FASTSMS

Make New Year simple, schedule it

Every year in the U.K. in the half an hour before and after midnight on the 31st December literally millions of text messages are sent, so much so in a short space of time that the mobile operators can't handle it.

Most people will have some recollection of the trickle of texts that come through for the rest of the night that were sent in that timeframe. So what's the answer - you schedule it.

If you schedule your personal messages in advance for the time you want using NetMessenger they are guaranteed to reach their destination within a couple of minutes.

Not only that, but of course it is cheaper and easier than trying to type on your phone while someone is trying to get you involved in Auld Lang Syne.

Click here to login to NetMessenger and schedule your Holiday messages or for more information on our scheduling and mail merge features call us on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk

It's not too late to send those Holiday messages...

A year or so ago all people talked about was being green. We were all about recycling, using bio-degrabable products and being nice to woodland critters. Which is great, except that to be considered 'Green' seemed to cost considerably more than not to be.

Then, focus shifted dramatically to talk of 'recession' and saving money - and for many the expensive green option had to take a back seat for a while.

Enter the anomaly - SMS

Sending a text is not only greener than a phone call or SnailMail but is far cheaper too - appease your conscience without it costing the earth.

This is why this year, all of us at FASTSMS won't be sending any Christmas cards, but rather, Christmas texts - it gets the message across and is good for the environment.

Of course, we wouldn't recommend it as an alternative for a loved one (that could get you in some trouble) but we're inviting you to join us in replacing cards sent out to clients and customers, and even staff with the cheaper, greener option.

Its also great if like me you haven't managed to get any cards out yet - with SMS there is still time to at least wish someone your best over the Holiday season. Simply login to NetMessenger, upload your contacts, write your cheery message and away you go - you can even schedule them so they arrive on the day itself.

If you need any help setting this up give us a call on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk

New Features in NetMessenger

Here at FASTSMS we really like to keep our developers busy, which is why we are always so happy to receive your comments and suggestions about our various systems, and here it is - the fruits of our labour...

Soon to be available to you will be two new features in NetMessenger:

1. Delivery Threshold Notification - you will be able to set a number in the account settings and if more than that number of messages do not reach their destination you will receive notification, meaning you won't be wasting money on bad data.
2. Message Notifications - you will also be able to receive message status updates to an email address of your choice, so the right person can be kept up to date wherever they are.

Many of our updates are a result of a question or suggestion from one of our users - if there is something you would like the FASTSMS system to do, just let us know and we will always strive to accommodate you.

Let us have your suggestions by calling 0800 954 5305, emailing helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk or by using the feedback form in NetMessenger.

Free Credits

Recently we have launched our drive to gather your case studies - these are to be used to help other users find ways they could be using SMS by publishing them on our site, in our newsletters, in this here blog and in other useful documents.

All we ask of you is that you fill out our simple form as best you can, of course not all of them can be used as there is that person in each of us that wants to give one word answers and then collect their prize - but if we can use your submission we will reward you, and handsomely so.

If you are the first person from your market sector to submit your case study we will reward you with 200 credits, and if you're not the first - you still get 100 credits making worst case scenario that you get £8 worth of goods for 5 minutes work.

We invite you all to take part in this limited time offer, if you would like to claim your free credits simply click here.

Become a FASTSMS Affiliate and get cash rewards

This week at FASTSMS have officially launched our Affiliate Programme - by signing up you could be getting cash rewards for every person you refer to us.

The FASTSMS Affiliate Programme has been developed with the potential to generate an additional revenue stream alongside your usual business, and it does it in a way that requires very little effort on your part.

Simply put - you refer potential customers to us and you will get paid for anything bought by that user.

We’ll give you everything you need to get started along with help and advice at every turn, making sure you get the most out of its potential.

We have a new document that can tell you all about it, including Use Cases - so you can identify if your network of contacts has potential.

You'll find all the little important details about the programme in there too - like exactly how much cash we're talking.

Finally you'll get a glimpse of what happens when you decide to go for it and how we can help you get our affiliation off the ground.

For all the information you need click here or get in touch on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@FASTSMS.co.uk

Update to the FASTSMS system

Great news, as of next week you will be able to receive multi-part (linked) meassages direct to your Inbox. This means that inbound SMS, sent to your Virtual Mobile Number, that are over 160 characters and therefore span more than one message will now arrive as one.

• If you forward your messages to a URL you may need to check that your system is set up correctly, and doesn't just receive 160 characters.
• Unfortunately this change will not occur for those who have opted for a Virtual Mobile Number starting with '077814' (e.g. 07781434558). However we can change your number if you wish.

This change has been made as a result of feedback from one of our users - it shows just how much your suggestions mean to us, and that where possible we will act on them.

If you have any questions or comments on how we can make FASTSMS even better for you let us know by calling us on 0800 954 5305, emailing helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk or using the feedback form in NetMessenger.

Are you really going to let the postal strikes cost you money?

FACT:To send a letter by SnailMail costs well over 50p, takes days or even weeks to arrive and often makes its way from the inbox to the bin unopened.

FACT:An SMS text message costs a few pence to send, arrives within seconds and is usually read within a few minutes. On top of that it is quicker to compose and is a great deal greener!

Many of our users are already benefiting from SMS in their communications to some degree, but are unaware that it could be used for so much more...

• Reminders / renewals / confirmations: confirm appointments, chase payments, service renewals and subscriptions reminders, advance notice of events, invitations and much more.
• Marketing messages:special offers, price reductions, new products / services. Include links to web pages to replace brochures, flyers and catalogues - saving even more money.
• Mass broadcasts: call employees to meetings, friends to social events, or clients to exhibitions / seminars. Personalise your messages using the "mail merge" feature.
• Inbound SMS: publish your Virtual Mobile Number so people can text and reply to you too.

Right now there is an extra incentive to look at ways of switching SnailMail traffic to other cheaper and, most importantly, reliable methods of communication.

Switching to SMS gets your message straight to the recipients handset - it is cheaper and yields higher and much faster response rates than any other medium.

Find out if you are getting the most out of your account by giving us a call on 0800 954 5305 emailing helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk or reading our new Mobile Marketing Guide

PlanetStream: The FASTSMS of the Streaming World

PlanetStream Relaunch

 

This month has seen the relaunch of our streaming media brand, PlanetStream. The new site gives greater insight into how streaming works as well as real life examples of where it is already in use. As well as this it details some of our new products including online presenters and a FREE Trial.

 

PlanetStream are now able to host your files of any format and size and direct them to anywhere in the world with limitless availability - this is ideal for software downloads and backups.

 

As experts in live streaming, PlanetStream give you the opportunity to broadcast events in real time to your selected audience across the internet. This ranges from a simple web cam broadcast to major music and sporting events. It is used for business broadcasts of presentations as well as educational and personal events such as online training and weddings.

 

PlanetStream's latest product is bespoke website content in the form of Online Presenters. This is where the visitors to your site have a real life presenter taking them through their options and guiding their hand to the desired call to action. For an example visit: www.PlanetStream.net

 

PlanetStream are now offering a FREE Trial to all FASTSMS customers, for details visit the site or send an email to info@planetstream.net 

Are you still thinking about whether to upgrade to SMSLook?

...well now you don't have to: Upgrade to SMSLook for FREE

As we celebrate over 10 years of FASTSMS we look back at where it all started - the FASTSMS Sender was the first piece of SMS software we ever released, and it has served us well over the years. However in order for the next generation to come into its own its predecessor must be retired.

FASTSMS have always worked on the principle that everything should be available for all users, and it is with this in mind that SMSLook is now available for everyone, for FREE. Subsequently there will be no more updates to the FASTSMS Sender as we put all our efforts into making SMSLook the best piece of desktop software it can be.

When you upgrade you will benefit from Outlook integration, whereby you can access SMSLook through MS Outlook and share contact information between the two. If you have a Virtual Mobile Number you will even be able to receive inbound messages directly to your desktop. We will also be bringing in loads of new features over the coming months including a calendar based scheduling system to make it even easier to manage your communications.

To upgrade to SMSLook simply login to NetMessenger by clicking here.

Throttling: The proactive way to manage your responses

If you are sending a high volume of messages at a time it is sometimes necessary that they sit in a queue before sending. With throttling you can specify how many messages are sent and how often.

In many cases your broadcast may hold a marketing message that is likely to trigger a response, for example and inbound phone call. By throttling you can specify how many messages are sent and how often, so they can be spread over a period of time preventing your staff from becoming overwhelmed. If you know the percentage of immediate responses you expect you can calibrate the throttling system to an optimum level ensuring maximum efficiency.

When you create a distribution list you have the option to enable throttling when broadcasts are made to those numbers. Where messages are sent per hour, they will be sent at the start of each hour. Where messages are sent per minute, they are distributed across the hour, rather than all being sent at the start of the hour.

 

> Check the ‘Throttle when sending to this list’

> Enter the number of messages you wish to be sent per hour/min

> From the drop down menu select Hour or Minute

> Select the start and end times

> Click Save

For more information on how you can get more out of your FASTSMS account browse this blog or refer to the Full User Manual