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What is SMS? |
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SMS is short for SHORT MESSAGING
SERVICE. It is a transmission of text or
binary data to a mobile device like a
phone or PDA. 99% of all mobile phones
support SMS. SMS is more commonly known
as a TEXT MESSAGE and these can be
transmitted from device to device or
from software such as that provided by
Textvertising to a device.
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How much
does it cost? |
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Textvertising offer different plans to
suit any business.
Our Entry package has no set up charges
and text messages are purchased on a
'pay as you go' basis.
You can upgrade your account to use any
of the features we offer, and if
required downgrade it again. No lengthy
contracts or commitments!
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How do my clients 'Opt in' and 'Opt
out'? |
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OPTING IN:
Providing a facility for your clients to
opt in is very simple. Your client
simply texts YOURKEYWORD to either our
Virtual Mobile Number (VMN) or if
enabled on your account, to our
shortcode 82055.
OPTING OUT:
Textvertising provide two simple ways
for your customers to opt out. They can
do so by simply texting YOURKEYWORD STOP
to unsubscribe from your database to
either our VMN or shortcode, or just
simply text STOP to unsubscribe from
every company they may have registered
to on our system.
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Can I see handset delivery reports? |
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Yes you can!
Firstly we initially provide a report
that the SMS network has accepted each
message for each phone on your list.
When your message has been routed to a
handset a DELIVERED status is applied
with a timestamp so you can see exactly
when it has been delivered.
If the message could not be delivered, a
NON DELIVERED status is applied and a
reason why. If the reason is due to
handset problem, not a temporary phone
issue (like inbox full), you can
quarantine the number. This locks the
phone in your account (so it will be
ignored) next time you send a message to
help prevent you from wasting messages.
You can also specify to attempt a resend
to any phones reporting NON DELIVERED up
to 3 times at a regular interval between
the send date and the message expiry
date. This is a first in the
marketplace.
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Can I upload my own numbers? |
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Yes you can.
Not only can you upload your own
numbers, but our system can
automatically check your file for valid
mobile numbers from up to 3 fields of
your data, remove duplicates and compare
the new clean data against numbers
already in your database. Every time you
upload a database, you can assign a new
sub keyword to it to identify it later.
When a number already exists in your
current database, the sub keyword is
simply tagged against them rather than
the client being added again.
This ensures no numbers are duplicated
and your database is formatted in an
easy to understand way making targeted
message sending as easy as possible.
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Can I build multiple database? |
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Yes.
Simply upgrade to use Sub Keywords.
Each sub keyword can contain unlimited
numbers, so you could for example have
sub keywords like MALE and FEMALE. Using
this example, your clients can text
YOURKEYWORD MALE to join your male
database or YOURKEYWORD FEMALE to join
your female database.
Here's the great bit:
Some other text message companies offer
automated replies to your registrations,
others allow you to configure your
own...
...However, none of these allow you to
set up individual replies to individual
sub keywords!
Many of our clients set up sub keywords
for live event information. For example
you could have text YOURKEYWORD GIG for
up to date information of our next live
event, prices and booking information.
By simply amending your sub keyword
reply to reflect current promotions,
gigs or news, your sub keyword acts as a
simple 24 hour live news feed for your
clients.
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Can I provide reverse billing? |
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Yes you can. We can provide 25p, 50p,
£1, £1.50, £5 and multiples thereof.
Unlike other providers, we can provide
3mth-12mth not just 12 month contracts
and the amount you charge your clients
is not fixed and can be switched between
plans at any time from within your
account. You can even run multiple
campaigns simultaneously.
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How do I advertise a service like on TV? |
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Simply upgrade to use your keyword on
the shortcode.
For example, "text BROCHURE to 82055"
for a free information booklet.
This is a great way to capture your
clients number and all enquiries are
sent to you in an automated email or by
SMS if you prefer.
If required, add more keywords (like
BROCHURE, INFORMATION, BOOKLET etc)
which all point to sub keywords in your
account. This allows you to quickly see
which areas of your marketing are
working and which are not. Also
specifically tailored replies can be
sent back. You can also send a group or
bulk text message to any single, group
or all clients from your account at any
time.
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Are there are any delays or routing
problems? |
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Some other SMS providers may route
through one, two, four or even more
providers to route your message. They
may even use overseas routes which are
inherently unreliable. Each gateway in
the chain can fail at anytime, increase
their price, delay your message or worst
of all lose your message altogether.
Textvertising use a route which is
connected directly to the UK's largest
SMS gateway and in turn directly to the
UK networks.
This gives an unparalleled delivery time
and reliability, plus at very busy times
by threading messages, delivery times
are rarely affected. Our systems will
easily cope with up to 2.5 million
messages per day.
We also only use 'ported routes'. These
are SMS routes to phones who have had
their number moved 'cross network' (when
changing a provider from Vodafone to
Orange for example). Other companies
sometimes offer both a 'standard route'
and 'premium route' where only the
premium route includes ported numbers.
Non ported routes see around 50% of
message delivery occurring making them
not cost effective for large batches of
numbers. Be sure when comparing our
prices that you are seeing quotations
based on ported routes or ask the
provider you are considering before
commiting.
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Is my
database secure? |
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Yes. All your data is not made available
to anybody else.
We are registered with the ICO
(information Commissioners Office) and
are bound to the rules under the Data
Protection Act 1998. Our reg number is
Z9518258.
Do you know how your data would used by
a competitor? Are they too registered
with the ICO or could your data be
misused?
Trust Textvertising.
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Can
I have multiple logins? |
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Yes you can.
Your account can be used by your staff
or other persons. You can assign a
password for each and then set a limit
to how much they can do from within
their account.
For example, a level one user can manage
all aspects of the account but a level
four user can only add customers, amend
the database or send single text
messages.
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Can SMS be converted to an email and
back? |
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Not exactly like that!
However, our system forwards a copy of
the details and message of any person
texting YOURKEYWORD.
Also by setting up 2 way SMS for you,
your customers can reply to your
messages with the reply coming to you as
an email. By simply following a link in
the email reply, you can text the
customer back.
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