General

What is Mobile Marketing?
The Mobile Marketing service allows businesses the ability to reach their desired customers by giving clients the ability to Create, Launch and Manage their mobile interactions and messaging.

What is a Short Code?
A shortcode is a 5-6 digit number that allows customers to interact with businesses via text messaging. Similar to a cell phone number, commonly referred to as a long code, the shortcode gives businesses the ability to use a commercially acceptable channel to interact with today's mobile customers.

What is a Keyword?
Keywords are used in conjunction with a shortcode to allow users to connect with business. The keyword is typically a word or abbreviation that is sent to a short code and is connected with a campaign.

Example: Text KEYWORD to SHORTCODE.

What wireless carriers do you support?
Supported carriers include: Alltel, AT&T, Boost, Cellular One, Centennial, Dobson, immix, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, Virgin Mobile and many more second and third-tier networks.

What is SMS?
SMS is Short Message Service - commonly referred to as a Text Message. In the US, the current limit is approximately 160 characters in length and can vary by device and carrier. Canada is limited to 136. Each country uses a different shortcode due to carrier support, which is limited to each network. Call us today for information on Canada Shortcodes or Campaigns.

How do customers opt-in (signup)?
Customers can sign-up or opt-in to a campaign by 1) sending a text message with the KEYWORD to the SHORTCODE; 2) customers can subscribe by entering their phone number in the included web widget.

How do customers opt-out? How do customers unsubscribe from a campaign?
Any opt-in customer can unsubscribe or quit by replying with the words: QUIT, END or STOP. This allows the customer to end participation in various campaigns. Or the customer can click here to opt out through our online form.

How is mobile marketing regulated?
The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) is a self-regulating group with participants from all major carriers who create and enforce Best Practices for Mobile Marketing. A current copy of these best practices can be found here. (http://mmaglobal.com/). In Canada, visit http://txt.ca.

Do customers get annoyed with Mobile Marketing?
Interested customers must opt-in (sign up) to receive promotional messages from you. When they opt-in to a campaign, they are also presented with the ability to opt-out when they are no longer interested. This keeps the customer in control of all mobile marketing campaigns. Retaining customers in your campaign comes down to providing a valuable service to your customers. For example, strong offers keep customers engaged longer.

Wireless carriers maintain a very strict policy regarding unsolicited messages. Campaigns are required to be 100% opt-in or permission based - there is no exception to the rules.

How much is a customer charged to receive a text message?
Customers are charged Standard Text Messaging rates per their cell phone plan. What that means is that a message counts against their text message plan (if they have one) or incur the standard text message rate per their cell phone plan. QWASI utilizes standard rate campaigns for client campaigns. Want a Premium SMS (PSMS) campaign? Call us today to learn more.

Can you advise me on best practices?
The MMA will help steer you down the straight and narrow. However, there are several examples of campaigns in our Campaign Center. Since 2003, QWASI has advised clients large and small with extensive expertise in crafting mobile marketing campaigns.

What type of support do you provide?
QWASI provides customers the ability to log any general service issues or questions 24/7 online through support center. QWASI also offers phone support and marketing assistance. Please call us direct for help in building your campaigns.

Do you also provide Agency Services?
Yes. QWASI offers Consulting, Mobile Advertising, Mobile Marketing, Online Marketing, Application Development, and host of other services. Please consider us any or all these services and more.

Features & Functionality

What is a Keyword Campaign?
A mobile marketing keyword campaign is also known as "Info on Demand" where a customer texts a KEYWORD to a SHORTCODE. The Mobile Marketing Center keyword campaign can be a word or words users will text to get information. Furthermore, additional follow-up and interactive features are available such as Lead Notifications by text or email and special reporting to see all participants by date and time.

EXAMPLE:
Text QWASI to 79274 to receive information. (MSG&Data rates may apply). The keyword in this example is QWASI. The short code being promoted is 79274.

Are Keywords case sensitive?
No. Keywords are not case sensitive (i.e. both keywords Pizza and pizza are recognized as the same keyword). Therefore, only one variation of the keyword needs to be assigned to a campaign.

What is a Voting or Polling Campaign?
Voting and Polling campaigns ask customers for feedback or for them to vote on a particular issue of concern. Utilizing a "keyword", these special campaigns also allows for very targeted list building by allowing you to better understand your customers - once a person replies with their response, they can further be targeted with follow up messages by segmenting them in Groups by their response.

What is an Auto-Responder?
An Auto Responder Campaign is a feature triggered when a customer texts in a keyword. The SMS Auto Responder allows clients to send "drip marketing messages" via text messaging. These "timed messages" can range be used for reminders, coupons or a simple DID YOU KNOW campaign. Messages are sent to those who opt-in and they can simply reply STOP or END to opt-out at anytime.

How do I use Groups?
The Groups feature is how clients segment their list of opt-in users. For example, if you run a keyword campaign promoting a monthly special, you can then change the message for that campaign while being able to segment out the group from that month. The Dynamic Group features allow you to take a group of users who participated in a campaign and selectively target by their opt-in date.

What is a Combination Group?
Combination Groups allow clients to combine several groups created in the Mobile Marketing Center and join them together to form one large group in the system. This does not move customers from one group to the next. Rather, it dynamically pulls all current opt-in users and removes duplicates so any follow campaigns (blasts and alerts) are only sent once to the opt-in users.

How do I send out Blasts, Alerts & Notifications?
By sending a Blast to a group of opt-in users, you create a message or two and then identify the group you wish to send it to - schedule and send the campaign. With a Blast message, you can also schedule a blast to send out immediately or at a scheduled date and time. In addition, if a message is scheduled to be sent at a future point in time, all new opt-ins from the campaigns will be included in the group so everyone gets the message.

It is best to communicate with customers the frequency of your messaging. Daily, weekly or monthly. This can be a simple message you include when they first opt-in.

Ex. Receive up to 2msgs/week.

Subscribers

Are there any charges for using the Mobile Marketing Center?
Yes, Standard Text Messaging and other charges may apply per your service plan. Please check with your wireless carrier regarding the cost of sending and receiving text messages from your mobile phone.

Which wireless carriers support Mobile Marketing Center?
Alltel, AT&T, Boost, Cellular One, Centennial, Dobson, immix, NEXTEL, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, Virgin Mobile and over a dozen additional second and third-tier networks.

How can I unsubscribe from a campaign?
You may unsubscribe at any time by sending STOP or "STOP keyword" to the short code.

EXAMPLE: Text the words "STOP PIZZA" to 79274 to opt-out and stop all future messages from the PIZZA campaign.

To remove yourself from all campaigns, Text STOP ALL to the short code. You may also click here to complete the web form and opt-out.

Subscription & User Management

What is a Group?
Groups are selected people who have opted-in for information or campaigns. These users have either participated in a campaign (texted a keyword) or signed up through the web widget. At any time, users within group can opt-out.

How do you build Group & Distribution List?
Lists can be created simple through a standard keyword campaign or signing up via a web widget. The key is to promote promoting the campaign in online and offline media in all your advertising and promotions including your website, advertisements, postcard mailings, business cards, radio spots, television commercials, etc.

How does a user opt-in?
There are two ways users can opt-in (or subscribe): 1) by sending a text message containing the keyword to the short code (5 or 6 digit number) and 2) by submitting their mobile phone number online via web widget.

Can users opt-in from my website?
Yes. The Mobile Marketing Center offers clients the ability to create a widget for their website. Create a campaign, link it to a widget and start promoting it online via a website, intranet, social network, etc.

How do users opt-out?
At any time, users can opt-out of mobile marketing campagins by replying to the Short Code with either words: STOP, QUIT or END. The request is automatically processed and the user is removed from future outbound campaigns.

What is the opt-in message?
The welcome message (commonly referred to as the opt-in messages) is sent to the user when they first sign up or opt into a campaign or subscription program. The message is required to instruct users how to unsubscribe from receiving notifications by replying "STOP".

EXAMPLE:
Thanks for signing up for Rites. To unsubscribe, reply STOP RITES. Receive up to 3 msgs per week; MSG&DATA Rates may apply.

Can I segment members within a group?
Yes, you have the ability to sort the list by campaign, opt-in date, name, emai, zip code, gender, IM or other collected demographic information in the Mobile Marketing Center.

Do people consider Mobile Marketing SPAM?
No. Mobile marketing, by carrier guidelines, is entirely permission-based which means that subscribers truly want to hear from you. The recent survey results shows the most messages are read and people felt positive receiving those messages.

How many messages can I send at one time, is there a limit?
There is no limit to the number of messages you can send at one time. The platform can send single messages to tens of thousands in seconds.

Can I upload my own list of phone numbers?
The MMA (The Mobile Marketing Association) in conjunction with the carriers has established strict guidelines regarding permission-based SMS marketing. In order to send messages to the end user, that person must opt-in by sending a text message from their mobile phone, submitting their mobie phone number to web widget or signing up online and confirming that their interest in participating in the program.

If you have a pre-existing list of subscribers from campaigns run through another provider, please contact us so we can help with moving them to the Mobile Marketing Center.

Billing & Payments

How much is a monthly plan?
The Mobile Marketing Center is priced according to level of campaigns / messages you need. You can upgrade anytime.

What are your payment methods?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Can I get an invoice?
For larger accounts greater than $1000 a month, we can invoice your account. Contact us for details.

Are there any set-up or termination fees?
No. There are no additional fees in addition to your monthly service fee and messaging. Once your term ends (for larger plans only), the service is cancelled and billing ends.

What is your refund policy?
The Mobile Marketing Center is a month-to-month, pay as you go service. We do not offer refunds. When a customer cancels, they are removed from the billing system and the account is suspended until they return. We do not provide refunds. You can cancel anytime and you are only responsible for charges already incurred.

Privacy

Do you use the phone numbers collected?
No. Those are the property of the company using the system. For additional information, see our privacy policy.

What can be done with the Phone Numbers collected?
Each client OWNS the list of numbers generated through their mobile marketing efforts. However, they cannot be downloaded and sold. Clients CAN import them into internal CRM systems to learn more about their customers - privacy policies of each company do apply. Please refer to the MMA Guidelines and Terms of Service for additional information.