Will Marketers Kill QR Codes For Consumers?

QR Codes are an interesting technology. Some people hate them. Some people swear by them. We're not going to look at the their faults or positives today - instead we wanted to turn your attention to an interesting take on their long-term prospects over at Mobile Marketer - Are marketers killing consumer enthusiasm for QR codes?

Marketers are at various stages in the adoption of QR codes as part of their ongoing marketing efforts. However, simply linking to a video or mobile page may damage consumer enthusiasm and dampen their willingness to engage.

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Sure-fire ways to hamper the success of a mobile campaign include not featuring simple instructions around how to scan the code or featuring incomplete or unclear calls to action.

Additionally, placing mobile bar codes on collateral or signs that are not in a suitable location – such as a billboard that is far away from the sidewalk, on TV for 2 seconds, next to a busy road where it would be dangerous to stop to scan or a subway station with no network access – will prove to be ineffective.

Another way to hamper the success of a QR code campaign is delivering content that is not valuable to the consumer and directing them to a page that is not mobile optimized.

For some tips on how to effectively use QR codes, head over to our sister brand's blog, Ez Texting.

Check Out Our New REST API For Text Messaging

For years we've offered easy to use HTTP APIs at Club Texting. This week we complimented those APIs with new REST APIs. We offer JSON/XML based REST APIs for nearly all core Club Texting functions. Multiple-recipient sending is only available via the REST API.

Check out the documentation now. PHP code samples are already available.

The Media Sector Is Moving From Online To Mobile

A recent panel at the Publishing Business Conference & Expo's Mobile Strategy Summit for Magazine Publishers revealed that the media sector is increasingly looking at mobile as the place to be:

More companies are branching out into the mobile space, whether it be via a smartphone application, mobile site or apps for tablet devices such as the iPad.

The media industry is quickly moving from online consumption to mobile.

“2010 was definitely the year of mobile,” said Sarah Wagman Ellenbogen, strategic partnership and development manager at Google Inc., Mountain View, CA. “The usage is increasing and people are using phones for a lot more than just talking.”

Read the entire article at Mobile Marketer.

Head over to Club Texting to learn more about how Magazine Publishers can use mobile marketing.

Learn How To Use Mobile Coupons To Power Your Text Marketing Campaign

Looking to take your text marketing campaign to the next level? Read our Mobile Couponing guide and learn how to use Club Texting to start texting mobile coupons to your customers.

Don't have a Club Texting account? Sign up now. It's free to try.

Location Based Marketing For Restuarants...To Explode!

As consumers use their mobile devices -- especially smartphones -- more and more, you can expect a dramatic shift in the way restaurants market to their patrons:

Restaurants' use of location-based marketing to promote to and drive consumers to a particular restaurant while they are mobile will "explode" in 2011, predicts research provider Packaged Facts. 

As consumers' uptake of location-based services continues to mushroom, with check-in services such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook Places, Twitter geolocation and competitors "not only becoming ubiquitous, but also more sophisticated," context-aware restaurant advertising will take off "sharply" this year, the report notes.

Of course text message marketing is going to play a role here, given that the vast majority of consumers have never used location based services.

Learn more about how restaurants can market to their patrons using text messages.

"The Vast Majority of Marketers Will Utilize Mobile Marketing In 2011"

If you didn't already know, mobile marketing has become an essential tool in any marketers belt. The MMA and The Association of National Advertisers have a new report out confirm this:

The vast majority of client-side marketers – 88 percent – say they will utilize mobile marketing in 2011. Seventy-five percent plan to increase their spending on mobile marketing initiatives by an average of 59 percent versus 2010, according to a new survey from the ANA (Association of National Advertisers) in partnership with the MMA (Mobile Marketing Association).

Survey findings showed that in 2010, 62 percent of marketers used some form of mobile marketing for their brands. An additional 26 percent reported their intention to begin doing so this year, elevating the expected 2011 utilization rate to the near-universal 88 percent level.

Read more at The MMA Website.

Mobile Barcodes: The Challenges Ahead

We've never truly 'got' mobile barcodes, but we recognize that some consumers have embraced them as a form of mobile marketing. They certainly have their advantages, but they continue to face challenges. Consider TheNextWeb's recent post, 'Mobile Barcodes: The Challenges Ahead'

While the use of mobile bar codes has been mainstream in Asian countries like Japan, it is not until last year that we’ve witnessed their adoption in U.S. and Europe by brands in order to provide holistic experiences to their customers, blurring the line between the online and the offline world.

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There is a long list of brands experimenting with mobile codes, but there is also a list of challenges they have to face in order to interact with customers in innovative and effective ways.

Head over to TheNextWeb to read about challenges for further adoption including fragmentation, 'Coupon Madness,' and Mobile payments.

Mobile Marketer Names Their Top 10 Mobile Apps Of 2010

With a week left in 2010 we've already seen a flurry of top ten lists - from iPhone and iPad apps to the tech world's winners and losers - but there's always room for more. Mobile Marketer posted their top ten mobile applications of the year this morning. Mobile Marketer took a holistic approach: "Here are the top 10 applications of 2010, in no particular order, based on usability, content and how well the app serves its purpose."

You'll find the usual suspects like Angry Birds and The Weather Channel along with some gems you might've overlooked. Check out the list now.

Text Message Marketing For Your Business

Five years ago when we built Club Texting to bring text messaging services to the nightlife industry. Since then we've grown to support tens of thousands of clients in every industry imaginable. If you're thinking about launching your business or group's first text message marketing campaign we can help. Check out some of the popular uses of Club Texting:

Real Estate - Generate leads faster and more cost efficiently with (SMS) text messaging for real estate.

Retail - The Club Texting (SMS) text messaging software makes it easy to collect cell phone numbers and send promotional text messages to your retail customers.  We offer customized solutions for car dealerships, golf courses, salons & spas, sports leagues, and theaters.

Magazines  Our cell phone advertising and mobile marketing programs for magazines and publishing allow your readers to respond to ads and articles with their mobile phone.

Radio  We offer text messaging and mobile marketing programs for radio that allow you to interact with your listeners. Take song requests, poll your listeners and more.

Television  - Offer your viewers interactive applications to compliment their viewing experience with our text messaging promotions for television.

Colleges, Universities, & Schools  Our (SMS) text messaging notification system for colleges, universities, and schools allows you to quickly get information to your students.

Social, Political & Non-Profit Groups - Use the power of (SMS) text messaging to rally supporters, organize meetups, and increase the bonds of community. If you work for a political organization or candidate, please visit our text messaging solutions for political campaigns section.

Churches, Temples, & Congregations  - Our (SMS) text messaging software is the perfect communications solution for faith-based institutions. We can help foster a sense of community with (SMS) text messaging for churches, temples, and other congregations.

Direct Mail & Out-Of-Home - Customized SMS text messaging solutions for direct mail and out-of-home advertising firms.

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Don't see your type of business or group on the list? Don't worry - we have clients in too many industries to count. See what some of our clients are saying about us to get a better idea of what we can do for you.

Addding A Signup Widget To Your Facebook Page Just Got Easier

Our Facebook signup widget is one of our most popular features - but we also know that adding it to your Facebook Page can be a bit confusing. Had trouble adding the widget in the past? Haven't tried adding a signup tab to your Facebook Page yet? Then check out our new step-by-step guide to adding the Facebook signup widget.