As a business owner, I have been really interested in mobile engagement. I have noticed that some of my favorite places to go use it. Like one of my favorite bubble tea places and a local coffee shop, they have these reward programs.
I simply enter my phone number each time I make a purchase and it keeps track and I earn rewards. Rewards like free add-ons or drinks. So basically in my head, I am trying to save while spending. Tricky! But to be fair, I am saving with the loyalty programs.
One place even gives out free merch when you hit certain point levels. Super fun for my kids. It is usually things like stickers and other gear.
I love it and it kind of makes me go more often than I should because I feel like I need to earn those rewards. Crazy right?
It uses a messaging platform that notifies me of what I have earned. Then they, in turn, can use that same messaging platform to send me messages when they have specials happening. Like, say a buy one get one free day! It isn’t spamming me, but it sends me and other customers information that we really need (want) to know.
The owner of these businesses can then gather some great information about the customers they have.
An SMS API is a software that enables code to send short messages via SMS. It’s a cool way to tie together telecommunications networks and the web.
I can see how this would seriously increase mobile engagement. It has support for text messaging which is the SMS, multimedia messaging which MMS.
It also allows for a mobile wallet, which I love the idea of, think of how you can use this with your budgets! For instance, there is a huge coffee chain out there that you know of. They have an app. You can add money to a digital gift card and then use the app to purchase your drinks.
When you purchase with the app you earn your stars as they call them. These add up and you can use them for purchases. Also, by adding money to the digital gift card, it can keep you on a budget. Say you add $10 per week or so… once you spend your $10 you have exhausted your budget for your coffee stops!
I know a lot of people that do it this way. It makes them aware of the expense and then they spend less because they have to make the choice of using the budget or saving it for an occasion. It really does help to have a visual like that.
Otherwise, people are dropping tons of money on coffee any given week and that is just not good for anyone’s budget!
Facebook Messenger, WeChat, voice-calling, push notification, live chat, and chatbots… seriously, these are all great tools to interact with your loyal customers.
Speaking as not only a business owner but as a customer, this makes me feel valued and important.
Girl on Fire
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