Frequently Asked Questions
Terminology
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. More than 80% of those subscribers are able to receive text messages and more than 50% are sending and receiving text messages on a monthly basis.
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. Companies that use shortcodes are approved by the carriers to send text messages into their networks. When you sign up with our provider, all of your messages will be deliverd using shortcodes ensuring that your message is received by the cellular carriers and delivered to the intended recipient.
What is a keyword?
People join your community by texting a keyword provided by you. People text keywords to your shortcode – 12345, for example - to join lists or trigger an auto-response message. Examples:
Text 'Pizza' (Pizza is the keyword) to 12345 (12345 is the shortcode) to join your VIP group.
As a client you will have your own keyword(s) for creating your own unique program. Keywords can also have an unlimited number of sub-keywords and interest allowing you to segment the members in your mobile community.
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 'Pizza Specials' (Specials is the sub-keyword) to 12345 to join a mobile community, receive an auto-response or forward the return message into either a cell phone number, email address, your back office 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.
What is a sub-account?
A sub-account provides the ability to assign specific privileges and access to only certain keywords. Example: Your 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.
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 – they agree to receive periodic updates, special offers or any message from you directly to their mobile phone.
What is an interest?
Interests enable you to segment your subscribed mobile community and provide the ability to send messages to those smaller groups inside each mobile community. This is useful for segmenting your list by gender, location, subscribed opt-in date, sub-keyword sent in or even for delivering messages to your employees.
General
To what networks can I send messages?
Our provider is approved by and directly connected to all of the major carrier networks and most of the little ones too. This access reaches 98% of all cell phones in the US.
How many characters do I get to use for my text message?
Text messages are 160 characters in length and our provider does not add any ads or other information in messages so that you can use the full number of characters for delivering your message.
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 our providers 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.
How quickly are messages delivered?
Messages are delivered immediately, or can be scheduled for future delivery. Our providers proprietary Mobile Message Queuing (MMQ) technology enables delivery of messages 15x faster.
How do members opt-out of my mobile community?
At any time a member can text KEYWORD STOP to remove themselves from your mobile community. You can also remove members while logged into your back office account.
Do the members of my mobile community get charged to receive my messages?
There are no additional charges beyond the standard rates that your members pay to their 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.
Pricing and Billing
What does it cost to setup my account?
Pricing is available in two different plans, unlimited and per text. See pricing by clicking this link http://www.gotexttalk.com/pricing.htm
What is the cost?
Most text messaging companies charge on a per message basis resulting in varying costs every month. Our provider offers both per-message and 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 month to month variation in costs, allowing you to budget your text messaging campaigns more effectively.
Do I have to sign any long term contracts?
All of our plans are designed to accommodate our clients' needs and can be month to month or longer depending upon requirements.
My Account
How do people join my mobile community?
People join your mobile community in multiple ways including:
Directly from their mobile phone by simply sending your keyword or a combination of your keyword & sub-keyword(s) to the short code
Through any website including your own by using your customizable sign up form widget located in your back office that includes the ability to collect additional demographic data on your members.
When sending out text messages you control what the message says, when it goes out and who it goes to - all through your account.
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.
How do I know how many members are subscribed to my mobile communities?
When logged into your account you can view the number of members in each of your mobile communities, and you can sort your members to see how many people have joined over the last 7days, last week, last month, etc.
Do I have to know the cellular carrier of my members?
You do not need to know the cellular carrier of your members. All that is needed is the cellular number of your member.
Support
What kind of support do I receive with my account?
When you have questions or problems regarding your account, there are three options for support:
Phone: from 8-6pm CST
Your account: While logged into your account you can view the user guide and also view demo videos of how to use the applications. Whenever you have questions regarding the applications, your account, or additional features you would like to see – you can contact via phone, email, or online.
Message Types
Can I text coupons to my customers?
Coupons can be sent to the members of your mobile community for redemption on a web site or at a point of sale (POS) system. A unique code in your message enables your members to take advantage of your offer by using the code during the redemption process. Our provider also supports unique codes for each cell number so that you a can track your offer down to each individual member. Contact us for more information about using unique promotion codes to track the effectiveness of your messages.
What types of text messages can I send?
Our provider has worked for clients in a variety of industries who seek immediacy and effectiveness in marketing and promotion:
- Retail stores deliver coupons that can be tracked by POS systems
- Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs text time sensitive promotional offers
- Newspapers leverage existing content to increase advertising inventory and revenues
- Financial data is being customized and delivered in real-time
- Businesses communicate updated schedules and announcements to employees
- Mobile voting programs are incorporated into sponsorship programs
- Text-to-win programs are used to distribute redeemable codes at web sites or physical locations
- Demographic information is collected on-premise by event marketers using opt-in programs
- Tradeshows drive traffic to keynote events, demonstrations, and booths
This sampling of uses with text messaging indicates the power of the medium for users of all kinds. To unlock the value of text messaging for your marketing program, contact us for innovative ideas that you may not have considered. We’ll learn more about your business objectives and demonstrate the ways in which text message marketing creates value in your business.
