Message Hero's SMS API

Step 1 - SIGNUP

Step 2 - AUTHENTICATE

jQuery example:
 
var token = '';       
var email = 'mhemail@domain.com';
var password = 'mhpassword';

$.ajax({
	url: 'https://www.messagehero.com/api/token',
	type: 'post',
	data: {
		email: email,
		password: password,
		grant_type: 'password'
	},
	success: function (response) {
		if (response.access_token != undefined) {
			token = response.access_token;
		}
		else
		{
			alert(response.responseMessage);
		}
	},
	error: function($xhr) {
		alert($.parseJSON($xhr.responseText)
			.ResponseMessage);
	}
});

Step 3 - SEND

jQuery example:

var message = JSON.stringify({
	msisdn: '35386XXXXXXX',
	userFromTag: 'Business',
	messageText: 'Your Message Text'
});

$.ajax({
	url: 'https://www.messagehero.com/api/message/send',
	type: 'post',
	contentType: 'application/json',
	dataType: 'json',
	headers: {
		Authorization: 'bearer ' + token
	},
	data: message,
	success: function (response) {
         alert(response.responseMessage);
         alert(response.responseCodeId);
    },
    error: function($xhr) {
        alert($.parseJSON($xhr.responseText)
            .ResponseMessage);
         alert($.parseJSON($xhr.responseText)
            .ResponseCodeId);
    }
});

Google Chrome App

Feedback

Step 1

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Step 3

1. Receive SMS Replies to your Online Inbox with Smart Reply

2. Invite a Business

3. Improved Customer Support Functionality

4. User Interface Improvements

• Clearer message counter: We've added styling to make it clear that you are moving into a multi-part message when you are sending long messages.
• Opt-Ins and Opt-Outs: Both are now automatically shown by most recent.
• Clearer 'Message Sent' feedback. Now when you send or schedule a message, we'll show you a large notification so it's more obvious your send has been successful!

5. Bug Fixes and General Updates

Feedback

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Step 10

Lots of businesses send bulk text messages online as a core part of their marketing plan - it's a low-cost way to send deals and special offers directly to your customers' phones. However, direct marketing is just one use for group text messaging. There are a variety of other uses for text messaging that can be help to keep your customers or members informed and help your business to run more efficiently.

Operational News & Information

You may need to send out operational information e.g. opening/closing times, class locations, enrollment info etc. It's always a good idea to keep your customers in the loop regarding any changes to your business operations that may affect them.

Last Minute or Urgent Notices

No matter how well you plan, there can sometimes be circumstances out of your control that will throw a spanner in the works. Maybe a speaker at your event has dropped out? Perhaps you are a golf club and you need to inform your members the course will be closed due to bad weather. You may run a fitness club and need to rearrange a training session. Whatever the case, texting your customers or members is a great way to instantly inform your contacts of last minute or urgent changes.

Reminders

The modern world is an increasingly busy place with a multitude of distractions. If your business works on a booking basis, it's always a good idea to send an SMS reminder to your customers for their appointment or booking. Usually a text the day before is the best idea, to allow them time to reorganise things to make sure they can make their booking. You can ask your customer to let you know in advance if they can't make their booking and also offer them an easy way to book a different time. Then you can free up the slot for another customer and limit the potential loss of a no-show.

Fixtures & Results

If you run a sports club, it's a nice idea to send fixture information and recent results out periodically to keep your members in the loop and reinforce the community atmosphere at your club.

Two Way Texting & Competitions

Another great way to communicate with your customers is to use a keyword - a short word unique to your business that your customers can text to send messages to you e.g. if you run a car repair shop called Top Motor, you could choose the keyword TOPMOTOR. Every Message Hero account comes with one free keyword. To send you a message, your customers simply need to text your keyword + their message text to 51772 e.g. TOPMOTOR Answer to 51772. This allows you to interact in two-way texting with your customers. You could also run mobile competitions where your customers can enter via text - all texts will be viewable in your Message Hero Inbox so you can choose a winner from the correct entrants. You can set an auto-reply message for your keyword and if you would like multiple SMS keywords, this can be arranged, please get in touch.

Hopefully this article will give you more ideas for how you can use online text messages to interact in different ways with your customers and boost your business as a result!

When you run a business with physical locations such as a shop, café, restaurant or theater, you'll know that while you have plenty of loyal, regular customers, there can still be slow days. You can entice some new walk-ins using chalkboards, window stickers and other ads on your premises. You can also encourage return visits with discount vouchers and loyalty cards. Sending SMS text messages online using Message Hero is another great way to boost the chances of your customers returning.

How can sending text messages get me more bookings or walk-ins?

1. Exclusive Special Offers. You can text your latest special offers, value discounts, seasonal sale information and lots more directly to your customer's phone's to prompt them to come to your premises. You can even text exclusive offers to people who sign up to your text marketing database. You can make them time sensitive i.e. This offer applies today only, if you want to entice your customers as soon as possible. You can text a special voucher code your customers can show to redeem their gift. If you have an online store, you can text a link to your special offer or discount code. True, you could do the same by email, but with email open rates coming in at around 20% vs 99% of text messages being read, it's a no-brainer.

2. New Products. If you have a new range of products or a seasonal special, let your customers know by SMS.

3. Event Promotion by Text Message. If you are planning an event on your premises and you want to increase attendance, texting the details to your customers with plenty of notice is a great idea. Maybe you can encourage bookings with an early bird rate? You can even send them a reminder closer to the event date. If you own a restaurant or a café and you are launching a new menu, let your customers know! There are various public holidays and events throughout the year that make great times to send out text messages to promote special events e.g. New Years, Valentines Day, Mid-Term breaks, Christmas Holidays etc. There's a good chance your customers will have time off on some of these occasions, so it's a good idea to let them know what you are offering - just remember to give plenty of notice if they are going to need a babysitter!

4. Reminders. If your business runs on an appointment basis, sending text message reminders is a great way of avoiding no-shows. If you offer pre-ordering of highly anticipated products, you can use text messages to let your customers know their order is in stock and ready for collection.

6 benefits of text message marketing for dining and retail

1. It's really cheap. You can try Message Hero for free, and once you are happy it'll only cost [CBC show="y" country="ie"]4.5c[/CBC][CBC show="n" country="ie"]3.3p[/CBC] per text message you send. Compared to other advertising budgets, that is a huge saving.

2. It's direct. With the rapid, near 100% reach of mobile phone technology, you can be sure your customers will be carrying their phones with them most of the time - meaning they'll see your message, wherever they are.

3. It's quick. If you are really busy, texting is one of the fastest ways for you to advertise. Texts are short, so they take very little time to type. You can also schedule messages to send at future dates with Message Hero. This means you can line texts up to send out over the next few weeks all at once, so you can focus on other things.

4. It's instant. Within seconds of sending your text, your customers will see it on their phone. This means you can include time-sensitive offers, or you can make urgent or last-minute announcements. Studies have also shown that the majority of text messages are read within 3 minutes of being received.

5. It's flexible. You don't have to book in your advertising or run it at a pre-defined time. You can send text messages when it suits you. Maybe you are having an event at the weekend or a public holiday is coming up and you want to get people's attention when they aren't in work. Texts can be sent any time - although it's not recommended to send texts late at night or early in the morning - you want your customers to be well rested!

6. It's requested. Text messages, like emails, are based on customer opt-ins i.e. your customers agree to sign up to receive offers from you. This means that the people receiving your messages are likely to respond to the offers in them. If customers aren't interested, they can simply opt-out of future communications as long as you have included opt-out information in your messages (which is obligatory for marketing messages). Message Hero automatically removes opted-out contacts from your account so you can guarantee you are being compliant with data protection regulations.

For more tips on sending the perfect marketing text message, please read our free guide here

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Here's a rundown of the 7 biggest mobile marketing mistakes and some simple ideas to avoid them.

1. Bad Timing!
2. What do I do now?
3. Unsuitable Tone
4. Message Length
5. Who is this?
6. No Opt-Out Information
7. Underwhelming Offers

1. Bad Timing

One of the big advantages of text message marketing is that your customers will have their mobile phones with them at all times of the day. Unlike email, most text messages are read immediately but that doesn't mean there aren't bad times to send your marketing message.

Before you hit the send button, think about when your customers are most likely to act on your message. If you want customers to pop into your cafe for a lunchtime special then maybe a mid- morning marketing message will work. If you want them to call and make a booking then send your message when you think your customers will have time to call you.

Forward planning is key. If you are advertising a future event like a special Valentines dinner menu, a good rule of thumb is to send an early message so your organised customers can book in advance. Then you can cater for the badly-prepped boyfriends and send a last minute reminder to fill up your remaining tables.

2. What Do I Do Now?

One of the biggest mobile marketing mistakes companies make is forgetting to include a call to action at the end of their text marketing message. Make it easy for your customers and tell them exactly what they need to do next.

If you want them to visit your website, pick up the phone or simply call in to your store - don't forget to include all the relevant information!

• Book online at www.bla.com
• Pop in to Cookees on Main St to pick up your free pastry with any regular coffee
• Call us on 012345678 today to book your deluxe facial

3. Unsuitable Tone

You might think that if any medium could warrant a more casual approach it would be texting. You may be a master of txt spk and know your LOLs, L8Rs, TTYLs and GR8s from your ROFLs (and if you don't you can get a translation here) but your customers might not respond well to the language, depending on your business. Try to tailor your tone to your business. TXT SPK might be fine in casual circumstances, but if you want your customers to take your business seriously, you should try to use appropriate tone in your messages to them.

• Hi There, Get a free bottle of wine this Wednesday with every two main courses in Freddie's Bistro. Call to book now on 01 600 XXXX. Opt-out? Text STOP to 51772.

It may not always be the case that you want to sound professional - it depends on what type of business you have and who your audience is. For example, if you run student nights for a pub, your customers might respond better to younger, friendlier language:

• YOYOYO! Student BYOB Electro Nite in the Bunker tomoz and every Tues! €20 Entry & DJ Till Late. C U There! Opt-out? Text STOP to 51772.

You will have a fair idea what writing style might appeal to your audience, but try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they would respond to your text message.

4. Message Length - Too Short or Too Long?

Text messages aren't limited to only 160 characters - most phones will support messages up to 459 characters. This isn't an invitation to write an essay though. Let's assume your customers are all busy people - they'll appreciate you getting to the point without the waffle but make sure not to be curt or abrupt.

A good ingredients check list for marketing messages is Greeting + Offer/News + Call to Action. Embellish the language and tone as you think necessary for your target market.

5. Who is this?

A perfectly written marketing message can often fail for one simple reason. You forget to tell your customers who you are!

There are a couple of ways to identify yourself but one of the simplest is to change the From Label on your message. This label is displayed at the top of the message on your customers phone - in place of a phone number.

You are limited to 11 characters when choosing your From Label but make sure it's something your customers will recognise. E.g. If your business is called 'Dees Salon', then set your 'From' label to 'Dees Salon' or if you have a longer company name that exceeds the 11 character limit such as Greener Space, you could choose an abbreviation for your 'From' label e.g. 'GREENER' or 'GSPACE'.

If you can't set your From Label then be sure to sign off with your company name at the end of the message, before your opt-out wording.

6. No Opt-out Information

One unforgivable mobile marketing mistake is to omit your opt-out information from your message. You might be sad to see them go, but it is legally required by data-protection law to include a way for your customers to unsubscribe from your database. The easiest way to do this is to include instructions to opt out by text message e.g. Opt-Out? Text STOP to 51772.

7. Underwhelming Offers

At the end of the day, perfect timing and tone is not going to work if your customers don't feel you are offering value. Don't waste time and money sending marketing messages that won't surprise and delight your customers.

In addition to your product or service, you may wish to try some of these text marketing ideas to improve your customers' response to your offer:

1. Loyalty Discounts: Schedule your next 3 sessions with us today and get the third half price.
2. Bonus e.g. Buy any regular coffee and get a free pastry!
3. Time Sensitive e.g. Book today to avail of this great offer!
4. Action-based rewards e.g. Book online and get 20% off.
5. Audience incentives e.g. Great family offer, kids go free...!
6. Complimentary Upgrades: Book a something and we'll make it a deluxe on us!

Roundup

These may be the biggest mobile  marketing mistakes but they are easy to avoid and with a little thought and planning you can increase the return on your marketing and create text message marketing campaigns that really work.