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Recently, I had to call the pharmacy to make sure they had been able to refill a prescription for me. The lady was very nice and said it was ready. In addition, she asked if I would be interested in signing up to receive a text message when my prescriptions were ready in the future. 

Of course!

How convenient to be able to get a text message when my prescriptions are ready for pick-up. CVS also allows you to sign up to receive emails to better manage your prescriptions, receive health information, and receive special offers throughout the store. And that's just one example! They're taking advantage of several different types of marketing channels to make their program more efficient for customers. Many email marketing firms are encouraging their clients to expand into other channels to increase their reach to audiences. 

Only working in one channel right now? Pairing with an email marketing agency, like Delivra, can help you implement other programs in addition to your email campaigns. It might make sense to set up an SMS program (outbound test messages) as a way to communicate with you audience. Or they might be able to help set up a text to subscribe program as well. Text to subscribe refers to having people text you their email address to join your email marketing list. It's a great way to build your email list without much effort on your part. 

For the best email marketing results, incorporate it with other channels, whether that's mobile marketing, social media marketing, blogging, or all of them!

I'm looking forward to receiving my first update from CVS via text and email (now that's I'm signed up for it). Want to learn more about managing your email marketing and incorporating some additional channels? Reach out the email marketing consultants at Delivra today! 

I attended a webinar last week. It focused on SMS's (text on a mobile device) emerging role in marketing. 

My take away was: Think horizontally - not vertically. 

It is more important than every to think cross-channel and cross-device. For years, we have heard traditional marketers should include the web in everything they do. That message is now reality...

However, a new mantra is emerging - Engage in Every Channel. 

So, no matter what channel of marketing you are using include hooks to SMS, traditional media, email and social that can be cross-supporting. 

For example, scroll a SMS call to action on a television commercial, add an email subscribe form to your Facebook presence, or include a QR code in a print ad. 

What not to do? I received a happy 4th of July text from an Indianapolis tourist destination. I replied with a STOP command. 

Text VOTE to 5710 if you like Casey Abrams.

Idol: This once only msg
confirms your vote for
Casey was received. Vote
as many times as U like
B4 voting closes. See the
results tomorrow only on
FOX!

American Idol's broadcast recently (and my vote) reminded me of the show that launched the marketing SMS/text revolution.

Speaking of mobile, Michael Becker, Managing Director, North America of the mobile marketing association appeared at a recent seminar in Indianapolis.  He revealed that 75% of the mobile phones in the U.S. only have text or voice. This number is projected to grow to only 50% in the next two years.  Obviously the iPhone is not the only mobile device out there.

He further said that if your customer persona is Hispanic males under 30, for instance, text may be the only way to reach this group as they are not television watchers and don't own a computer.  There are other demographic groups that have similar characteristics.

Want to reach people where they are and on the device they have with them during every waking hour?  The answer is compelling.  Mobile fits the bill.

On another note, I was standing in line at a restaurant in Ann Arbor, MI last week.  This facility is but one of many business units of a Delivra client.  My contact and I were discussing a planned tour of Tuscany hosted by their travel business when a lady next to us said, "I love Tuscany!  I didn't know you did that."

Now, this is no small opportunity as a tour for two costs $10,800. I suggested posting a sign in the restaurant with our text-2-subscribe instructions to get patrons of one business to sign up for information from another. Classic cross-merchandising.   And sign-ups are automatic.

Want to see how it works? Text DELIVRA to 71813 (Message & Data Rates Apply.)  Want to try a low risk month-2-month test?  Email me at nberman@delivra.com or call my desk 317.348.3178.

Neil Berman | President & CEO

With the rise of social media, people assumed email marketing was dead. I'm assuming that with the number of mobile phone owners increasing, people will again think...email is dying. I can't agree.

In fact, just like there is great potential in email and social media integrating, I think the same is true for mobile and email.

Recently, a HubSpot blog post highlighted effective email list growth tactics based on information from MarketingSherpa. It was encouraging to see that mobile capture was proving to be a valuable tool for B2B companies. I have no doubt that B2C will also soon find the effectiveness of using mobile capture for email lists. There are so many opportunities to engage with your customers via the mobile marketing channel, such as text to subscribe, SMS, and email.

According to one article by Christmas of 2011, 1 in 2 Americans will own a smart phone. With so many people in possession of a mobile device, it's pertinent marketers start to infiltrate this marketing channel. If you haven't started engaging with mobile marketing yet, here are a few quick tips to get you going:

1. Plan. As with most new marketing strategies, it's important to prepare a plan. You have to determine which areas of mobile marketing are the best to implement based on who your audience is and how active they are on mobile devices.

2. Goals. Once you've determined that your audience is, in fact, going to benefit from your company engaging with them via this marketing channel, it's important to figure out what your company's goals are with using mobile strategies.

3. Budget. Next, figure out what available funds you have to incorporate this new tool. Once you have an idea of what you can spend, you can start the implementation process of some of these tactics.

Of course, these are just the very beginning steps to get started implementing mobile marketing. If you are currently working with an ESP to send your email marketing campaigns, you may want to check with them to see if they also provide mobile marketing services as well.  Delivra plans to soon launch the text to subscribe functionality for it's clients, allowing people to text a keyword to a short code number in order to subscribe to your email list.

I think we all agree that mobile marketing is on the rise. Have you seen a mobile marketing campaign that you thought was exceptional? Please share in the comments; I'd love to hear about it!

Lavon Temple | Marketing