TEXT TO SUCCESS WITH OPTN
In this, ‘age of the mobile’, communicating with people via text makes sense.
OPTN is a marketing tool which enables your customers to ‘opt in’ and receive, via text, more information about your business.
Text marketing works. It reaches only those people who really want the information and costs very little.
Read on to learn about the extraordinarily high response others are experiencing using this exciting new channel to market.
Tsunami Warning txt alerts
Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson CNZM recommends OPTN Tsunami Alerts
Click here to open Bob Clarkson Letter
Join the Party
Independent Distillers Group is an innovative manufacturer and distributor of ready-to-drink (RTD) products, beer, wine and spirits. The company prides itself on being dynamic, innovative and always keen to explore new opportunities. Its portfolio boasts some of the largest RTD brands in Australasia, including Vodka Cruiser, Woodstock Bourbon and KGB Vodka with Lemon, as well as the revolutionary Vodka Mudshake.
Independent Distillers have successfully trialed OPTN’s TXT marketing service, offering specific promotions to OPTN-registered customers through selected liquor outlets. These trials have attracted excellent customer response rates of between 20 and 34%. This level of interest is unprecedented, exceeding all other types of promotional channels.
Kane Stanford from Independent Distillers says “following the success of several early trials, we will be running OPTN across the wider business. This new service is an inexpensive form of promotion, delivering unprecedented results”.
Be A Safer Kiwi
Emergency Management organizations have a range of responsibilities in making New Zealand and its communities resilient to hazards and disasters. New Zealand is acknowledged as a world leader in developing a risk-based approach that will increase the capability of communities and individuals to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Putting the right tools, knowledge and skills in the hands of those who will be responsible is an intrinsic part of the process.
The introduction of OPTN free text service is viewed by emergency management practitioners as another weapon in the arsenal to protect people from natural disasters. It will be used alongside other warning systems, including TV, radio and sirens. The text service will provide registered mobile phone users in the regions with text alerts of storms, floods, tsunami and other Civil Defence emergencies.
The service was launched this year in Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District by the Tauranga-Western Bay Emergency Management Office and is now being adopted by other regional offices. Very few other countries in the world offer this type of service to the general public, although texting is increasingly used internationally for alerting officials, such as ministers, mayors and police to potential disasters.
Residents can register for the service by sending a 50c text or filling in a free registration form at local council offices. In the event of a disaster, text alerts and updates will be sent to those registered.
Tauranga-Western Bay Emergency Manager Barry Low said “the texts would vary depending on the circumstances but could advise people to tune into radio or television for details of a civil defence emergency, or to evacuate. Our aim is to provide subscribers with relevant heads-up information to ensure they can be prepared and, subsequently, take any necessary action if we get into a significant emergency situation.”
Several thousand residents opted in to the free text service within the first week and emergency officials continue to encourage all residents to register. The OPTN service is capable of alerting thousands of people to danger within minutes.
Global boarders ‘opting in’
Quest is New Zealand’s premier snowboard retailer, with shops in Queenstown, Wanaka, Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch.
Quest’s first OPTN trial was an invitation to a pre-sale evening, open to Quest loyalty club members. The pre-sale evening was a hit, with 15 to 20% of those texted coming along to take advantage of the great sale deals. Quest owner, Anthony Ruski-Jones says “OPTN is a cost effective way of direct marketing to those people with a specific interest in our products. Many of our clients comment that they received the text. The text brings them in store.”
Since introducing OPTN free text service, Quest’s list of club members has grown significantly. Quest are now creating a dedicated OPTN marketing plan, which will underpin specific product offerings to club members each month.