The first area TextMe411 is focusing on is the Nightclub and Bar market (though you are free to enroll customers from other sectors as well.)  This market is just beginning to market to the mobile phone.  Nightclubs everywhere are starting to  send customers messages about events, digital coupons and  VIP passes all delivered right to the customers cell phone.  However, a nightclub wanting to start a mobile marketing campaign has two problems:

Problem #1: Collecting Mobile Numbers:

All mobile campaigns revolve around gathering mobile phone numbers.  Nightclubs have typically collected email addresses….but mobile numbers is something new.  So the first thing a nightclub needs is a way to collect mobile numbers.  Typically only short-codes were available, however now we have long-codes to make this process much easier. (long codes and short codes are explained below)

Problem #2:  Creating a Campaign: 

Once the nightclub has a list of mobile numbers they will then look to create a campaign. Some sample campaigns might be:

• Sending out announcements to their customers ( “Guest DJ playing tonight”)
• Sending out digital coupons  (“ With every beer purchase wings will be ½ price”)
• Sending our VIP tickets (“Show your phone at the door for line by-pass)
   

Why Are Nightclubs Going To Be Interested In TextMe411?

Firstly, you have to believe that mobile marketing is going to be huge for nightclubs.  If you don’t truly believe this than this opportunity isn’t for you.  That being said, nightclubs are going to see tremendous value in TextMe411... to see why you must understand the problems with short-codes.

The Problem With Short-Codes:

Nightclubs wanting to gather mobile numbers can hire a pretty girl for $250 a night who walks around night after night with a clip board gathering numbers or the nightclub can use a mobile campaign  that can be marketed to everyone in a much more efficient manner. Historically this has required  a short-code.  A short-code is  the 5-7 digit number (i.e. 88555) that a customer texts to receive “something”.  You’ve probably seen many of these campaigns before (i.e.  Text the word “joke” to 88555 to receive the joke of the day). The problem with short-codes is this:

• A nightclub must apply to  receive a short-code, a process which takes 4-6 weeks
• Short-codes typically are expensive costing roughly $1500/mth

How Does TextMe411 Help? 

We have automated this process so that a nightclub can go online and create their own campaign. We have also created something called long-codes. (Long-codes are similar to short-codes…they are simply 10 digits instead of 5 or 7).  Automating this process and using long-codes has made everything much cheaper and easier. Nightclubs that are considering the mobile marketing idea can now:

• Go online, set up their campaign and receive a “long-code” within minutes, not 4-6 weeks!   For example if “Hard Rocks Nightclub” wanted to create a campaign, they simply go online, pick a key word and create their message.  It could look something like this (Text the word “Rocks” to 64755-88888 to receive our DJ announcements).
• Nightclubs will be charged much less for the long-code….usually $350-$400/mth a far cheaper price than the  $1500 /mth that a short-code requires

To Sum Up:

• Mobile marketing is going to be huge!
• Nightclubs are jumping on this “band wagon”
• Short codes are expensive and take time to get approved
• Long codes are inexpensive and are received automatically