Text Messaging Provides A Burst of Marketing Opportunities

Short Message Service (SMS) is the mechanism behind text messaging for mobile phones.This globally accepted wireless service enables the transmission of alphanumeric and small non-text messages to and from mobile devices as well as fixed-base and wireless sources and destinations.

An SMS message is transmitted using short bursts of data that require very low bandwidth.Nearly all cell phones in use in the US today, some 255 million of them, can receive text messages.

Since alphanumeric messaging capability is now standard in all mobile handsets, text-based messages are the most popular type of SMS communications.A single SMS text message can be up to 160 characters in length.These 160 characters can be any combination of words, numbers or symbols that can be based on a textphonic language which allows fewer keystrokes.

SMS offers a variety of marketing applications, from mobile coupons, text alerts, viral promotions, mobile broadcasts, bounce ads, free tickets, etc.Its low-cost, high-penetration and high-retention offers a wealth of marketing opportunities to businesses, fundraising groups, institutions, political organizations, and much more.

There are a variety of applications for using Text Messaging for Business.Here are some examples:

TV-Stimulated Voting.

American Idol and Star Search are two examples of interactive TV programs that use SMS to engage viewers and solicit votes to select winners of their shows.

Real Estate Alerts.Customers can subscribe to a service that sends alerts when new properties get listed in their desired market/category.

Mobile Auction.Information on new products offered for auction is sent as SMS to mobile customers who are able to bid using their phone.

Interactive TV.For a small fee, viewers can send their SMS messages (greetings, comments, etc.) to a TV program and have their messages scroll on the screen and be viewed by the public.

Ticket Sales.Customers can buy airline tickets via their mobile handsets.The ticket is issued in the form of an SMS message which the customer presents with their phone when they check in.Also works for theatre tickets, sports events, etc.

Instant Sales Campaign.Retailers send customers instant sales messages valid only for a specified period.Customers who respond within the allotted time (usually 2 to 3 hours) get a percentage discount on the products featured in the message.

A New Language
Because common words take up a lot of space, a new textphonic language has emerged in an attempt to say as much as possible with the least number of characters.
But first, a word of caution.If you intend to use these words, keep in mind that although quite helpful, too much abbreviation can diminish the impact of an advertising message.

Non-Text SMS
SMS is not just for text messaging.
Any information that can fit into 160 bits can be delivered by SMS.Non-text SMS messaging enables the transmission of comparatively richer messages that can contain a combination of simple melodies (ringtones) and simple graphics (black and white admoticons) to compliant devices.

Screen Coupons
A Screen Coupon is a simple, small, bitmap-based advertising message that is just a little bigger than a postage stamp, about half the size of a regular business card.
A screen coupon is an ad message with a built-in promotional value.It may offer a store discount, free gift, free admission to an event, and even include a UPC code.To redeem, a customer must simply show the coupon on their mobile phone.

About the Author

Ben Deleon is President of Brandel, an innovative publishing company specializing in design and development of software & Internet-based businesses.

Brandel offers several mobile marketing products.Visit http://www.brandelinc.com, call 954-583-9000, or email ben@brandelinc.com.

Relaited Links:

• Using Offline Tactics to Generate Leads For Your Online Business
• The Advantages Of Domestic Call Centers
• A Step Up The Ladder?

Where to Incorporate: Delaware or Nevada?

For years, Delaware has been considered to be the prime state to incorporate and still holds the number one position for registered corporations.However, what you may not know is that Nevada has become the choice of many business owners who want to form a corporation and has been closing the gap to number of filings with Delaware in recent years.Before considering your options, you should know the advantages you'll gain if you start a business and incorporate in Nevada.

You may wonder if incorporation is the right choice for your business.Even if you're a one-man operation, incorporating (or forming an LLC) may be the best business entity for you.The major reason to incorporate is that it protects your personal assets from business debts, helps keep the IRS off your back (because a sole proprietorship is more likely to be audited), a better marketing advantages (which sounds better as you introduce yourself, the owner operator or the CEO of your company) and helps you get more access to cash and capital!

If you're looking for a state that allows more protection and levels of 'hoops' to jump through for those looking to get access to your money, the small investment to start in Nevada and foreign register (or qualify) to your home state may be very much worth the extra investment.Keep in mind, that many may tell you to keep it simple, which of course is inversely related to asset protection!

Here are the advantages that you can benefit from if you incorporate in Nevada:
It's Extremely Difficult for Anyone to Pierce Your Corporate Veil

First, what exactly does "piercing the corporate veil" mean?

When you form a corporation you must follow certain corporate formalities.If your corporation does not comply with all relevant corporate rules and regulations, keep accurate records of meetings by minutes, or if the corporation commingles funds, your board of directors, officers and shareholders could be held personally liable in the event of a lawsuit."Piercing the corporate veil" refers to having personal assets exposed in a corporate lawsuit.
How does Nevada feel about this?Nevada has a tough attitude about piercing the corporate veil, which is why major corporations domicile in Nevada.Essentially, Nevada says that unless they can prove fraud, your corporate veil will not be pierced!That provides an awesome degree of protection for your personal assets.

Your Officers and Directors Can Be Indemnified
In 1987, the Nevada Legislature passed a revolutionary law that permits corporations to place provisions in their articles of incorporation that eliminate the personal liability of officers and directors to the stockholders of Nevada Corporations.

Nevada Corporation Code allows for the indemnification of all officers, directors, employees, stockholders, or agents of a corporation for all actions that they take on behalf of the corporation that they had reasonable cause to believe was legal.This indemnification can include any and all civil, criminal and administrative action.These two laws can provide you with complete protection for the officers and directors of your Nevada Corporation, as long as they act prudently in their roles.

Delaware and a few other states soon adopted lesser versions of this law, but Nevada's law remains among the most thorough and comprehensive in the country.
Always do your research to determine your best course of action.For many people, however, Nevada offers a great mix of protection and flexibility when it comes to protecting your assets in today's difficult economic environment.

About the Author

Scott Letourneau is the CEO of Fast Business Credit, Inc.

and has a valuable free guide to help small business owners get access to capital plus a new program to help business owners understand the importance of credit!Go to our Business Credit Program page for powerful details!

Relaited Links:

• Steps To Obtain Business Credit And Capital For Your Small Business!
• Presenting A Professional Front
• Health Insurance, It's Over To You

Educational Sales Tips With Blogs vs. Websites

The question often times arises of what is the difference between a blog and a website.And despite many common misconceptions, the answer to this question is quite simple: A blog and a website are the same thing because a blog is a website.Blogs, or Web logs as they are sometimes referred to, started out as a way for a select few computer savvy individuals to keep online diaries.

A small group of so-called computer whizzes used blogs to record their daily activities and publish the record on the World Wide Web.Over time, however, the group of people who used blogs expanded and more and more people began to use blogs both in a leisurely and professional manner.Before long, blogs became commonplace on the Web, and people began accepting them as another credible source of Web information.Although many critics believed that blogs were nothing short of a dying fad that would never survive the test of time, history has revealed that blogs have made a lasting impact on the way people do business on the Internet.

Now people everywhere are using blogs for a variety of purposes, most notably to make money online.Even to a greater degree than other areas of the Internet business, blogging has become a very simple way to make money.Internet business people are now confronted with the question of whether to start a blog or a website when establishing an Internet business.Marketers and business people frequently ask whether it is better to start a blog or a website, and to answer this question they need to know the differences and similarities between the two.

To begin with, it is very important to understand that in many ways, a blog is a website.In fact, a blog can appropriately be labeled the modern version of a website.If an Internet business person wishes to do so, he or she can format a blog so that it appears no different than a traditional website, but the added flexibility of a blog gives it more advantages than the traditional website.It can be said that a website takes more work to create and is much more difficult to make changes to than a blog.This is because blogs are created with the specific purpose in mind of allowing individuals to update them as frequently as needed after all, blogs evolved from the online diary concept.

The benefit of having a simple method of updating a blog provides bloggers with the advantage of being able to remain current.This is particularly important when it comes to search engine optimization because staying current leads to staying on the top of the search engine.Simply put, blogs provide Internet business people with a very important search engine optimization tool because bloggers can adjust keywords along with the changing times.

Although blogs have their many advantages, they do not render the traditional website obsolete.An Internet business person would be wise to have a solid traditional website in addition to creating a blog.This way, the blog can direct consumers back to the traditional website to make a purchase.In sum, to keep up with the times, Internet business people need to have both a blog and a traditional website

About the Author

Educational Sales and Marketing/ ESM enrolls people into high end one on one training and coaching programs in the field of internet marketing.

To learn more go to www.esm-inc.net

Relaited Links:

• Integrating Strategies and Tactics Into Your Small Business
• Finding the Best Web Design and Development Services in Arizona
• 7 Secrets Credit Card Companies Don't Want You to Know