Over the past 7 years, we have come up with all manner of cock-a-maynee plans for using text messaging in every day business life. Everything from ordering pizza and plumbers to testing for the sobriety of concert going teenagers. I’ve been amazed at what people can come up with. Having said that, some strategies have been better than others for helping you to build your business. Here are the top five uses for SmartNote.

Number 5: Reminders

There is nothing worse than making an appointment with someone, turning up, only to find they have forgotten. If you are an estate agent, you have virtually guaranteed to come across this situation at least a couple of times a month. Propertyteam have been using SmartNote to remind viewers of appointments for years now and scheduling reminders has become so useful that Martin O’Mahony, MD of PropertyTeam says “this software is the best technology purchase I have ever made”. Staff send out reminders for those dreaded Saturday morning appointments and if someone can’t make it - they call to cancel.

Number 4: Keeping the troops up to date

The IMO are a busy bunch. They co-ordinate a variety of services for consultants and doctors all over the country. This mobile buch aren’t often at a desk so sending out a text message is an ideal way to let everyone know what is going on back at base. In these recessionary times - group text messages sent out to thousands of reciepients make sure that members hear all the latest news from the horses mouth rather than through the grape vine (so to speak).

Number 3: Keeping the bar full

Howth Golf Club changed management a couple of years ago now and with the change they brought in our group text messaging service. The key to survival for established and new clubs alike is keeping the bar busy. Sending a text advertisement to members of special events and competitions means that the members don’t clutter up their post boxes with quickly binned flyers and at the same time keep up to speed with events in the club. The service literally boosts the till reciepts in the bar within hours.

Number 2: Feeling Hungry?

La Terratza restaurant in Castleknock have been using text messages as a means of promoting to past customers for a long time. In the last six months it has become a little bit quieter than Rudy would like however. Luckily he has collected patrons emails and phone numbers via competitions advertised on table settings and can now offer loyal customers great special deals. “It definitly works” Rudy recently told us over the phone while making another order.

Number 1: Retail Therapy

The single biggest advantage of text messagin promotion is the immediacy of the service. Having taken collection of a shed load of stock in the morning, proprietors and managers can fire out deals and invitations to customers by text within minutes. Noa noa, have just sent out a text invite to customers to their annual Christmas customers evening. There is simply no cheaper and more effective way of getting the troops in on short notice.