How text messaging can get the party started for your business
With cell phone penetration in the US continuously increasing, it has never been a more opportune time to use this platform to attract and keep customers. Text message advertising provides a cost effective method of targeting events and promotions to specific customer profiles. You might want to fill your premises on a Monday or Tuesday night or you might want to remind customers of specific sporting events being televised, but whatever the reason, text messaging allows you get the right information to the right customer speedily and cost effectively. So how do you go about this? You run a busy nightclub/bar. On a weekend night, the bar is full. To build your "Text Message Club" list, you put tent cards on all the tables telling customers to "Join our Text Messaging Club" by texting your name and interest (offer a list of interests such as Sports, Promotions, Theme Nights, Pub Quiz etc) to a cell number. This can be your cell number or a specific cell number bought for this purpose. Include the fact that anyone who texts in their details will be in the draw for a $50.00 voucher that night. If you have a DJ, make sure he announces this throughout the night. At the end of the night, text the winner, advising them to pick up their voucher from the DJ and hey presto, 50 people have joined your Text Message List. You can now add these patrons to your lists according to their preferences. As you plan your event schedule for the month, remember to include the lists of customers who have texted you with their preferences. Send them a text message a week in advance and again a day before. Also add the following line to each of your texts to ensure you comply with the relevant data protection laws: "to unsubscribe from this text, reply STOP at any time". Ensure you then remove the customer's details from your database. Over time, this database can grow to include a large number of customers who come to rely on your reminders as to what's going on in the bar. If you have last minute needs to fill the bar, you could also text a message to say that the first 20 people into the bar after receiving the text get a $5 gift voucher for the bar. There are many ways to use texts to your advantage. Just ensure that the offers and promotions are worthwhile to your targeted customers so they have fewer reasons to unsubscribe from your texts.
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Opening a Bar
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