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The benefit of SMS

Many people think the character limit of SMS is a drawback to the service and prefer e-mail instead. While e-mail has many benefits, I believe the limitation of characters of SMS is a positive.

About 95% of SMS are read - why do you think that is? Because to get your point across in 160 characters is efficient and it takes only seconds to read. People hold off reading e-mail because it's just another task to filter through the junk. I have actually text someone to let them know I sent an e-mail that needs their attention.

I wish I could hold face to face conversations with a 160 character limit. People ramble on for minutes only to get to the point later. Think about it. The next conversation you have, take the first 20 words the person says and see if it translates in to a meaningful message.

Face to face conversations and e-mails are great. Texts are not for every situation and my point is not that one will take over the other. My point is that the limitation of 160 characters for SMS is useful and should be seen as a benefit of text messages. Think about what you are communicating. Is it something that you need to describe at length or can you get the same point across in 160 characters?

For this post, here is the point in less than 160 characters: Get to the point. Say what you mean. Everyone's time is valuable.

Blog for Techie Diva and Hp Magic Giveaway - all for the kids

If you have not heard, HP has given $6,000 worth of equipment to each of the top 50 blogger's to hold thier own contests to give it all away this holiday season. Wow! So, why am I posting this? Because I want to win one of the prizes and give to kids in need of hope, joy and a little fun.

So, what exactly will I do? Well, the holiday season is for spending time with friends and family and spreading cheer wherever you are. As I've grown up, it's fun for me to see the excitement on the faces of kids when they get overwhelmed about presents. That why I will give the entire prize to my favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude gives hope to kids and their families all year long. The kids deserve all that they can to give them the best time while they are away from their friends at home this holiday season. St. Jude treats children of all ages and the prizes included in this package has something for all ages.

I typically do not get excited about contents but thinking about being able to give this to St. Jude is exciting. So, please wish me luck so kids in need can benefit. Also, please visit Techie Diva's Web site and read about the contest. It's a win-win situation as long as the winner does something positive with the prize pack.

BlackBerry Storm Experience E-mail: Fail

I admit that I am very excited about the first touchscreen BlackBerry, called the Storm. Verizon sent an e-mail to me today regarding the BlackBerry Storm which invited me to take a 360° tour of the device. Excellent, right? Far from it. This is what I get:

Here is the actual URL: http://estore.vzwshop.com/storm/?email=HBX&CMP=EMC-C-C-S-BBERRY-Rvel

I also tried to view in Internet Explorer and no luck. Is this understandable and likely just an oversight? Yes. It is simply a careless error that I would not expect from a marketing campaign.

I did see some posts on this a couple of days ago so I thought it was exclusively from Rogers. Please post a comment if any information is known about this.

Mobile Marketing Campaigns - Where are the Numbers?

For the past 2 months of searching I have found an abundance of information on what new mobile campaigns are being planned and executed thanks to sites like MocoNews, Mobile Industry Review, MobileCrunch and Mobile Marketing Watch. What I feel there is a lack of is the results from those campaigns. Sure, quotes like, "We saw an increase in sales" helps but specific numbers on methodologies used, abandon rate, what worked, what didn't are hard to come by. How was mobile incorporated in to other media? Did you see the mobile cannibalized other efforts in the campaign?

I came across MobiAD News today and was pleased to find a list of mobile campaigns in one spot that went in to fairly deep review and explanation of the campaign. I completely agree that Mobile Marketing is new and exciting but let's get passed the giddiness for a moment and get down to what works and what doesn't and progress mobile efforts to where they could and should be. With the current state of the economy, it is now that we should be seeing the most innovative thinking to provide consumers what they are looking for.

Please comment below if you know of any good resources, free or paid (preferably free).