Mobile Marketing as a Service tool for the Healthcare Industry

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In the next three blogs I will be talking about how Mobile Marketing can be utilized as a Service tool: for appointment reminders, internal emergency situations, car services, etc.

Each of those blogs will cover a specific industry.

The first one that will be covered is Mobile Marketing for the Healthcare industry: (doctors/dentist offices, School medical centers, etc.)

The other industries that will be introduced will be:

  1. The Auto industry (inspection, expiration reminders, Oil Change Reminders, etc)
  2. Education (application reminders, class schedules/reschedules, etc)

So let’s expose some options in Healthcare industry

In the Healthcare industry, Mobile Marketing can be used for reminders for appointments. Once patients have opted into their database, doctors and dentist offices, as well as School medical centers, hospitals, etc, can send them a reminder for an upcoming appointment. That way the patient is not stressed out about their appointment. From personal experience, my dentist actually sends me reminders about upcoming appointments. It helps me stay on track.

Patients friendly feature

When doctors’ offices, and dentists’ offices, as well as other healthcare offices need to schedule an appointment with the patients, the receptionist can schedule the next appointment for the patient right away and, in this way, the patient doesn’t have to worry about it. Then, a reminder may go out to the patient automatically two (2) days before the appointment. If the patient can’t make it, they can immediately call the healthcare office and reschedule the appointment. This also works for appointments in other industries. Patients also have the option of texting back to reschedule the appointment.

Mobile reminders are so easy to set up by the healthcare office staff. It does not cost too much money, and it is an effective way to reach the majority of the population, as 98% of people own cell phones (even in Latin America according to World Bank) and can send and receive text messages.

It is very easy to sign up or opt in for doctors’, dentists’ or other healthcare contact lists.

For example:

Text the keyword Therapy to 63566 to receive and review info on how to contact them, their office locations, etc. This makes it easy for the patient to find the best and closest location that is convenient for them.

Here is another example for how mobile marketing may be used in the healthcare industry, specifically in the hospital or doctor’s office.

The nurse or receptionist can set up automatic reminder to be sent to specific patients (and/or their family members) that just got out of surgery to remind to take their prescriptions, refill etc.

Important feedback

Also, Mobile Marketing in the Healthcare industry can be used for Mobile Surveys. After the patient has seen the doctor or dentist, a mobile survey may be sent out to see how the service was in this particular office with a particular doctor. My dentist also sends me Mobile Surveys, so I can rate his service.

Time saving

Another way Mobile Marketing may be used is to inform patients of potential early closing of a Healthcare office. For example, if a patient is used to the doctor’s schedule from 9am to 6pm, but the doctor decides to leave at 4pm because of a family emergency, the doctor can let patients know by sending out a group text message.

Those are just some examples how the Healthcare industry can use Mobile Marketing.

If you can think of other examples, please feel free to share.

ProTexting Introduces three new interactive services – MMS, Mobile Website Builder, Location Marketing

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We have three exciting and innovative services to introduce to you!
This is a combined effort of our clients’ feedback and our teams’ research and imagination.
Without any further delay here they are:
Video and Picture MessagingVideo and Picture Messaging (MMS) – Want to send your customers a picture of your products or want to share a video with your contacts? Now you can! We have added the ability to send AND receive video and pictures. This functionality is activated by default. You can upload a picture or video in your Auto-Reply message, send Group MMS, or have people text you images, which are then shown in your MMS Gallery.
Here is the example we have posted on our website:

Text NOVEMBER to 63566
*Message&Data Rates may apply

Mobile Website builder – you can now create a mobile website or a simple landing page instantly, and without the time consuming and costly development. This great tool is very simple:

1) Activate the app
2) Choose your Template
3) Create your Mobile Pages
4) Attach pictures and social media to each page
5) Preview your Site
6) PUBLISH your MOBILE WEBSITE!

ProTexting Mobile Website Builder

Example: You are a retail/boutique store. Since the holiday season is here you are offering your customers 20% off coupon. You have created a banner on your website reflecting this offer but you would like to provide a link to your customers who are using smart phones. Test the example by Texting:

Holiday to 63566
*Message&Data Rates may apply

 Location-Based Marketing – This is a powerful way to to send targeted messages to customers in a specific geo-fence. Here is a general idea of how it works:
You have different store locations and each location has its own promotion. You would like customers within a 10 mile radius of each store to receive a promotion relevant to their location.
You setup the 10 mile geo-fence for each store and whenever your customers are within the proximity they receive the specific promotion.

If you have any questions/suggestions or you would like to share your ideas with us please leave us a comment on our blog or Contact Us via phone or e-mail. 

 

How the food industry (bars, restaurants, coffee shops etc) can leverage the power of SMS marketing/alerts

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As I was walking in the streets of New York City for the last couple of days, and looking for restaurants that use mobile marketing as a strategy to attract people, I was also thinking of how mobile marketing would be even more useful for those restaurants.

First, here is how mobile marketing for restaurants works in a nutshell:

1. Restaurant promotes a keyword “Text MENU to 63566” for VIP special deals and save 10% from today’s bill”

2. People text and show the text to the waiter or the bartender. At the same time they are now part of the mobile promotions list.

3. When the restaurant is slow or wants to promote a new menu item or event they text the people on the list and increase traffic and sales that way, when people come in.

Here are some specific examples of how mobile marketing can be used in the restaurant and bar business:

  1. Coupons on customers’ phones: print coupons are not very useful nowadays, because you are most likely to forget them at home. Having a coupon on your phone will make it more accessible and, hence, more likely to be used by the customer. This will create more business for the restaurant, especially on slow days. Coupons could be buy one, get one free, get a $10 off for every $50 spent, get percentage off the entire price, etc. Especially helpful would be if coupons are sent at strategic hours of the day, say lunch time, or dinner time. Also, a good strategy would be for the restaurant to send the coupon to a specific group. For example, with the GPS location of every person on the list, the restaurant can send coupons to people who are in 10 mile radius of the restaurant at 11am or 12pm. Then send the same coupon for dinner, say around 5pm or 6pm, depending on which area the restaurant is located.
  2. Repeat customer loyalty program: Many people tend to return to a restaurant where they had a good experience. So you can have a QR scan code, which is a little bit like a UPC on merchandise. With this QR scan code, the restaurant can track how many times somebody has visited and, for example, after their 10th visit in a month, they get an entrée free.
  3. Connecting with your current and potential customers after closing: Restaurants can be present and connecting with current and potential customers even after hours by posting the QR scan code or the short code on their window, or some kind of exterior display. For example, a display could say “Scan this QR code or text MENU to 63566 to get special coupons and promotions.”
  4. Surveying people to make them feel heard: After people sign up for the restaurant’s mobile list, the restaurant may decide to send out a short survey to let them know which kind of coupon was of best use to them, and what kind of deals they would like to see in the future. Also, the survey could be sent out after the customer leaves the restaurant, to let the owners know how pleased they were with the service. This extra touch will make the customers feel important and will probably lead them into coming back to this restaurant.
  5. Text-to-Win (or Mobile Sweepstakes): This is also a great way to engage your existing customers and win new ones. Text-To-Win has become a common practice for the food industry. And who doesn’t love winning and receiving gifts! I found an example where Coors Light was running a Text-To-Win sweepstakes for the NY Giants. The sweepstakes campaign is printed on a coaster and distributed to different bars and restaurants. This is a good way to incentivize customers and gain their loyalty. Also, this is a good way to gather information regarding the clientele – such as age, location, taste etc. – so restaurants can tailor their offering and service based on client feedback.

Mobile marketing is not only a very effective way to promote business in slow times and in general, but also it saves a lot of money on traditional paper and TV/Radio advertisement.

Also, mobile marketing may give the idea to potential customers that this particular restaurant or bar is hip and with the times!

ProTexting Joins Forces with HSRF to help raise awareness and funds for Hurricane Sandy victims

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The aftermath of Sandy continues here on the East Coast – especially in New Jersey,  New York and Connecticut area. Yesterday many victims were also negatively affected by a Nor’Easter storm that halted the work and help of many volunteers. This storm brought 60 mph winds and 4-13 inches of snow, record breaking numbers for this time of the year.

Both storms however, have not diminished or weakened the spirits of the people in the these areas. On contrary – it has made them stronger.

One of the great organizations that emerged right after Hurricane Sandy is Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds (HSRF). HSRF was built by the victims of Hurricane Sandy to help other victims in the community.  This foundation has been working hard to bring together volunteers, setup up shelters and donation centers, and raise awareness of what it will take to clean and rebuild the affected areas. As mentioned on their website – www.hurricanesandyrelief.org – “This will is not a sprint, it is a marathon” as it will take a long time to rebuild (est. 6-8 years).

We have also joined forces with HSRF - among other organizations and individual contributors and volunteers – to help this great cause. You can help by donating to this organization via text messaging:

Having experienced first-hand the effects of Sandy, as we had to evacuate our office and had to work remotely for a week, we know how important it is to land a hand and help our community. Despite the hurricane, ProTexting remained operational and we continued to serve our clients. We watched on TV as our downtown office building was surrounded by water and hoped and prayed for the best. We are thankful that everyone around us is safe.

However, not everyone was as lucky as we were. We can all help by making any type of donation – monetary, material goods, your own time.

To find more information about this great initiative and how you can be part of it visit www.hurricanesandyrelief.org

Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: How we can all help!

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After the devastating aftermath of the hurricane Sandy, there are many affected people in the US East coast, in particular New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut. According to BBC News, “2.5 million homes and businesses still have no electricity”. The petrol shortages have also caused problems and concerns from the Jersey Shore to Connecticut. The historic boardwalk in Atlantic City is completely gone. Staten Island and Brooklyn were also hit hard. Many people lost everything – their homes, their live saving, and unfortunately in some cases some of their loved ones.

However, in the midst of a tremendous Super Storm like Sandy, people united, and regular men and women became heroes. I actually watched a special 20/20 report on ABC about those heroes. There was a man who saw from his window a stranded taxi cab with the driver inside. He ran downstairs and pulled the driver away from the cab, saving his life. Another hero was a woman who was driving passed a burning truck, stopped, went to the truck and pulled the driver out. Also, nurses from a New York hospital, saving the lives of their patients even without power, taking them down the scary dark stairway one by one. Some of those patients were newborns. Many flights home were cancelled, and many people needed to find a shelter quickly. The NBC Telethon held Friday, Nov. 2nd raised more than $23 million for the Red Cross efforts. But there are still a lot of people who need your help!

Here is something you can do to help those in need:

Text to Donate: Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. As in the case with other donations via mobile, the donation will show up on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission, to donate this way. (To Opt-out text the word STOP to 90999.)

NBC Telethon for Hurricane Sandy - Friday, Nov. 2nd

Website: www.redcross.org

Phone: Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

AMERICAN RED CROSS
The Red Cross is providing shelter, clothes, supplies, food and water, as needed, for the victims of Sandy. Red Cross volunteers are helping not only by distributing food and supplies, but also by being there and providing moral and mental support many folks that were negatively impacted by this natural disaster. This will be an ongoing effort and most likely one of the largest Red Cross initiatives in the U.S. in the past five years.