile can also support the ability to have unique codes provided to each member so that you a can track your offer down to the member level. Contact us for more information on how to use unique promotion codes to close the loop on your text message ROI tracking.
2. What types of text messages can I send?
Opt It works with clients in multiple industries and those clients are all delivering different types of messages including:
This is only a sampling of the different types of messages that can be sent using Opt It Mobile. To discuss the specifics of the text message marketing program you would like to execute contact us so we can learn more about your business objectives and how to help you meet those objectives using text message marketing.
Opt It provides businesses the ability to deliver localized mobile content to people by providing easy to use opt-in tools.
©2004-2008 Opt It, Inc. All rights reserved.