FASTSMS

Contact Groups: What is it?

This is a feature in NetMessenger allowing you to group your contacts into categories so they are easier to find, manage and send to.

As with groups in email clients such as MS Outlook, people underestimate just how much of a difference a well organised contact database can make.

In the long run, if you're more organised, you can do things quicker, and as we all know being more time efficient saves money.

Visit our Information Section for more guides and learning resource.

If you have any questions or would like any assistance with your account, call us on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk.

Bulk Import Messaging Report: What is it?

Bulk Import Messaging Reports are used in NetMessenger when a broadcast is sent via the Bulk Import Send option, this is available from the send page in NetMessenger and works for lists of numbers that you want to send to once as it bypasses the need to create a List and import the numbers to be held in your account. These are also available for distribution lists, background sends or FTP/SCP uploads.

Bulk Import Send is a simple feature that is designed to make it easier to manage your account - rather than having to create a large address book and then delete it when your done you simply import your contacts and send there and then.

The Messaging Report then becomes available after you have sent the broadcast.

Login to NetMessenger by following this link.

If you would ever like any of the FASTSMS features explained to you, whether an existing customer or not, feel free to call us on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk

For more information and learning resource visit our site.

Blacklisting: What is it?

Blacklisting is a feature of NetMessenger that allows users to manage numbers that should not be sent to again, whether by request of the recipient or other circumstance. Adding a number to the blacklist will stop any messages being sent to this number from the account. This feature can be found in the “Lists” section of NetMessenger.

Blacklisting is the best way to ensure someone doesn't get sent any more messages by mistake after they have un-subscribed or been removed from a service.

It helps avoid any complaints and possible legal issues that might otherwise occur.

Learn more about what NetMessenger can do by following this link.

If you have any questions about SMS features available through FASTSMS call us on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk

For more learning resources, browse our blog or visit our ever growing information section.

How do you measure SMS Marketing?

This is a question that is getting a lot of attention at the moment due to the sudden realisation from businesses of all sizes that SMS Marketing should be playing a role in their overall strategy.

Many are expecting the same level of reporting as channels such as Email Marketing wanting to see a break down of open rates, click through rates and a list of hot prospects - unfortunately the technology simply isn't there yet, and there is no evidence to suggest it ever will be, with little change in the way SMS works since its conception.

The issue with the analytics is more down to a lack of understanding by the user than the technology itself, and the experienced mobile marketer will tell you as much.

The following points all require consideration when in the planning stage of your campaign so your results can subsequently be measured...

1. Planning: A comprehensive mobile strategy is an absolute must, running a one-off venture will tell you little about its success with nothing to compare it with. Having a strategy running its course over months or years will show its success over time.
2. Goal Setting: Having a clearly defined goal is a must, if you don't know what you're aiming for how will you know when you achieve it. Whether it is phone calls, visitors, leads, sign-ups, replies or something else you need to pick a variable and measure it.
3. Overall Strategy: SMS works best when incorporated into your overall strategy supported by various other channels. The biggest mistake hopeful mobile marketeers make is implementing SMS on its own - combining it with Email Marketing, Telemarketing, Social Networking or Offline Advertising will increase its success noticeably.
4. Analysis: If you have done everything you should in preparation of your campaign you should have the data you require to be able to analyse and move forward.
5. Refine: It is then crucial that you take what you have learnt from your initial campaign and implement it to improve its success. Try combinations of channels and messages to find what works best for your business.

To find out more take a look at our beginners Guide to Mobile Marketing.

For more information or to launch your own campaign call us on 0800 954 5305 or email helpdesk@fastsms.co.uk

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.

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

Developer API: getting the edge

These days more and more people are wanting to build SMS functionality into their applications to give them that much needed edge over the competition or simply to enhance a program being used within the business itself.

What many people don't realise is how easy this is to do with the FASTSMS API...

FASTSMS are more than just an SMS provider. We build software applications ourselves using SMS and other technologies - this means we have knowledge of the developer's world. With access to our well documented and supported API (Application Programming Interface) developers can connect directly to the FASTSMS Message Platform via HTTP.

As an alternative to the API, sending via HTTP from within applications is as simple as generating a HTTP request that contains the relevant variables and sending them to the FASTSMS gateway, this can be in the form of a HTTP POST or GET.

The FASTSMS HTTP gateway has been implemented into many different business solutions including server monitoring & alert systems, contact management databases and many other advanced applications. And of course Email to SMS adds SMS functionality to any application that can send emails.

There really are endless opportunities to let SMS enhance your business as well as customer experience.

To find out more about our API click here or give us a call on 0800 954 5305

NetMessenger: robust with inherent reliability

NetMessenger is the FASTSMS browser based platform for web SMS and it is also a the heart of our other systems, such as desktop software FASTSMS Sender and SMSLook - so you can guess its pretty important to us. We are often guilty of describing NetMessenger as being robust with inherent reliability, but what does that mean to you...

robust: full of health and strength; vigorous. Powerfully built; sturdy. (although literally it means made of oak)

reliability: an attribute of any system that consistently produces the same results, meeting or exceeding its specifications.

(dictionary.com)

These are things that we constantly think of when we think of NetMessenger and why it was created - just like the fable of the man who built his house upon the sand, NetMessenger is our rock. Without waffling on about all the neat features it has to offer, we'll jump straight in and tell you about what you get.

One of the whole points of a browser based piece of software such as this is that it is completely accessible from anywhere in the world providing you have access to the internet, all you need is your username and password. This has eliminated any issues of downloads or version control that other providers have to deal with.

By making NetMessenger completely customisable through the preferences and offering multi-user functionality our hope is that you, our customers have the means to manage your communications in the way you want to, and not the way some rigid interfaces dictate.

Like I said, this post isn't about listing all the features and what each one gives you - its about a window into what NetMessenger is all about and our inspiration for it all - you.

For more information about NetMessenger and other FASTSMS solutions click here or give us a call on 0800 954 5305