Brilliant Mobile

Content is King!

2011-10-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Is Developing a Mobile App Worth the Cost?

2011-09-15T00:28:00.000-07:00

The Reach Of Different Mobile Channels

partial article from: February 24, 2011 by Aaron Maxwell, Mashable Business

From a pure “how many prospects can I reach” perspective, the best mobile marketing tool is text messaging. About 68% percent of American cell phone subscribers sent a text message in late 2010, according to comScore’s mobile market share report.

Of course, you can do things with apps and websites that you can’t do with SMS. So how many people can you reach with an app? And how many with a mobile website?

For mobile websites, it’s easy. The best indicator is how many people actually browse the web on their mobile phones. As of late 2010, it’s currently over 36% of all U.S. mobile phone subscribers. So, about one half as many people as you can reach with a text message.

There is more to the story for apps. I was at the San Francisco de Young museum a couple of weeks ago. They threw a little shindig to celebrate the release of their official mobile app.

The only hitch: You could only install it if you had an iPhone. Those of us with Androids and BlackBerrys couldn’t play. That reflects a current reality with apps. An iPhone app only works on, well, iPhones. Your app has to be made separately for each platform.

In North America, the most important smartphone platforms right now are iOS, Android, and BlackBerry. How many mobile users are on each? Here are the ratios in the U.S., as a percentage of all mobile phone users, for the last quarter of 2010:

iPhone: 6.75%
Android: 7.75%
BlackBerry: 8.53%
TOTAL: 23.0%

In other words, if you decide to only make an iPhone app, fewer than 7% of all mobile phone users will be able to use it. If the app’s primary purpose is marketing, you’ll need to decide whether this reach is big enough to be worth it.

And if you develop three different apps to cover these three most common platforms, you’re going to potentially triple your cost. All so you can reach only a fraction of the number of people you can get with a mobile website.

To make things worse, I’m ignoring Windows Phone 7. A year from now it may have a very significant market share, thanks to Microsoft’s joint venture with Nokia. Most mobile websites will work fine on the new Nokia/WP7 phones the day they are released. But creating and pushing out a Silverlight mobile app is no small task.

Apps Aren’t Free

The costs for this can add up. There’s no such thing as a “typical” app, so it’s hard to give a meaningful average cost. But as a general working figure, we can say it costs at least $30,000 to design, implement and deploy a brand-quality iPhone app. I haven’t found published studies for the equivalent costs for Android and BlackBerry, but since the device fragmentation is greater, it would makes sense that the costs are at least similar.

All the above means that, at the end of the day, creating a set of mobile native apps that reach, say, 80% of smartphone users is going to be far more expensive than creating a mobile web app that reaches 90% of smartphone users. I don’t even mean twice the cost; I mean more like five, maybe even ten times the cost.

In many situations, that’s acceptable. As noted, sometimes you want to do things that just aren’t possible with a mobile website, at least with good quality. Or maybe it is possible, but you know you can create something of better quality with a native app, so that the result is more engaging. For enterprise-scale organizations like consumer banks and nationwide retail stores, they have the capital, and the ROI justifies it. But if your budget for mobile is under $100,000, it may not be a good approach.

How does a mobile website compare in cost? I haven’t found any published study of the typical cost for mobile web design and development. But from my experience running a company that does just that, I can tell you that it’s almost always less than the $30,000 for an “average” iPhone app.

What’s the ROI?

Given all this, how many prospects will a venture reach per dollar? At a conservative estimate of 234 million U.S. adults with mobile phones, here’s the breakdown:

In other words, you can reach nearly five times as many people per dollar invested with a mobile website rather than a native mobile app. And that’s conservative, assuming it costs just the same to create the BlackBerry app as it does to create the iPhone app (it doesn’t), or that a mobile website will cost the same as an equivalent iPhone app (generally, not even close).

Does this mean you shouldn’t do an app? Of course not. There are many other factors involved. If an app user converts 10 times more frequently, for example, the difference is more than justified. But that’s a big hurdle to clear. And if you want to reach users across more than one mobile platform, you have to consider the extra capital investment as well.

Whether you go with a mobile website, a native mobile app, or both, you’ll probably benefit. The continued mobile explosion will make sure of that. Just take care that you get the most bang for your buck by doing what’s best for your business.

Authors: Promote & Sell Books on Mobile

2011-08-17T22:36:00.000-07:00

Rex Pickett, Award-winning Author of Sideways and Vertical, teams with Brilliant Mobile to Promote & Sell his books

Brilliant Mobile helps Authors gather a list of raving fans, then helps them continue the conversation all the way to the sale!

Since e-books are taking the publishing industry by storm, Brilliant MOBI sites (mobile websites that make it easy for smartphone owners to access the author's information 24/7) focus on giving the fans (and the authors) what they want: a taste of the book, direct links to get to know the author, alerts on public appearances, VIP invitations, a chance to WIN some goodies, and an easy way to BUY the book, directly from their mobile phone!

Brilliant Mobile gives Authors a custom QR code that will link smart-phones instantly to their MOBI site, that they are encouraged to post everywhere: websites, email signatures, blogs, social sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, bookmarks and all promotional/collateral material.

Brilliant Mobile then builds their MOBI site that links consumers to the author, their book, video, allows them to email the author from within the site, link to their social sites and even BUY their book!

Brilliant Mobile also helps Authors gather a list of raving fans, by many methods including a keyword that when texted to a short code, delivers back a link to their MOBI site, and adds that participant to their distribution list. We also provide Online Sign-up pages and Facebook widgets that allow consumers to share how they want to be communicated with.

Since Brilliant Mobile offers multi-channel messaging, we help authors continue the conversation with their fans, with messages delivered the way their FANS want to receive them!

Rex Pickett will be at the Grand Cru event this Saturday, August 20th, in Long Beach, CA. If you text VERTICAL to 69302, you will get a Ticket to Ride, which will get you a FREE autographed copy of his new book, Vertical, the sequel to Sideways. So text in, find Rex on Saturday, show him the ticket on your phone, and get your FREE book!

Brilliant Mobile is a member of The Co-Op, an LA based group of talented marketing experts that have joined forces to help Rex by bringing together the resources and expertise of a Marketing Agency, but without the overhead costs to their clients!

Brilliant Mobile provides the Mobile services to the Co-op team, including Mobile Marketing, Mobile Websites and a variety of QR codes, all which have full analytics for determining the success of their marketing campaigns.

QR codes see 600% growth in 2011

2011-07-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Mobile bar codes see 600pc year-to-year growth in second quarter of 2011

By Lauren Johnson

July 21, 2011

Mobile bar code scanning increased by 600 percent in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter of 2010, according to Scanbuy.

The report collected data from April 1 to June 30. According to Scanbuy, its Scanlife applications generated an average of one scan per second.

“The volume of traffic now coming through our system shows the adoption of mobile bar codes with both consumers and companies using them,” said David Javitch, vice president of marketing at Scanbuy, New York.

“We’ve seen an increase in the amount of mobile barcodes available, which leads to more scans,” he said.

QR versus UPC
Scanbuy works with both 2D bar codes and UPC codes, and the study found significant differences between the scanning habits of 2D bar codes and UPC codes.

The report found that 2D bar code scans are higher than scans via 1D bar codes, signaling a shift from 2010.

Additionally, the study highlighed that consumers are engaging more with marketers and mobile campaigns.

More than 45,000 QR codes were scanned from the ScanLife platform in the second quarter, resulting in a 300 percent increase from 2010.

“The rate of 2D bar code scanning is increasing at a rapid pace, but the rate of UPC scanning has slowly declined,” Mr. Javitch said.

According to Mr. Javitch QR codes generate more traffic during the holidays when consumers are comparison shopping.

However, UPC code scans saw 40,000 unique scans in a single month, showing the diversity of the mobile barcodes.

“It will be interesting to see if QR codes continue to slow down the second half of the year,” Mr. Javitch said.

“The report is proof that users are scanning a huge variety of products and leaving a unique trail of scans,” he said.

Mobile direction
Retail, wireless industries and publishing ranked in as some of the most successful industries using mobile bar codes.

“This report is meant to fuel marketers’ confidence when rolling out mobile bar code campaigns,” Mr. Javitch said.

“As long as the value and consumer interaction is there, the technology and user interaction is already established,” he said.

Scanbuy estimates that there are 45 million smartphones in the U.S. that are capable of scanning mobile bar codes.

“At a high level, a user needs options with mobile barcodes, which includes offering several videos or pieces of content to pick how they want to interact with it,” Mr. Javitch said.

“The mobile industry is growing quickly and marketers are testing what works with their business and integrating it into their business plans,” he said.

“In the future, we will see a shift from [thinking] strategically to more tactical mobile bar codes.”

All Politics is Mobile

2011-07-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

SMS should hitch fortunes to TV to become serious political tool

By Mickey Alam Khan

November 1, 2010

While billions of dollars were spent this midterm election on television, outdoor, radio, online and mail advertising, SMS’ use as a grassroots tool was neglected by most candidates running for office.

With the exception of President Obama’s SMS list going back to his presidential election two years ago, most politicians still rely on old-world tactics and ploys to get out the vote. What a wasted opportunity to talk in the language most people understand.

Two things are permanent fixtures in this nation’s electoral cycles: the need to fundraise year-round for political campaigns and the dominance of television in defining the candidate or redefining the opponent. Mobile and SMS, in particular, is suited to both these purposes.

Code of conduct
One simple use of SMS is to add a short code and keyword to each commercial. Tagging these two throughout the 30- or 60-second spot can also become part of a branding exercise where viewers start remembering catchy numbers and words to text.

Such tagging can help for fundraising, volunteer calls or getting out the vote.

Another use of SMS is for fundraising efforts.

Candidates can encourage TV viewers to enroll to receive SMS alerts. After the due opt-in process, they can begin communicating with the constituents and supporters and eventually build trust.

Once trust is built, candidates can send an alert with a link to a mobile-friendly landing page where citizens can read up on the issues and support with legally permissible financial contributions. The candidate can develop a mobile-friendly Web site that accepts transactions.

It’s as simple as that.

And yet, it is hard to fathom why more politicians choose not to speak in the language of most consumers.

Each year this nation exchanges more than 1 trillion SMS messages, so the awareness and use of texting is almost ubiquitous with the exception of a few holdouts in the senior-citizen demographic.

The time has come for a smart entrepreneur to launch a marketing firm whose main business is to infuse mobile through all traditional and interactive mobile channels, especially TV.

While the few political shops that are out there do well, they are certainly operating below the radar. They certainly need to raise their profile and share some case studies on how mobile marketing helped get a candidate’s message across to voters, raised funds and put someone in office.

All politics is mobile
SMS has the path of least resistance out of all the mobile channels out there. It is easily understood, widely used and quickly responded.

Politicians and proponents of political and social causes may have taken an SMS pass in this midterm elections, but they should gear up for a mobile-focused general election in 2012.

After all, the winning presidential candidate in 2008 had the largest SMS database which he put to good use since then. For that, this publication named Team Obama as 2008 Mobile Marketer of the Year.

But President Obama should go beyond mere SMS and also include links to educational mobile videos on how his administration worked to stabilize the economy, save the financial system and offer near-universal healthcare. Perhaps it would have helped make his case better to a worried electorate about jobs, bloated government and security.

Indeed, the weekly presidential radio address – which, for its misleading name, is also videotaped for C-Span broadcast – from the White House should be available via a link through text messages sent to Mr. Obama’s SMS database.

The reality of the last century and the one before was that all politics is local. Today, as voters speedily demonstrate their anger or enthusiasm for parochial and national issues through interactive media, it is fair to say that all politics is mobile.

Mickey Alam Khan is editor in chief of Mobile Marketer and Mobile Commerce Daily

QR Codes: 1 Billion scans in US in 2010 alone

2011-07-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

Mobile bar code scanning has increased by 4,549 percent in the first quarter of 2011 on a year-over-year basis, according to a Mobio Identity Systems study. With the increase in smartphone purchases for both iPhone and Android devices, which have a pre-installed QR reader, there is growing awareness among consumers of QR codes compared to a year ago. “The iPhone 4 and Android have helped build a mass market of people who are able to scan QR bar codes,” said Mark Binns, chief marketing officer at Mobio, Vancouver, Canada.

Brands such as Calvin Klein and Conde Nast have also helped drive awareness of QR codes by placing them in their TV, print, Web and out-of-home advertising. “Ultimately, the pairing of QR ready smartphones and QR bar codes in advertising – which simply was not the case a year ago – has driving the dramatic growth.”

One of the findings in the report, “The Naked Facts: Whiplash Edition, QR Bar code Scanning in Q1-2011,” is that consumers between the ages of 35 and 44 continue to dominate mobile bar code scanning, accounting for 26 percent of users.

QR barcodes go mainstream
Women also show a higher interest in using QR codes, accounting for 68 percent of users.
These numbers have big implications for advertisers.

“QR barcodes are no longer just a way to speak to early adopters, or the geek crowd,” Mr. Binns said. “QR codes have gone mainstream and are being used heavily by women who are head decision makers and purchasers in households.” Mobio offers target rich environments where advertisers use multiple barcodes tied to different outcomes or campaigns to engage their consumers multiple times.

The vast majority of mobile bar code scans are centered on providing more information about a product or service, with 89 percent of scans falling into this category. Payments only account for 6 percent of scans, but this is a growing area, per Mr. Binns. “Mobile payments require a higher level of trust between the consumer and the brand than an information exchange requires,” he said. “Brands and QR providers need to continue to educate consumers on the safety of QR codes.”

In terms of the type of media scanned, social media accounts for 70 percent of scans, TV 22 percent, the physical world four percent, online three percent and print one percent. The iPhone is the most popular scanning device, followed by the iPod Touch and then, Android. The report also shows that consumers are not just trying QR codes once and forgetting about them, but are becoming repeat users of the technology.
In fact, repeat scanners account for 62 percent of the market.

For marketers, this means QR codes can provide a way to have an ongoing conversation with consumers. “QR isn’t a one-off medium anymore,” Mr. Binns said. “Marketers can change their QR codes in ads each day, week or month, and have an ongoing dialogue with their consumer.”

Source: Mobile Marketer, Associate Editor Chantal Tode, May 11, 2011

Texting Tuesday!

2011-06-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, its Texting Tuesday!

More and more, its apparent that you HAVE to have a mobile presence. I was reading an article this morning, and it said:

Small business owners are seeing the magnitude of having a mobile presence, with 69 percent saying that it is more important than ever for companies to be accessible via handsets, according to a Manta study.

The study surveyed more than 1,000 small business owners and asked them how they used their mobile devices. The report found that 40 percent of business professionals use applications two to three times a day, showing the importance of mobile for small businesses.

“In today’s always-on world, businesses need to ensure they’re connecting with customers and prospects when they’re on the go,” said Pamela Springer, president/CEO of Manta, Columbus, OH.

Even though I enjoy working with many large corporations and organizations, my passion for small business owners drives me to want to help companies that need easy and affordable tools to gather a list, promote their message and drive business to their stores, events or websites. With our All-in-One Mobile Marketing solution, I believe we have those tools!

Here is Retail Case Study that I thought was interesting!

Objective 

To provide consumers with, and get them to redeem, an instant savings coupon for 15 percent off of a Croslite purchase.

Target audience 

Consumers between the ages of 18-50

Strategy 

Crocs’ strategy is to proactively engage consumers through timely mobile communications and provide a positive value exchange for its customers

Creative call to action

 “What is a foot’s bestest friend? Find out and save 15 percent off today! It is as easy as one, two, three …

“1. Text ‘CROCS 1234’ to 63103 on your mobile phone.

“2. Instantly receive a 15 percent off coupon code answer.

“3. Show the mobile coupon code to the cashier at check out.”

Tactics

Signage with instructions, the store number and short code was placed throughout 185 Crocs retail locations nationwide.

Store associates were trained and motivated to support the program, spoke with customers about the mobile coupon, and encouraged them to stay opted-in to receive further communications and discounts from Crocs.

Results

 Crocs received 94,000 requests for coupons during the first month of the campaign.

What next

 Crocs plans to offer additional coupons and information via SMS to customers.

Also, Crocs plans to use SMS to drive traffic to retail locations and its Web site.

Additionally, Crocs plans to implement advanced mobile tactics such as sending targeted messaging to consumers based on anything from its previous shopping experience, purchase history, online activity and demographics.

Lessons learned

 Mobile is an extremely efficient and effective way to engage consumers.

Consumers respond well to coupons delivered to their mobile devices versus having to print and bring in an email coupon.

Engagement and enthusiasm were off the charts.

Surprise finding 

When store staff is trained and motivated to support an in-store SMS program, it is very successful.

Strategy quote

 “Crocs customers are on-the-go, very active individuals,” said Jay Custard, global online marketing director at Crocs Inc. “Being able to connect with them in a meaningful way via their mobile device allows us to create a valuable shopping experience and to have a one-on-one dialogue with our customers.

“Mobile helps us reach our customers, regardless of their location, and provide them with valuable, useful information,” he said.

Happy Texting Tuesday! Make it a Brilliant Week! :) Mobile Mary, the QR Queen!

Voice Broadcast: Human Touch meets High Tech!

2011-06-16T02:31:00.000-07:00

Voice Broadcast

Voice messaging combines the personal touch of a human voice with advanced technology that allows you to communicate with hundreds or thousands of people with a single telephone call. Simply put, it's a pre-recorded message people can hear when they pick up their landline or mobile phones.   

Voice marketing has been an integral component of top businesses' marketing mix and strategy to consumers for years. It provides your business with a platform to execute voice marketing campaigns that drive traffic to your store, website or event, while increasing customer loyalty, retention and satisfaction. Announce special sales, cross-sell complimentary products or services, and generate incremental sales.

Voice Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Looking through your customer database list, you're likely to find a group of past customers that you might be able to re-engage with an appropriate message, or you may have groups of current customers that you'd like to specifically target with an incentive that isn't available to all of your customers. Use voice messaging to record personal messages to your target customer segments and broadcast your recorded message to their phones instantly.

Invitation Reminders for Events and Promotions

Do you have special events for your customers or clients? It’s easy to record and send a personal invite that’s directly from you and in your own voice to those you wish to attend. You can include details of when and where the event is, what special discounts or savings they may receive by attending, and even include directions on where to RSVP or on how to get to the location.

New Product and Service Announcements

Have you ever spent an enormous amount of time preparing to release a new product or offer a new service only later to hear from your customers that they weren't even aware of it being available? With voice messaging you can reach all of your customers in a matter of minutes on the day you want them to know about your new offering. Your customers will appreciate being informed and you'll likely see a boost in sales.

Key Features & Benefits of Voice Messaging

Quick & Easy Setup
It takes a matter of minutes to set this all up. Simply configure your voice messaging campaign on our website, upload your message, send the voice message to hundreds or thousands of recipients with one click, and view real-time results online.

Developer API for Custom Integration
Want a custom solution that's directly integrated with your service, application, software, or website? You can customize your messaging solution using our Developer API. Integrate all forms of communication to your application - voice, mobile text, instant message and email.

Simple Maintenance
No setup fees, no contacts, no hardware, and no downloads! We take care of all the technical aspects of the job (delivering your message from point A to point B) so that you can concentrate on the important things – marketing to your customers. Brilliant Mobile makes it simple to run your entire campaign online from any computer.

EMAIL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

2011-06-16T02:14:00.000-07:00

Grow your business with  effective email marketing campaigns!

Email marketing is one of the 3 cornerstones of today's marketing and advertising campaigns.  By utilizing email marketing along with mobile and social media outreach  you will unleash the power of today's most popular and effective marketing channels!

Send your email messages in STYLE.
Brilliant Mobile's professionally designed email templates make it easy for you to send and track your email marketing campaigns in style. Our customizable emails allow you to match your email newsletters, event invitations and other internet marketing collateral with your company brand and logo.

You can also use Brilliant Mobile's mail-merge feature to add a more personal touch in each message!

Advanced scheduling system.
Send now, or set for a later time!
Now you have the option of scheduling your email marketing campaigns in advance. Why wait? Set your email campaign schedules for the whole month or year in ONE day!

Watch your customer contact lists grow.
Use your email marketing campaigns as a vehicle for growing your customer contact lists! Advertise Brilliant Mobile's customizable Online Sign Up Pages (OSPs) and Mobile Keyword tools in your email blasts as a way to collect your customers' contact information along with any additional data.

Tracking & Deliver-ability
Learn more about your campaign performance, whether it's your email campaign and/or SMS text messages through advanced reporting– all in one place. You can now track email open rate, sign ups, and more!

Spam filter
Use our spam filter to see if your email campaign is at risk. See how you can improve your delivery overtime through our spam filter suggestions.

Brilliant MOBI Sites: A website for your phone?

2011-06-16T01:14:00.000-07:00

Why do you need a Website that is designed for your phone?

(see a preview of ours)

You want to be where your customers are, right? Well, your customers are on their phone, all day long, and sometimes into the night. And if they are looking for you, and your standard website comes up on their phone, and its so TINY and hard to read, how many seconds do you think they will stick around.... to scroll around, pinching and pulling to find the item they are looking for? Let see, 17 seconds.... if you are lucky. So they will go back and find your competitor, if they have a mobile optimized website, and BUY FROM THEM.

Statistics say, that people will do more research on their desktop, but they will most likely BUY when they are on their phone. It makes sense, they are waiting in line at the bank, they are between meetings, or they are on the soccer field; and they remember that they forgot to order flowers for Grandma's birthday! Or they remember the new shoes that they saw, and realize they better get them now before they forget! Or they need to confirm the order for the trade-show premiums, or they'll miss the deadline which is tomorrow morning! The smartphone is there to save us busy people, and you need a website that is optimized so your customer will find it Easy to spend money with you!

Here are some fun facts that you might consider:

975 million mobile web users expected by 2012

Mobile phones to overtake PCs for web surfing by 2013

80% mobile websites attract global audience

7.3 million mobile phone users shop via mobile monthly

Mobile Commerce In The US To Reach $4.9 Billion This Year, Up From Just $363M In 2008

Mobile shopping will balloon to $119B by 2015 (those are Billion with a B)

Half of adult text’ers send and receive 10 text messages daily, with a 94% immediate open rate

35% of Smartphone Owners Use Apps Before Getting Out of Bed

Mobile ad revenues to hit $3.5 Billion this year, $24 Billion by 2015

Only 4.8% of U.S. retailers have mobile-optimized Web sites, are you one of them?

Let Brilliant Mobile make your business Brilliantly Mobile. Our Brilliant MOBI sites have all kinds of cool features that make your Universal App (meaning it doesn't need to be in a App Store, it works on ALL Smart Phones) simple & fun to use!

Cool Brilliant MOBI Features:

Click2Call
Google Maps
Web forms
Branding
Photo & Video Links
Monthly Promos/Coupons
Links to Social Sites
RSS Feeds from Blogs
Plus much more!

Give us a call, and we can get you a Professional, Mobile Optimized Website, in as quick as 24 hours! Plus it comes with QR codes (above) that will lead customers to your site within seconds, when they scan it with their QR Reader (a Free App on all App Stores)

Take me back to Brilliant Mobile. I'd like to sign up for one of their packages.

Mobile Analytics: Why does it matter?

2011-06-16T00:37:00.000-07:00

Mobile Analytics:

What does it mean and why does it matter?

Mobile Analytics is a fancy word for detailed reporting, and Brilliant Mobile has it built into every part of its platform.

Its important because you want to know what is working and what isn't. You want to be able to test different messages and see what gets the best response. The Boss loves it because it justifies the bottom line, and gives a great Return on Investment!

Agencies LOVE Analytics, as they prove what they do Works! And we give them all the juicy analytics that their wonderful bean counters want! Isn't it great to make people happy?

Speaking about happy, now that you are getting into the Mobile Space, these numbers should make you happy!

6.1 trillion text messages sent in 2010

975 million mobile web users expected by 2012

Mobile phones to overtake PCs for web surfing by 2013

80% mobile websites attract global audience

7.3 million mobile phone users shop via mobile monthly

Mobile Commerce In The US To Reach $4.9 Billion This Year, Up From Just $363M In 2008

Mobile shopping will balloon to $119B by 2015 (those are Billion with a B)

Half of adult text’ers send and receive 10 text messages daily, with a 94% immediate open rate

35% of Smartphone Owners Use Apps Before Getting Out of Bed

Mobile ad revenues to hit $3.5 Billion this year, $24 Billion by 2015

Only 4.8% of U.S. retailers have mobile-optimized Web sites, are you one of them?

Be ahead of the curve! Let Brilliant Mobile make you look even More Brilliant to the Boss!

Brilliant Authors

2011-06-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

Our Brilliant Authors Package is a way for
Authors and Publishers to market their books
on the one device that on readers 24/7!

Authors & Book Publishers’ Challenge: To build a list of loyal fans, increase book sales, and create excitement about the author and upcoming book projects! To make the book accessible 24/7, be cost-efficient, use green technology, monetize social marketing sites and track the performance of various campaigns and media sources.

Solution: Brilliant Mobile® provides cutting-edge tools that lets you communicate with your target audience on the device they have with them 24/7: their mobile phone. Plus we integrate QR (Quick Response) codes, Mobile sites that are easily read on every phone & Mobile text features let you engage your audience how they want to play!

As a Permission-based platform, consumers opt-in to receive messages that they value, unlike spam/junk mail. Our Brilliant QR-2-TEXT feature even allows smart phone users to “scan & join” your mobile database instantly!

Our Brilliant MOBI® sites give your fans an easy way to buy your book, when they are ready to buy, usually on the GO! Brilliant QR-2-MOBI feature allows consumers to scan what is interesting, and our platform instantly delivers what they want. Brilliant MOBI® sites increase revenue, are cost-effective & green; as you can change the message, yet keep the same QR code! Plus, Brilliant QR® codes have Analytics that can help track campaign stickiness.

Brilliant QR-2-PDF codes allow user to receive your Electronic Press Kit via Email without printing or postage cost!

Increase engagement by posting QR codes on Social sites like Facebook, and traditional media like Radio/TV/Print with a Call to Action that has traction; with full Analytics every step of the way. Track each media source, know who is interested, where and when they were interested, and then continue the conversation accordingly.

What we do for Authors, in a nutshell:

1. We create an unique QR code, one that is trackable, that can be placed/posted on Everything (online, printed, etc.). People with smart phones scan them and they are instantly connected to a mobile site.

2. We design and host a Mobile Website, one that serves up the best user experience based on the phone in use. This Mobile Website can we seen on ANY smart phone, and can host the books image, the author's image, the contact information, ways to buy the book, more information about the author and the book, a way to "click-to-call", we can insert a Google map to find a book signing event, a RSS feed, so its always current, links to all their social sites to get connected even more, a way to send a message to the author (or assistant) for more information with check boxes and radio buttons, etc.... all kinds of good stuff!

3. We also create a custom keyword (ie: Text Author to 69302) and a we generate another QR that actually opens up the user's SMS/Text message, fills in the keyword for them! When the user hits SEND, they are entered into your mobile database. Now these raving fans get personal messages from the author, inviting them to book signing events, paid seminars, and mobile coupons to bring a friend! These are people that gave the author or publisher Permission to communicate to them on the most personal device that is always on them 24/7!

4. Plus...we provide a Mobile Manager, someone that is there to help them with everything: strategy, promotion placement, message design, creating automated messages, etc. So they are not overwhelmed, but can do something that every author wants to do, market their books to the growing mobile market! So you can get back to writing your next best seller!

Here is a one sheet to download for reference: http://brilliantmobile.com/BrilliantMobile_Publishers.pdf

Brilliant Promotions

2011-06-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

Promote it, and they will come!

As my mama always told me, "Don't keep your Light under a bushel, No! You gotta let it SHINE!" The same holds true for your product or service. You have something amazing, right? You want the world to know, so you can better it, right? So TELL THEM about it!

Once we set-up your Brilliant Mobile account, you will have a Keyword and a QR code, that you can tell every one to access and they'll get something cool! ...Yes, even just access to you and your information is cool enough!.... But you can also offer Mobile Coupons, VIP Access, a Free Report, Tickets to an upcoming event, or a Chance to WIN something that they will consider even cooler! You know your audience, and you know what Call to Action would work for them. (If you don't, we can help!)

And where do you Tell Them about it? EVERYWHERE! We will set you up with the keyword and the QR code that you can print on your Traditional channels, like Newspaper/Yellow Page Ads, Flyers, Brochures/Business cards, Window stickers in your store, Table tents/Counter Cards, Stickers on receipts, Employee Buttons, Bag Stuffers, Pens, T-shirts, Signage and Bookmarks (see sample on this page!) Our parent company Another Brilliant Idea, can hook you up with anything branded, with special pricing for our Brilliant Mobile clients!! So just email Steve@abideas.com, and he will take good care of you!

You can also promote it on Digital or Online channels like your Website, eNewsletter, Email Signatures, Facebook/LinkedIn Page, Electronic Press Kits, Cross-promotional partners' websites, and on articles you post on OTHER Blogs!

Get creative, think out of the box, and offer them something that YOUR AUDIENCE VALUES, and they will respond... Brilliantly!

All-In-One Messaging API

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All-In-One Messaging API

Sends SMS Texts, emails, and Instant Messages to a single contact or a whole distribution list.
Schedules messages to be sent at a later time.
Sends a verification code to each contact information before adding it.
Simple URL Post Methods

Each function in our API is a web page. Brilliant Mobile's API can be utilized by any software or programming language that can submit a web form or call a URL and receive a response.

Brilliant Mobile will POST incoming keyword text messages to an "incoming URL" that you specify.

Manage Your Lists

Add or delete contact information in your distribution lists.
Update an existing contact record.
Find a contact record.
Create or delete a contact list.

Manage Mobile Keywords

Check an available keyword.
Create or delete a keyword.
Update keyword settings.
Send a notification message via SMS, IM, and/or Email when someone texts your keyword.
Manage advanced mobile keyword options such as a follow-on responder scheduled for future delivery, controlled frequency, message following keyword, alternate responder, etc.

Process Incoming SMS (via Mobile Keyword)

Brilliant Mobile will POST incoming keyword text messages to an "incoming URL" that you specify.
Adjust the settings for keyword sign-up process.

We've gone to great lengths to ensure that any developer who wants to interface an application, website, or system with our messaging gateway can do so quickly and reliably.

Our API is business-grade, robust, and built in such a way that their use is universal and works with any system or language. And the best part is that it only takes a few minutes to get setup!

Call if you would like to see our API Documentation. 951-898-3727

Online Sign-up Pages

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It used to be the most toys, now its the biggest LIST!

Brilliant Mobile provides a simple way to gather more friends', fans' and interested parties' information, quickly and easily, all on ONE Platform, to make Your Life Easier: the Online Sign-up Page (OSP), the embedded OSP (eOSP) or the FaceBook Widget, that builds one just for FB and creates a tab for it to encourage sign-ups!

If you have various communication services on different web-based platforms, like email, social publishing and voice broadcasting, you are consistently wondering if you have a complete database on each system, importing and exporting back & forth, with no reliable reporting features that can tie everything together. Whew, that's exhausting just thinking about! Well, those days are gone, you are now on easy street, my friend!

Brilliant Mobile has all your online marketing features bundled together in ONE location. The Online Sign-up pages allow you to gather a list of names, email, mobile numbers, landlines, IM, and any other data you need with custom data fields. Each OSP can feed into a different distribution list, or funnel into the same one, whatever YOU like. And since YOU CHOOSE what kind of message you want to send out, and what tool you use, all of our Analytics will keep track and let you know what works, and what needs tweeking with easy reporting features!

You have access to various graphic themed templates, or can upload your own artwork, and we provide you UNLIMITED OSPs so you can gather UNLIMITED Distribution lists of very specific audiences, both Internal and External, so your message is always relevant & eagerly opened!

Some of the features include:

Simple wizards for collecting sign-ups, and it automatically places information into a specific distribution list for relevant follow-up.

Custom background templates

Custom auto-responders via text message, IM, and email for each sign-up, which can deliver the Incentive your promised for signing up: like Free Reports, Digital Downloads or links to other sites.

Custom Address book/Distribution List storing of all your sign-ups, so all your data is stored on ONE PLATFORM, eliminating the Chaos from switching back and forth on all your different services platforms!

Shortened sign-up URLs

Ability to embed the sign-up widget right on your website, eOSPs.

Used by:

Businesses (Retail, Services, Travel, eCommerce, etc.)
Teachers and Professors
Event / Party Organizers
HR Administrators and Staff
Organizations and Non-Profits

Can be used as Sign-up Sheets for:

College Classes
Clubs and Groups
Training and Seminars
Parties and Games
Event RSVPs

Let one our Mobile Managers know if you have any questions, and you can
Click here to see a video on How to set-up your own OSP!

How to Set up an Online Sign-up Page: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

Learn how to build an OSP: Online Sign-up Page

We provide you UNLIMITED OSPs so you can gather UNLIMITED Distribution lists of very specific audiences, both Internal and External, so your message is always relevant, and eagerly opened!

How to send a Voice Broadcast: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

Learn how to send a Voice Broadcast!

This is a great feature for Schools to send out Important Parent Messages, its a personal way to send a Voice Mail message in your own voice, or the voice of a Celebrity that is Inviting guests to come to a fundraiser!

How to Send to a List from YOUR Cell: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Learn how to use our Text 2 GO Feature

This feature allows an administrator to send messages out to an entire distribution list, directly from his/her cell phone, without the need of a computer!

Handy for emergencies, as an Employer can notify employees of a last minute change or request, an Event planner can let the attendees know if a Ballroom has flooded or give quick instructions, or a School Dean or Principal can send out a Emergency Alert to all the kids to stay out of sight, or notify parents of a school problem before it hits the news. It can save lives!

How to set-up Automated & Recurring Messages: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

Learn how to set-up Automated & Recurring Messages

This feature is a great way to let our system do the heavy lifting for you! You can set up a message that goes out a certain amount of days from when they first joined your list, which is great for subscription or membership services.

It can also be set-up to send a specific message at specific intervals, like each Tuesday, or on the 4th of every month, or at a specific time of day. These are great for ongoing assignments or reminders for Classrooms, Clubs, Memberships or Ministries.

How to Export Contacts: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Learn how to Export Contacts to a .csv file

How to Filter Landlines: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

Learn how to Filter Landlines

This feature allows you to import a list of numbers and filter out landlines, deactivated and invalid numbers so you are only left with VALID mobile numbers to text message. Saving you time & Money! So Brilliant!

How to Import Databases: Basic Import Tips: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Learn how to Import Databases
Basic Tutorial

How to Import Databases: Advanced Import Tips: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

Learn how to Import Databases
Advanced Tutorial

How to Quickly Post to ALL your Social Sites: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

Learn how to Post to all your Social Sites with one click, then track your messages. Don't you just LOVE that Brilliant Mobile has Analytics built into every feature?

We are Marketing and Ad Agencies best friend, we Know it!

How to Manage your Distribution Lists: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Learn how to Manage your Distribution Lists

By having UNLIMITED Distribution lists on one platform, you Reduce your Stress and Increase your Efficiency! Why? Because you can send an Email and/or a Text message to a distribution list, and not wonder if you have missed anyone. Our built in UNLIMITED Online Sign-up Pages, help you gather a robust database, with custom data fields, and auto-responders for each mode they give you data for!

What this mean is, if they give you an email address, you can have an email sent automatically, after they sign-up, thanking them for joining and delivering a link to a reward: a Free Report, a Digital Download, etc. If they give you a Mobile Number, you can send them a text back automatically, thanking them for joining your Mobile Club and giving them a Mobile Coupon to use on-demand, or with their next purchase! If they give you both, you can have both sent, all while you sleep, play golf or enjoy your children!

You look incredibly professional, your audience feels appreciated and listened to, and now, your communication process has reached a Brilliant Level of efficiency!

How to get a Mobile Keyword, PART ONE: Video Tutorial

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Learn how to set-up a Mobile Keyword: PART ONE

A Mobile Keyword allows you to gather a list of interested participants that you will turn into raving fans. You can choose a different keyword for different target audiences or different campaigns. When we did a wildly successful Mobile Marketing campaign for Kawasaki Motors USA in the summer of 2009, we used 24 Keywords, so we could track the effectiveness of each advertising and marketing resource they enlisted. This allowed the project managers to track the performance of Radio Ads vs TV ads, Web Banners vs Email Broadcasts, Bill Stuffers vs. Direct Mail. This feature has Highly effective tracking capabilities!

Restaurants also use different keywords for their Lunch or Happy Hour Crowd (which usually work near the store) and their Dinner or Weekend Crowd (which usually live near the store). This way, they can send relevant messages to the proper audience in a timely way, just as their hunger pangs hit! What restaurant would YOU choose, if you had a Mobile Coupon on your phone, just as everyone was asking, "Where are we going for lunch?"

How to get a Mobile Keyword, PART TWO: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

Learn how to create a Mobile Keyword: PART TWO.
In this episode, we focus on the advanced features of creating a Keyword.

NEW UPGRADE: You can also create a QR to SMS code, so smart phone users can simply scan the code and the QR opens a new text message for them, and by clicking SEND, the are added to your distribution list, and you can continue the conversation.

Start this by clicking on the Premium Features button at the top of the page first, then click on QR Codes, then add a description (for Analytics), from the drop down menu, choose: "Send an SMS to a Short Code" then pick your Keyword and generate your QR code! You can also create a QR to MOBI, which sends customers directly to your MOBI site, absolutely free as well!!

How to Import Appt. Reminders: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Learn how to import a database or an individual for Appointment Reminders. Very handy to reduce the No-Show rate. Saves time and Makes Money!

How to Use your Inbox: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

Learn how to use your Inbox for Better Customer Service! Within the Brilliant Mobile Platform, you can use our Two-Way Text or Text2CHAT Service to respond to Text Replies or Keyword Responses. This allows you to use a professional system, instead of your personal cell phone, to answer customer's text messages for help, FAQ, or fulfill a request.

Apartment Complexes and Security companies use this feature to respond quickly and efficiently to customer requests for Service and Employee Communication!

How to Remove Failed Contacts: Tutorial Video

2011-06-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

Learn how to remove failed contacts from your distribution list. This saves you time and money from sending messages to wrong numbers, or uninterested parties.

How to Send One-Time Message to Individuals: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Learn how to send a one-time message to a specific individual, either as a Text, an Email or a Smart Message. With our Brilliant Merge feature, you can also personalize the messages with a First Name or Last Name, if you have it. For example: Hey John, looking forward to seeing you at the sale tomorrow, here is a Mobile Coupon to use!

How to use the Shuffle Responder: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

Learn how to use our fun Shuffle Responder feature, a great way
to send up to 100 different text messages each time your fans text in!
You can engage your audience with Daily Devotionals, FAQs, Quotes,
Jokes, Verses or Affirmations, the sky's the limit!

Text 2 Campaigns

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Text 2 Join: Mobile Text Marketing
Mobile Marketing makes up a key foundation of Brilliant Mobile's All-In-One Marketing. No other marketing media has proven to be as effective, speedy, and targeted. Brilliant Mobile Mobile SMS marketing can also be engaging, social and fun. Its features include group texting, mobile keyword, mobile voting, mobile coupon, and more. All you need is an ordinary computer with Internet to access our web-based software with nothing to install. Most of all, Brilliant Mobile is easy and very affordable. Find out how Brilliant Mobile mobile marketing can outperform email marketing, resulting in immediate and measurable impact on your bottom-line.

High-impact and timely delivery
Over 90% of messages are opened, immediately!
Trendy and viral
Positive brand image
Permission-based, so you create a list of fans that WANT what you have to offer!

Quick Response (QR) Codes

QR codes are the funny looking boxes that you

are starting to see everywhere! QR codes can be integrated into both traditional and interactive marketing campaigns, giving smart phone users instant access to a Mobile URL, a Web form, a PDF or a Mobile Contest.

Media where QR codes have been deployed include: billboard ads, guerilla marketing campaigns, in-store displays, event ticketing and tracking, tra

de-show management, business cards, print ads, contests, direct mail campaigns, websites, email marketing, and couponing just to name a few.

QR codes give marketers the ability to measure response rates with a high degree of precision allowing for easier ROI (retu

rn on investment) calculation, thus helping justify spending on marketing budgets. When participants scan the codes with a smart phone, we can gather what kind of phone was used, when and w

here they did so, but it does not give "implied consent" so you are not capturing their mobile number or permission to market back to them.

QR 2 MOBI

This is a standard QR code feature, which can deliver your audience to your Brilliant MOBI site within seconds. Quite magical!

Brilliant QR codes also have built-in Analytics, so you can find out Where and When a code is scanned, and by what kind of device. This information is helpful, especially when you want to know what collateral materials are getting the most scans, to test if your ads are working, or if your Call to Action is strong enough, and in which cases, you need to change your message.

An interesting thing about MOST QR codes, is that you can see What, Where & When, but you can not see WHO is scanning your codes. So to solve this problem, we created QR 2 Text, and on our platform, you can create a QR that opens up a New Text Message for your customer, fills in the keyword for them, and when they click SEND, they are automatically entered into your database to continue the conversation!

We give you QR 2 MOBI codes FREE with your Brilliant MOBI sites, so you can track away!

QR 2 SMS

As I just mentioned, this innovative feature is a HUGE break-through in technology,

as when the code is scanned, it opens the SMS message and fills in the code. When the participant presses SEND, they are giving what the carriers consider, IMPLIED CONSENT, so we may capture their cell phone number and text back to them, since they have given you a single opt-in permission to market to them.

QR 2 PDF

This is a unique feature that allows you to post a QR code, that when scanned, asks the participant for their email address. Then immediately emails the PDF associated with that QR code directly to their email inbox. No need to Print, Mail or remember to follow-up. A great Sales and Trade-show tool that will save your organization thousands of dollars in printing and mailing costs. Plus makes your sales team seem uber efficient, when the email arrives before they leave the appointment or trade-show booth.

To get your own QR 2 PDF, email us your PDF, and we will send you back a QR code to use in your marketing!

QR 2 WIN

This is a unique feature that allows you to host a Mobile Contest, and by setting the perimeters on the backend, you can deliver a Winning, Losing or Try again message to each participant based on the metrics we set in place.

To get your Own QR 2 WIN, just give us a call, and we'll create unique landing pages that create a buzz and delivers instant results!

Brilliant MOBI®

Brilliant MOBI® is a multiple page Mobile Website optimized to render the best user experience on over 7000+ different Mobile Phones. Site features include: Photos, Click 2 Call, Social Links, Google Maps, RSS Blog, Collect Ad Revenue, Mobile Commerce, Mobile Donations, Live Tweets, Email Direct from Mobile Site, Videos, Mobile Forms, and much more!

Text 2 GIVE

Brilliant MOBI® sites can feature a Donation button, that when clicked, allows the user to enter their credit card information once, and then it is encrypted and bonded to that mobile device. Then our single-click technology allows them to give again and again, without having to enter any information again. Plus it delivers back a receipt via SMS and/or email, and deposits the money directly into your bank account for a .50 flat fee, no matter how much the donation was.

Text 2 BUY

Brilliant MOBI® sites can feature a Mobile Commerce feature, and when they are ready to buy, it allows the user to enter their credit card information once, and then it is encrypted and bonded to that mobile device. Then our single-click technology allows them to buy again and again, without having to enter any information again. Plus it delivers back a receipt via SMS and/or email, and deposits the money directly into your bank account for a .50 flat fee, no matter how much the product costs.

Mobile Keywords

Setup as many Mobile Keywords as you'd like in minutes. When people text your keyword it automatically opts their mobile number into your Brilliant Mobile database. Automatic replies are texted back to people that text your Mobile Keywords, and you can customize and change this auto-responder text at any time.

Send the auto response message once per mobile number, every time the keyword is texted

, or once per time frame (day, hour, week, or month). You can also send an Alternate Auto Response text message if someone has already texted your keyword before.
People can text your Mobile Keyword followed by a message they want to send you. All of their messages will be captured in your Brilliant Mobile Inbox or you can have them forwarded to an email or mobile phone of your choice.

Automated and recurring messages can be sent to any new keyword signups. So if someone texts your Mobile Keywords you can setup an automatic text to be sent to them on day 1, day 5, day 30, day 100, etc.Have a notification texted to your mobile phone or emailed to you when somebody texts your keyword so you can follow up right away.

Mobile eCard

Create and design your own custom Mobile eCards! Upload any image, insert your own text, and send to any mobile phone via MMS. It's incredibly easy, personal, and sure to grab everyone’s attention!

It’s perfect for sales flyers, season’s greetings, birthday cards, business cards, and custom banners.

Choose from professionally designed templates.

Take a cool picture and upload it as your card background.

Be creative and choose your own colors and fonts.

Picture Messaging

Instantly communicate a thousand words in a single text message by sending a high-impact picture message. Brilliant Mobile's Mobile Picture Messaging uses an embedded WAP link in your mobile text message. A WAP link is a shortened URL that links to any image you upload to Brilliant Mobile. You can easily insert the link when you compose your text. Recipients of the text message can click on the link and the uploaded image will be displayed on Internet-enabled mobile phones. The link is automatically shortened so that it does not take up much space in the text message. You can now also eliminate the problems associated with MMS (multi-media messaging). MMS is not universal, and only half the wireless carriers support it for mass texting. It is also costly for both the senders and receivers. Join the new trends in social media and multi-channel marketing by sending picture links directly to peoples' Internet-enabled mobile phones.

Mobile Coupons

Maximize your marketing strategy with the speed, convenience, and positive return from Mobile Coupons. You can now electronically offer free gifts, % discounts, incentives, and reminders to your customers with Brilliant Mobile's Mobile Coupon Platform. You can also create unique promotion codes for each individual SMS Mobile Coupon and track the redemption and revenue earned from it.

Create unique promotion codes for each individual SMS Mobile Coupon

Easily redeem each coupon using Brilliant Mobile's web-based software

Track redemption rates and revenue earned

Brilliant Merge

Personalized IM, Emails & Texts make the messages seem more personal, and get better response rates: “Hey John, looking forward to …”

Text 2 Vote

Create all types of fun and engaging SMS votes and polls and ask a multiple choice question with up to ten choices. As people vote via text messaging, every vote is categorized and automatically tallied so that it's really easy for you to see and analyze the results. Click HERE to read more.

Text 2 Screen

Our text messaging platform enables your audience to text your Mobile Keyword, followed by a message, so it can be projected onto a large screen at your venue in real time. It's the perfect way to create a Buzz, and keep your audience engaged and entertained! It is also helpful for seminar speakers, as attendees can text in a question, and it can be delivered to the speaker's laptop or monitor for easy Q&A sessions!

Text 2 Remind: Appointment & Reservation Reminder Service

If you rely on customers showing up for their appointments and sessions, then this feature will make you money! We created a mobile reminder feature that allows you to easily queue and send automated appointment and reservation reminders via SMS, thus saving your staff from a time-consuming task of calling and confirming each appointment. Plus customers don't have to answer your call or listen to a voice message, they simply read your reminder immediately, and if they need to reschedule, your number is right there... in their hand.

Two-way Text Messaging or Text 2 Chat

Two-way text messaging (chatting) allows you to send messages back and forth to individuals. Recipients of a text blast can simply reply back to the text message and their responses will be captured in your Brilliant Mobile Inbox or forwarded to an email or mobile phone of your choice.

Easily export out all of the replies and messages from the Inbox to an Excel file.
Permanently remove and easily block mobile numbers right from the Inbox.

Email Marketing

Email marketing has proven track record of success for the past 10+ years. However, its effectiveness has started to slide significantly. Although email marketing is an integral part of mass marketing, it should be viewed as only one of many ways to contact your customer base with a successful campaign. With Brilliant Mobile, composing a message, building contact database, mailing a campaign and tracking it are as easy as using your favorite email software or webmail, but you can triple its effectiveness when you combine email with Brilliant Mobile's multi-channel All-In-One Messaging.

Mobile Business Cards

You can set up a keyword with your name, then use it to serve up all your contact information via SMS text, plus you capture your new leads' mobile number for fast and easy follow-up with our the data entry hassles!

Facebook Widgets

Connect with your existing fans, friends, and other active users that are on Facebook every single day! Create a Facebook Widget for your fan page so you can collect peoples' contact info and have it automatically update your Brilliant Mobile database so you don't have to do a single thing.

Advanced Messaging Options (for all modes)

Tie your mobile phone to your account so that when you're not in front of a computer you can send out a single text message from your phone and message everyone in a distribution list on every mode of communication (SMS, IM, and Email)
Setup recurring and automated messages to be sent out at certain days and times of the week, month, or year.
Schedule messages for future delivery time.
Compose mobile texts, instant messages, and emails that automatically address each recipient by their first and last name so it's more personal (merged fields).
Select from over 100 stylish email templates or plug in your own custom HTML code.
Update your status messages on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter right from Brilliant Mobile.
Easily select only certain area codes to send your text messages to.

Powerful Tools & Utilities

Quickly and easily Import and Export mobile numbers, instant message screen names, and email addresses via Excel files.

Filter a list of opt-in phone numbers so that you send messages to mobile phones only.

NOTE: Brilliant Mobile does not allow sending messages to anyone who has not opted-in to receive messages from your business or organization (under any circumstances). The wireless carriers prohibit anyone from sending unsolicited commercial text messages.

Easily identify and remove failed /invalid contact information from your database.

Click on a distribution list to see the sign up date for each contact.

Sort a distribution list by Source, Status, and Wireless Carrier.

Create Online Sign-up Pages

Create Online Sign-up Pages so people can enter their contact info on your website and automatically populate your Brilliant Mobile database.

Choose from dozens of pre-designed Create Online Sign-up Page templates or design your own

Online Sign-up Page to match your website by plugging in the HTML source code.

Send an auto-responder (automatic response) to go out immediately after someone signs up on your Online Sign-up Page(maybe information about your company, next sale, or event). Send an Active Auto Responder message via email, IM, text message, or all three.

Business Text

Brilliant Mobile's Business SMS Texting Service is perfect for businesses and organizations of any size and type! Economic times like this call for innovation and so it’s time to find new and creative ways to reach your customer base. These days online marketing can only get you so far, so your marketing campaigns should be complemented with a strong digital communications strategy that's centered around SMS texting.

Brilliant Social:

Built in Social Status Posting allows Instant Multi-site Updates that broaden your campaign’s exposure with one click!

Brilliant Analytics:

Prove ROI and measure results for campaign analysis with multi-phase reporting features for both the mobile marketing platform and QR code analytics.

Brilliant Campaign Management:

When clients sign up with an Annual Brilliance Plan, it comes with a Mobile Manager, that will work with you to create a Mobile Strategy, set-up your Keywords, help plan your promotion campaign, and formulate calls to action based on successful case studies, and our award-winning experience and expertise in the industry!

Annual Brilliance Package: What is best for you?

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We have created 3 different Annual Brilliance Packages to make it easy for you to make a commitment to Go Mobile! We have found, that if you only commit to a month-to-month plan, you don't commit the resources necessary for the success of your mobile campaign. Mobile does not exist in a vacuum, you have to promote it, and people WILL COME!

Why? Because Mobile is Cool! And because Mobile Works! It just makes sense. People have their phone with them 24/7, its what they go to when they need something that is Urgent, as Mobile is fast, easy and convenient! Mobile is Brilliant!

We live in a time of Instant Gratification, and with the power of the Internet, people have the power to only get what THEY WANT, when THEY WANT it. More and more people are even dialing down their news on the internet, so they only hear news that is interesting to them. These days, we know what we want, and we give our permission to give us messages that WE WANT!

Consumers know what they want to buy, so if you give them a reason to buy what you are selling, make it easy for them to give you money, and reward them with a good deal, great customer service and on-going goodies.... well, you have earned yourself a customer!..... as long as you keep up the good work! ;)

To make that good work easy and effective, Brilliant Mobile makes it easy to be Brilliant!

Let's walk through the five steps of how to go mobile:

Choose your Package:

Brilliant PRO: If you just need to gather a list of raving fans, our Brilliant PRO is for you. PRO gives you 24/7 access to the Brilliant Mobile platform, so you can Collect, Send and Manage your raving fans' text messages! The PRO also comes with one keyword, 500 text credits per month and a QR2Text code, which is a major break-through in mobile technology, allowing you to gather permission-based data quickly and easily! A Keyword is a word that represents your brand or your campaign, that when your fans text it to our short-code (69302) or Scan the QR2Text code with their smart phone, they will be instantly entered into your database to continue your permission-based conversation!

Brilliant YOU: If you want your brand or service to be accessible to the MILLIONS of consumers when THEY ARE ready to buy, then you need a Mobile Website! So many business owners are losing sales when their potential customers try and buy something on their websites from their mobile device, but get frustrated and click off the site. The screens are so small, and if your message isn't formatted to fit their particular mobile device, consumers will give you about 15 seconds, and then give up. They'll go find it one someone's mobile site. Statistics tell us that people research on their desktop, but they are more likely to BUY on their mobile device, when they are out & about; in a meeting, waiting in line at the bank, or on the soccer field. When a survey of 7,000 sites were conducted on 10 devices, only 4.8% of U.S. retailers had mobile-specific Web sites, and consumers responded that one in two would give preference based on whether the retailer has a mobile site. Let us create a Brilliant MOBI site with 1-3 pages for your business, and make it easy for your customers to spend money with you!!

Brilliant PRO PLUS: If you are ready to gather a list of raving fans and send them to your Mobile Site, to track the performance of each of your collateral from traditional to digital, and be seen as cutting edge in your industry; then you need Brilliant PRO PLUS. We have created a package that gives you the best of both worlds. Access to all the features of the Brilliant Mobile platform with 10,000 text credits, 3 keywords and 3 QR2Text codes, a robust Brilliant MOBI site with 5-10 pages, plus QR Codes for instantly directing consumers to your Mobile site that will track where they came from, when they were scanned and on which device (yes, I can hear the Marketing team salivating too!)

Pick a Campaign:

If you have access to our Brilliant Mobile platform, you have access to a List of amazing premium features all for the same price! You can send Mobile Coupons to drive traffic on slow days, you can take a survey or poll with a Mobile Vote, you can send a quick alert to entire distribution list in less than one minute, or you can reward a loyal customer and drive traffic back to your website. Just pick one today, and enjoy your Brilliance!

Go Mobile:

Let us help you Go Mobile! We will create a Mobile website for you, that delivers the best user experience on every mobile device...so your fans can access your product or service when They are ready to Buy! Our dedicated Mobile Managers are real humans, ready to help you when you need to gather the items for your Mobile site, set-up a text campaign, brainstorm a mobile strategy, or just help with attention-getting text. We are there, to help you, every text of the way! ;)

Promote:

Just like any other marketing tool, Mobile doesn't exist in a vacuum. Brilliant Mobile provides a platform with easy to use marketing tools that will end the chaos in your life, as your distribution lists are ALL IN ONE PLACE, and can be used for communicating to your audience how THEY WANT to be communicated with: Mobile Marketing/Texts, Email Marketing with built in templates, Send to a Friend, Social and OSP features, Instant Messaging, Voice Broadcast and Social Publishing.

By promoting your Keyword and/or QR codes Everywhere, you are giving your customers a chance to participate with your campaign in the manner that THEY CHOOSE!

You can promote on your Traditional media: Newspaper/Magazine/Radio/TV ads, Direct mail Postcards, Flyers and FSI's, On-pack promotions, Trade show, Collateral Materials and Promotional Materials.

In fact, we supply Promotional Materials to our customers with Brilliant Pricing: like Banners, Table Tents, Employee Buttons, T-shirts, Hats, and yes, pens... complete with your Logo, your Keyword and/or QR code, so you can track how effective your Call to Action is. We've got your back, every text of the way!

You can also promote on your Digital media: Websites, Social links, Emails and Email Signatures, eNewsletters, Cross-promotional partners, Affiliate Marketing Partners, Electronic Press Kits, etc.

Make Money:

Once you've laid the groundwork, its time to collect the money! With on-going support from Brilliant Mobile Managers, we will help you keep your mobile campaign relevant and effective, and drive your customers (and their money!) to your business, your organization and your website. Let's Do this!

Are you ready to go mobile? Visit our website and/or sign up here.

How to set-up Mobile Voting: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

Learn how to create a Mobile Voting campaign, so you can poll your audience, be interactive, and learn more about your fans!

How to Learn more about your Customers: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Learn how to create custom data fields on your Online Sign-up pages, so you can learn more about your fans, so you can send them more relevant information!

How to create a MMS text: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Learn how to send a text message that includes Multi-Media with

instant Photos, Videos or Audio Streams!

Plus it comes with a text message with up to 500 characters,

vs. 120 characters with a SMS message!

Great for Birthday or Holiday message, plus Mobile coupons and Celebrity Welcomes!

How to create an eCard: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

Learn how to create and send an eCard to fans on their cell phone.

Its so fun with lots of creative templates, or you can upload your brand, and get great response with these MMS texts!

Embedded Online Sign-up Page: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Learn how to create an Embedded Online Sign-up Page to build your database for Text messages, Email and Voice Broadcasts! You can make a different one for each website, blog and Facebook Fan page, and with auto-responders, you can send relevant information to people who WANT it!!

Text to Screen: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Learn how to use this great feature for Concerts, Clubs & Bars,

Seminars & Conventions, allowing participants to

display their message or question on the Big Screen!

Great for encouraging interactivity and will increase your

Mobile Database as the Buzz is created at the event!

Also helpful for speakers to get questions from the audience directly to their monitor!

Mobile Coupons: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Learn how to set-up, send out and redeem Mobile Coupons to your raving fans!

Give your customers what they want, help them spend more money with you!

Increase Conversion Rates, Increase Revenue!

How to Send a Quick SMS: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Learn how to send a Quick SMS to one person, or an entire Distribution List,

in less than ONE Minute!

Appointment Reminder Service: Video Tutorial

2011-06-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

Learn how to use our Appointment Reminder Service, quickly and easily!

Great for any business who needs an efficient way to make more money by keeping their seats filled: Dentists, Chiropractors, Health Spas, Tanning Salons, Auto Repair, Hair and Nail Salons, and Schools for Parent/Teacher conferences.

Mobile features that YOUR industry needs

2011-04-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Mobile features that YOUR industry needs

With Brilliant Mobile, you can maintain a single integrated database that combines the power of SMS Mobile Text, QR codes, Mobile Websites, Instant Message, Email, and Social Marketing, all one ONE Platform!

End the chaos of switching back and forth between platforms, wondering if you have complete databases or distribution lists! Let Brilliant Mobile bring calm efficiency to your life, by consolidating your Communication Tools, its Brilliant!

Here are just some of the powerful and easy-to-use tools that Brilliant Mobile offers various businesses and organizations.

Industries we help:
Click on each industry to download a PDF one sheet, for your reference!

Book Publishers and Authors
Retail
Transportation: Airlines, Taxi services
Restaurants
Reservations: Hotel, Restaurant, Rentals
Churches
School / PTA Organizations
Education: Parent/Teacher conferences, Homework reminders, PTA/Fundraiser reminders
Colleges
Tradeshows
Real Estate
Agencies / Live Event Producers
TV/Radio/Magazine
Fitness Clubs / Day Spas / Beauty Salons

You might also like:
our Most recent case studies and testimonials
Text 2 Campaigns for your business

Mobile Managers to assist your Mobile Marketing Campaign

2011-04-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

Brilliant Campaign Management:

When clients sign up with an Annual Brilliance Plan, it comes with a Mobile Manager. A Mobile Manager is an actual human that will help you be Brilliant in the Mobile space and will be there when you have any questions.

Your Mobile Manager will work with you to create a Mobile Strategy, set-up your Keywords, help plan your promotion campaign, and formulate calls to action based on successful case studies, and our award-winning experience and expertise in the industry!

QR Codes - What are they?

2011-04-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Quick Response (QR) Codes

QR codes are the funny looking boxes that you are starting to see everywhere! QR codes can be integrated into both traditional and interactive marketing campaigns, giving smart phone users instant access to a Mobile URL, a Web form, a PDF or a Mobile Contest.

Media where QR codes have been deployed include: billboard ads, guerilla marketing campaigns, in-store displays, event ticketing and tracking, trade-show management, business cards, print ads, contests, direct mail campaigns, websites, email marketing, and couponing just to name a few.

QR codes give marketers the ability to measure response rates with a high degree of precision allowing for easier ROI (return on investment) calculation, thus helping justify spending on marketing budgets. When participants scan the codes with a smart phone, we can gather what kind of phone was used, when and where they did so, but it does not give "implied consent" so you are not capturing their mobile number or permission to market back to them.

QR 2 Text

This innovative feature is a HUGE break-through in technology, as when the code is scanned, it opens the SMS message and fills in the code. When the participant presses SEND, they are giving what the carriers consider, IMPLIED CONSENT, so we may capture their cell phone number and text back to them.

QR 2 MOBI

This is a standard QR code feature, which can deliver your audience to your Brilliant MOBI site within seconds. Quite magical! Brilliant Mobile gives you unlimited QR 2 MOBI codes, so you can track the R.O.I. of each media source you employ. Find out which is most sticky; your Facebook page, your website, an email campaign, your ad in your Industry rag, a brochure, a TV commercial, a radio promotion (shown on the station's website, or by keyword) or cross-promotional direct mail/postcard mailing. Find out what works and what doesn't. Change your call to action on the fly, tweak your compelling offer, make them an offer they can't refuse.... ;)

QR 2 PDF

This is a unique feature that allows you to post a QR code, that when scanned, asks the participant for their email address. Then immediately emails the PDF associated with that QR code directly to their email inbox. No need to Print, Mail or remember to follow-up. A great Sales and Trade-show tool that will save your organization thousands of dollars in printing and mailing costs. Plus makes your sales team seem uber efficient, when the email arrives before they leave the appointment or trade-show booth.

QR 2 WIN

This is a unique feature that allows you to host a Mobile Contest, and by setting the perimeters on the backend, you can deliver a Winning, Losing or Try again message to each participant based on the metrics we set in place.

QR Queen

Mobile Mary, the QR Queen, loves QR. So much so that we can actually combine features onto one QR 2 MOBI, by building a MOBI site that has some of these additional features, or you can offer them as stand-alone features:

QR 2 Pay

QR 2 Video

QR 2 Vcard

Custom QR Graphics

We can even wrap your brand around a QR code, let's get QRazy!

70% of Print Publishers Step Up Mobile Efforts

2011-04-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

70% of Print Publishers Step Up Mobile Efforts

More than 70% of US print publishers in a recent survey say that mobile is receiving more attention at their publication this year than last, though only about one-third believe they have a well-developed plan for attacking and conquering the mobile market, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), which conducted the research.

The study, “Going Mobile: How Publishers Are Preparing for the Burgeoning Digital Market,” found that most publishers are already focusing on the mobile market or planning to do so soon in an attempt to expand their brands, reach new audiences and generate additional revenue.

Nearly 60% of newspapers and more than 40% of consumer magazines and business publications already format their sites for viewing on mobile devices:

Almost one-third believe that mobile will have a significant impact on their publication’s revenue in just three years. Most respondents believe that mobile will be responsible for a five to 50% increase in website traffic in the next three years.

Key survey findings:

More than 80% of newspaper and magazine respondents believe people will rely more heavily on mobile devices as a primary information source in the next three years.
44% of respondents who track mobile’s impact on their website traffic say the devices increased visits by up to 10% today. Half believe mobile traffic to their websites will increase by 5-25% in the next two years.

Among senior executives, 56% say their publication has plans to develop a smartphone application in the next 24 months. this is in addition to the 17% of respondents who already have an app in production.
Regardless of mobile’s anticipated rise, publishers do not plan to abandon their print publications in favor of a digital-only product in the near term. While 55% believe that digital delivery of their publication is important to their strategic future, three-fourths believe that their publication will be available in a print form five years from now.

More than half of survey respondents believe that the future business model of mobile content will be supported by both advertising and subscriptions.
ABC said the report findings further highlight mobile’s important and growing role in the digital advertising and publishing market.

“Publishers recognize the growing importance of mobile devices in consumers’ lives and are actively embracing mobile as a new way to extend their brands,” said Michael Lavery, ABC president and managing director. “We continue to hear from newspapers and magazines as they integrate mobile into their digital publishing plans.”

Future Trends

After an analysis of the survey data, ABC also noted that newspapers and magazines are betting on both smartphones and e-readers as delivery platforms, and that early business models will likely be based on a combination of advertising and subscriptions. Advertiser demand for accountability is also expected to grow as ad spend grows.

About the research: In response to an increase in publisher inquiries about auditing and reporting requirements for e-readers and smartphones, and membership growth from firms targeting digital publishing markets, ABC and its digital subsidiary, ABC Interactive, conducted an online survey of its print publisher members. The research was conducted via a voluntary web-based survey fielded from June 25 - July 10, 2009, can you imagine what they'd have to say in 2011?

Green Digital Technology leads the way!

2011-02-13T22:29:00.000-08:00

SXSW Nixes Gift Bags For Attendees
By: Tama Underwood, Associate Editor
Issue: 2011feb

Digital promotions are replacing bags of tangible products at South By Southwest festival.

Organizers of South By Southwest (SXSW), a star-studded music, film and interactive technology festival held each March in Austin, Texas, have eliminated the promotional gift bags traditionally handed out to show registrants in exchange for strictly digital giveaways. Beginning last month and lasting through the March conference, SXSW attendees are to access their gift bags, annually anticipated by show goers to be ripe with products, via the conference’s online social network called SXsocial.

So just what does a digital gift bag contain? “Currently, we’re seeing music downloads, software downloads and trial subscriptions for publications and services,” says Val Link, a marketing and sales executive for SXSW. “However, we’ve also received interest from companies who want to distribute physical goods and, of course, we are encouraging this.”

The decision to cast out what it calls “tangible goodies” and replace them with digital goods is an effort to be more ecologically responsible, the SXSW website states. Yet Link says burgeoning attendance was another factor. “As our event grew, it became cost prohibitive for companies to produce large quantities of a desirable, physical good. This resulted in cheaper alternatives that ended up in the recycling bins and, more important, diminished our position as an eco-conscious event,” she says.

Austinites familiar with the show complimented the change in posts online by saying it will lighten the load they must carry during the festival and allow them to take advantage of the promotions they want and ignore the rest.

On the business side, Link points out that show sponsors may be more inclined to offer a digital promotion since it allows them to have more control over how the promotion is distributed. “Clients who opt to produce physical goods can choose the quantity and method of distribution (delivery or on-site pick-up) allowing them the flexibility to distribute something truly desirable,” she adds.

Next month’s SXSW festival, March 11-20, marks the 25th year for the event, widely regarded as one of the premier music conferences in the world and consistently drawing notable figures from the music and film industries. Each of the conference’s three legs—music, film and interactive—draws approximately 10,000 to 15,000 registrants from almost 50 countries annually.

Case Study on Mobile Marketing - LA COUNTY FAIR

2010-10-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Mobile proves Successful at LA County Fair

Objective and tactics
The LA County Fair mobile program consisted of a content-rich mobile Web site that included automatic device detection and redirection for smart phone users who entered or clicked the fair's Web site address at http://www.lacountyfair.com.

In addition, the fair tested a number of short code promotions that included free admission ticket giveaways, daily concert ticket giveaways and fair merchandise coupons.

The Los Angeles County Fair

Not only did the project demonstrate the natural tendency for events and organizations of its type to generate mobile traffic and increase interactive touch points with on-site patrons, the project also pointed the way to new promotional opportunities for fair vendors and sponsors.

On the SMS front, the fair's marketing staff tested a few strategically placed short code calls-to-action on signage at the main fair entrances, on the fairgrounds, and in advertising.

While limited in scope, these promotions succeeding in collecting nearly 1,300 unique opt-in mobile numbers to which the Fairplex can direct promotions and alerts in the future for any of the 500 other events hosted on its 543-acre Pomona grounds.

Unique to these SMS promotions was the added requirement for a valid email address to qualify for ticket giveaways.

This increased the remarketing value of the SMS program by enabling the Fairplex to use it as a means for growing their existing email database, an important component of the organization's overall marketing efforts.

Participants were invited to text the keywords FREETICKETS or MUSIC to a common short code.

An automatic SMS bounce-back invited the participants to reply with a valid email address in order to qualify for the daily giveaway.

A second bounce-back message confirmed the entry while making it possible to receive exclusive offers from the Fairplex in the future via SMS or email.

The results of these SMS tests coupled with the ability to use text messaging to ask for email addresses point to the clear advantages of combining mobile text marketing with other advertising channels

Strategy
The Los Angeles Times is proving mobile to be a powerful component to an overall advertising campaign.

The primary goal was to gauge the demand for mobile content and to test SMS marketing programs among the estimated 1.2 million attendees while ensuring that valuable information and promotions were easily accessible via mobile devices.

Results
As predicted, the mobile site began receiving a great deal of traffic as soon as smartphone device detection and redirection was implemented.

Opening weekend, and the two days leading up to it, saw more than 100,000 smartphone page views from over 30,000 unique visitors.

In fact, smartphones accounted for more than 8 percent of total page views on the LA County Fair Web site.

Even more profound was that over the course of the month-long fair the mobile site hosted more than 110,000 unique visitor sessions—nearly one in sevev of the total online visits.

While these statistics clearly illustrate the demand for mobile-optimized content, other interesting insights were gained.

The LACF traditional Web site typically sees traffic spikes during the middle of the week, presumably the result of fair-goers planning their visit.

Conversely, the mobile site hosted dramatic traffic peaks on the weekends, the inference that this is traffic generated from on-site fair-goers.

By comparing daily attendance numbers with data on peak mobile traffic days, one can estimate that approximately 5-6 percent of visitors who were on the fairgrounds interacted with lacountyfair.com— not an insignificant number.

Interestingly, this engagement was entirely organic and not the result of promotion of the mobile site on the fairgrounds.

This creates remarkable promotional opportunities for fair events, vendors, and sponsors who can interactively engage and target consumers in a captive physical environment.

Lessons learned
In summary, mobile presents clear advantages as a marketing channel for events, theme parks and fairs.

Consumers have a natural tendency to refer to their mobile devices to look up promotions, schedules, announcements, and other information when physically on-site.

By extending this opportunity to its vendors and sponsors, the Fairplex and other similar organizations have powerful new tools to drive foot traffic and influence the behavior of a captive audience.

Quotes
"We had a strong belief going into this project that the LA County Fair's target audience was perfect for mobile," said Jeff Von Molt, senior account executive for the LA Times. "Not only are we working with a captured audience who is already out and about, this audience is predominantly under the age of 35 and ethnically diverse—perfect for mobile-focused efforts."

"Once again we see the proof points justifying the inclusion of smartly integrated mobile components to an overall marketing campaign." Not only do consumers naturally seek out content on their mobile devices, but that activity presents a real opportunity for organizations like the LACF to explore new advertising for their vendors."

Google involved in Mobile Marketing

2010-05-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

Google becomes world's largest mobile ad network:
8 interesting implications

May 24, 2010

The Federal Trade Commission has approved Google’s proposed $750 million acquisition of mobile ad network AdMob, stating the deal is unlikely to harm competition. What does this mean for the mobile advertising landscape?

The deal has several implications for the mobile advertising ecosystem. Among them:
Apple has competition – No doubt Apple CEO Steve Jobs and his top team will be locked in meetings this week to figure out their next strategy to thwart Google's progress in mobile. The approval is good news for advertisers and ad agencies. Apple needs a strong competitor in mobile – now more than ever.

Validation – This deal is further validation that mobile marketing is real, that the results are measurable and have considerable value and that mobile should be a factor, if not a central pillar, in any brand marketing strategy going forward.

More brands to enter mobile – With the newfound validation of the mobile industry, expect an influx of major brands to the mobile bandwagon.

Mobile CRM – With more mobile marketing activity in the near future, expect brands and agencies to finally understand that the channel can be used as part of a CRM strategy. Expect more list building and coupon campaigns.

Multichannel is here – With the explosion of mobile activity, siloed campaigns are a thing of the past. Already, consumers’ dependence on mobile has changed them forever. They want to be spoken to via the channels in which they spend the most time. These channels – mobile, social media and online – are going to be thrown in to the marketing mix, finally and with respectable budgets.

Growth of Android – Along with a mobile advertising advantage, Google gets a significant amount of clickstream data and transaction records in and around iPhone applications from the acquisition. Expect Google to use all of this to grow Android.

More choice for brands and marketers – This acquisition, as well as the Quattro/Apple deal, are giving advertisers and publishers more choice in the fast-growing area of mobile advertising. The deal will bring new innovation and competition to mobile advertising and will lead to more effective tools for creating, serving and analyzing emerging mobile ad formats.

Relevancy – With all the data that Google is getting, ad relevancy will become its specialty. Users will see more relevant ads and ultimately get access to more free or low-cost ad-supported content and applications, improving their mobile experience.

Mobile advertising will grow - Gartner projects that the worldwide revenue for mobile advertising will be $13.5 billion in 2013, up from around $500 million in 2008. Up until now, Google has focused mainly on search advertising, but this deal signals that it has its sights set on display advertising on mobile.

The time to enter the mobile space is NOW. Ask how Brilliant Mobile can make your journey into (the mobile) space simple and easy! Call us today!

Mobile Integration...What's in your Toolbox?

2010-05-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Anheuser-Busch distributor grows mobile database to 12,000 in 6 months

Pepin Distributing Co., a distributor of Anheuser-Busch Inc. beer products, integrated mobile into its overall marketing mix and grew its opted-in mobile database to 12,000 consumers in six months.

“Consumers care about mobile and they find it fun to engage with products like mine via mobile,” said Bill Gieseking, director of marketing at Pepin Distributing, Tampa, FL, a distributor of Anheuser-Busch products. “We’ve put mobile into our tool box and mobile has been completely integrated into our marketing mix.

"We knew we needed to build our database, so we partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bucs and Rays—we’re big sponsors of lots of major sporting events,” he said. “Mobile has become totally integrated into all of our promotions, even account-specific programs, giving away a prize at a particular bar or restaurant, which is a value-add for our retail partners.

“Mobile saves me a lot of time and money—we used to put paper pull-pads at the POS for promotions, but now consumers can participate immediately via mobile and its very relevant—the immediacy and relevancy is why mobile is so important to us.”

Tying mobile into the mix
Mr. Gieseking talked about the benefits of integrating mobile at a regional level, in this case, the environs of Tampa, FL. He said that mobile completes his company’s 360-degree marketing approach.

The company issues mobile calls-to-action via local radio stations and collateral at retail locations that sell Anheuser-Busch products, asking consumers to text a keyword to Pepin’s short code 333222.

Mr. Gieseking recommends getting on-premise and off-premise retailers involved to drive more sales. In January, ran a text-to-win promotion with the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning that drove 1,800 opt-ins to its database in 45 days.

Pepin asks consumers who opt in to verify their age by texting in their date of birth.

After 60 days, the mobile sweepstakes had generated 3,572 opt-ins.

After two months of running mobile initiatives, Pepin had a total database 3,154 and an opt-out rate of less than 1 percent.

The company simplified the prize and redemption process with its prize engine and redemption codes, creating a dynamic mobile database for future opportunities.

After six months, the opt-out rate was still less than 3 percent, with higher consumer participation and higher retail participation. Pepin had created an interactive opted-in customer database that totaled close to 12,000 and continued to grow.

Why mobile?
Mr. Gieseking went down the list of reasons that mobile marketing makes sense for the brands he distributes and provides separation from the competition.

1. Mobile allows immediate delivery, letting brands engage consumers in real time, which supports a dedicated brand following, according to Pepin. Mobile increases market share and loyalty to the brand.

2. Mobile also reduces the cost and time associated with promotions and prize offerings.

3. In addition, an SMS call-to-action stimulates an impulse response that translates to additional sales and increased participation in promotional events.

4. Mobile increases sales and revenue via featured activities and displays that drive consumers to retail locations and enhance sell-through, as well as increase participation with events and promotions.

5. Mobile also helps Pepin go to market faster with new products, giving the company a solution for accounts both on- and off-premise.

6. Mobile increases the ROI of marketing via increased promotional penetration and message retention, giving legs to marketing messages.

7. By using different keywords in various calls-to-action, Pepin is able to define his reach per medium.

8. SMS lets brands create a mobile database, reaching new customers and enhancing the loyalty of existing customers by keeping the brand top of mind. It takes one click to deliver a message and mobilize a response.

9. Mr. Gieseking said that consumers love text-to-win promotion, and that the mobile prize engine makes sweepstakes easy.

10. Consumers feel included as part of the brand experience, boosting brand awareness and loyalty.

Pepin is even using its database for advocacy issues, increasing awareness of the legal drinking age and laws/taxes related to the beer industry, as well as sending out “drink responsibly” messages.

“We can send information out to our consumers with hot prices on cold beer, information about retailers, promotions driving traffic to retailers, which demonstrate the value-added services of mobile,” Mr. Geiseking said. “It’s also important to send consumers information about legislative issues such as increased excise taxes on beer, as well as good corporate social responsibility messages like ‘Party safe, designate a driver.’

“It’s really fun for consumers to get the latest news about our brands on their handsets and find out where we’re doing the latest promotions,” he said. “Because the beer business has lots of resources, we have lots of partners to cross-merchandise with, so we do lots of sweepstakes.

“Giving away prizes is very appealing to our consumers—they opt in to win these prizes and experiences, and when we want to push something out to them, we can.”

What do Consumers think?
The drivers of mobile marketing include consumer adoption of advanced mobile devices/networks/plans and the latest mobile media such as applications.

Consumer acceptance of key engagement enablers is growing, leading to growth of mobile advertising for awareness building and mobile commerce for transaction fulfillment.

Because of those trends, mobile is becoming a central element to brands’ strategy.

Another emerging trend is market sector specialization in mobile marketing and commerce, from consumer packaged goods, automotive and retail to apparel, entertainment and travel/hospitality.

It is important for brands to take into account SMS, MMS, the mobile Web and applications when formulating their strategy and figure out which channels are the best fit for their target demographics.

“Looking at emerging trends, these mobile channels all interrelate with each other and create engagement opportunities for brands,” Mr. Becker said. “The leading marketers in the country aren’t simply looking at it as an advertising or promotional channel but as a key element of consumer engagement and their overall marketing strategies.

“Mobile provides the opportunity to create brand awareness, brand favorability and increased purchase intent,” he said. “Mobile is indexing much higher than traditional online branding across those metrics.

“Also, both in the case of retailers and nonprofits, consumers are definitely adopting mobile commerce in a big way.”

Restaurants use Mobile Marketing to increase Sales

2010-04-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Increase Restaurant Sales by Going Mobile

t is not new that consumers and restaurant patrons order food especially pizza online. But how about ordering food from your cell phones and have it delivered or you pick up at the nearest location. That is what many independent and quick service restaurants are now offering to consumers. Apart from the ability to order food from their landline phones, smart restaurant owners are also using mobile or cell phone marketing to engage their patrons, acquire new ones and promote their business. These free or inexpensive way of marketing is now revolutionizing the way businesses interact and market to consumers.

Results of Mobile Marketing: Let us look at some examples; Walter Payton Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois send out weekly text messages to their patrons. Tonight & Sat @ the Roundhouse.. Comedy w/ Bob Jay! Doors @ 7PM. Cover $15. Tonight live band No Direction, Sat w/ Reckless! Doors @10PM/Cover $7. 21+ . This simple messages reminds their patrons about the event and deliver exciting sales results. How about The Taco Maker, a Taco chain that utilize mobile marketing techniques to launch their new Burrito wrap and got a 21% increase in average store sales.

There are over 283 Million cell phones in the United States according to Mobile Marketing Association(MMA). With over 95% of these cell phones capable of sending and receiving text messages. People always have their cell phone with them. In fact according to a recent survey, consumers will rather leave their wallet at home than forget their cell phones. This makes the cell phone a natural option to reach patrons anywhere and anytime.

Text In Or Touch in Your Order Working with several mobile marketing companies to provide cell phone or mobile phone ordering, restaurants are taking convenience to another level. Several companies like Burger king, McDonald, Subway, Pizza Hut and PaPa John all allow cell phone users to order burger and pizza and have it delivered or picked up at the nearest store location. It so easy and convenient that using basic text messages, patrons can text in their order in and have it delivered. Cell phone users can also use their cell phones to go to a mobile website, pick an order, pay with their credit card and receive notification when the order will be ready. Since many people now have smart phones like the iphone, consumers can now order with a touch on the iphone burgers , fries and pizzas and have it delivered......

Excerpts from an article in: Food & Beverage Today

Brilliant Mobile is positioned to help Restaurant owners drive more traffic into their stores. By simply offering their customers a chance to receive special discounts, be the first to know what's on the new menu, or get VIP invites to important events, customers will gladly text in to join their Mobile Club.

Once a member, they will receive messages at the exact moment that the Restauranteur sends it! And since most everyone carries their phone where ever they go, that incentive will reach them instantly! With up to 95% instant open rate, your call to action will have a big impact on your loyal followers!

Packages start at only $49.99/mo, which is a fraction of the cost of most other advertising options available. The key is to promote it, which is easy and cost efficient! In the restaurant you can do this with a simple Sign on the door, on Table Tents, and a sticker on the Menu. You can also promote it in your email newsletters, websites, and even tagging it into traditional advertising, that you already get results from.

Texting or Mobile Marketing is also a great way to track R.O.I. as you can quickly test your messages to see which get a better response. If the place is slow one afternoon, send a text that says "FREE dessert with every entree tonight" or "Live Band playing tonight! Show your cell for your first drink for free!" or "Ladies Night, bring your friend for a BOGO appetizer!" Your customers will receive that and have one decision to make... and your offer just made that decision easier!

To see how this works, text DEMO1 to 88500, and see for yourself!

Mobile Marketing 101

2010-03-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

Mobile Marketing?

The Big Brands are doing it, but why?

Its new, its scary, and people only text their kids, right? Wrong!

If you received a discount coupon for lunch at 11:30 am, do you think that might help make your decision on which restaurant to go to?

If you were at a trade show, and your customers texted in to win something at your booth, not only would it save data entry time, but you could text them an invitation to stop back by for an on-site meeting!

If you had a dentist appointment, and received a friendly reminder of the time and date, wouldn't that be helpful and cut down on no-shows for the doctors?

* Over 95% of text messages are read by recipient instantly!

* Personal, instant link between you and your customers!

* Connect with consumer in real-time, where ever they are!

* Easy Setup - create a SMS mobile marketing campaign in minutes!

* Affordable - Packages start at $49 per month!

Tagging your ads with 'Keywords' will not only engage users 24/7, it will increase response rates, measure the performance of each marketing channel, and give the consumer a fun, portable record to redeem, reference later, or share with friends!

How it works

You simply choose a keyword, that identifies your company or campaign.
Promote your MobileID to existing and potential customers. Your customers, and prospects then send a text message with your keyword to our short code (69302).
When Brilliant Mobile receives an incoming text message to your keyword, the sender's mobile # is stored in your database for future mobile marketing campaigns, and they Instantly receive the response that you have written.
Whether you want to send coupons, a simple text message response, or connect to an elaborate SMS application or API, with Brilliant Mobile, you'll be connected instantly!

With Brilliant Mobile, small to medium sized businesses can have the same capabilities as the big brands, at a fraction of the cost.

Click here to get more Brilliant Ideas: http://www.abideas.com/mobilemarketingwho.php

Client Testimonial for Brilliant Mobile

2010-03-02T15:12:00.000-08:00

"On my first text message campaign, I had a customer tell me that he was at the beach surfing & relaxing when he received the text message from our company. He had not visited our location in years and thought, “Why not go by and see if I could find a car.” He stopped by, found a car and made some money. He was thankful for the text message and so were we, because that one car ending up paying for our whole program for the month and it was only our first attempt. We love this technology and look forward to using this on a regular basis to reach out to our customers."

Marketing Manager
Manheim California | CADE

Books - A Promotional Product

2010-02-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Champions and the Power of Books...

Early this season, Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, gave each member of his team a copy of the book Finish Strong by Dan Green including a Promo-Page with his personal message. Inspired by this customized book, the team adopted Finish Strong as their battle cry. To fully connect the book's message to the team, Finish Strong t-shirts were designed and distributed exclusively in New Orleans with proceeds supporting Drew's foundation. The shirts became the fastest selling Saints apparel item in New Orleans retail history - prior to the game over 40,000 units had been sold.

Following their win of the NFC championship game Drew's quote from the trophy presentation was, "Now we need to Finish Strong in Miami".... and that's exactly what they did!

There is a passion about the "power of books" as promotional products! Companies can use books to reinforce their messages and communicate with their customers and employees. The New Orleans Saints recognized the power of books and look where it took them...where can books take you and your customers? Think about it. And... Go Saints!! :) Mary

2009 Mobile Marketer of the Year

2010-01-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

Another Brilliant Idea helped Kawasaki win a 2009 Mobile Marketer Award!

Kawasaki, Gilt Groupe tie for fifth place: 2009 Mobile Marketer of the Year

The power sports industry faced an extremely challenging 2009. The economic meltdown and credit crisis, beginning in fall 2008, dealt a double blow to the industry.

Not only were consumers spending less, especially on non-essential items such as motorcycles and ATVs, but those who did want to buy faced an increasingly difficult time securing financing. Indeed, upwards of 75 percent of power sports unit purchases are financed.

The result? The industry saw an overall sales decline of more than 40 percent from the prior year.

Amidst this dramatic sales decline, Kawasaki sought to build sales for itself and their dealers, and ideally grow market share – their primary overall marketing objective.

Objectives
Kawasaki’s objective was to drive overall unit sales at retail dealerships and to capture more than its fair share of power sports unit purchases during the program window.

Strategies
Kawasaki was very focused on engaging power sports enthusiasts with an exciting and compelling offer.
The company wanted to drive traffic to participating dealerships and reward customers with meaningful incentives.

Additionally, Kawasaki aimed to capture a qualified mobile database of power sports enthusiasts for future efforts.

To read more, click: http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/advertising/5043.html

Rewarding Employees doesn't have to cost a fortune

2009-12-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

I found this article, and thought it might help during the last weeks of 2009! :) Mary

Rewarding Employees Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune

Recognizing and rewarding employees is very important. It’s a way of applauding a job well-done or showing the people who work for you just how appreciative you are of them. Unfortunately, in the current economy, employers are worried that rewarding employees will cost a fortune.

Good news—there are many low-cost ways to reward your employees.

Steps to Take
The first thing you want to do if you’d like to reward your employees is to identify your priorities in terms of your business’ objectives in order to determine how much you are willing to spend and how much you’re willing to attribute to different areas, such as business services.

For example, if you’re spending a lot of company resources and money on achieving increased revenue, then an employee reward and recognition program should reward people who are going toward that specific business goal and that area should, therefore, have more money allotted to it than something that’s a lesser focus for the company. This is just one way to look at how to allot funds toward rewarding employees.

Now in terms of the actual employee reward and recognition program, there are lots of things you can do that are very low-cost. I tend to break them down into 3 categories—awards, recognition and perks. Here are some low-cost ideas for each.

Awards
Awards are basically just tokens of appreciation or can also be given for specific things, such as meeting a sales goal or for handling the most customer calls in one day, etc. Here are a couple ideas to get you started:

Engraved plaques, which you can get relatively cheap
Coffee mug with your company name/logo on it

These items are good awards because they can be purchased in bulk, which makes them more affordable.

Recognition
Recognizing employees is one of the most low-cost ways to reward them. Since everyone likes to be recognized for something they did, and recognition is very, very affordable, you’ll be able to recognize employees on a continual basis. Here are a couple ideas:

Take a picture of the employee who is being recognized and post it on the company intranet or Web site
Write a profile of the employee to go along with the picture and post it on the intranet, Web site or publish it in your company’s newsletter
If possible, get your local newspaper to run an article on the employee or a group of employees who accomplished something great at your company

Publicizing a job well-done to the community, as well as internally, just adds to the recognition.

Rewards
There are many ways to reward employees that don’t cost anything more than a few dollars or that only cost time. Here are some ideas:

Give employees the afternoon off—I’ve found that this is a very good way to reward employees, and it doesn’t have to be an entire day. Just let them leave two hours early one Friday afternoon so they can start their weekend sooner or so they can take care of personal business or go home and take a nap or hang out with their children.
Get them out of the office—Gather everyone together and do an office-outing, such as going bowling or to the zoo. This wouldn’t cost more than renting a few lanes and bowling shoes or purchasing tickets to the zoo and, of course, time spent away from the office. This type of reward is also a great way to be social, relax, build team spirit and for employees to get to know each other better.
Bring in a chair massage therapist for the day and let employees take turns getting massages, if they want to. You can usually set this up through a local chiropractic or massage therapist’s office. This is a great way to help out a local business, and many of them will come in for cheap or sometimes for free if they see it as an opportunity to get the word out about their business and are able to hand out business cards or discount certificates to your employees, who might then refer their friends and family to the business.
Bring in food—Food is a very popular, and delicious, way to reward employees. You can do ice cream sundaes or donuts and cider or have a popcorn afternoon.

Perks
This category would require singling out individuals or a group of individuals for a job well-done and giving them a special privilege. If you do this on an ongoing basis, employees will keep it in their minds as they work, and it may even push them to work harder to try and earn the special perk. Here are some ideas:

Assigned parking—You could give out assigned parking spaces, which would last for a specific period of time. For example, if you choose an “employee of the month,” you could then give that employee an assigned parking space until the next employee of the month is chosen.
Lunch with the boss—You could take an employee or a group of employees to lunch as a thank you for doing such a good job. An additional perk would be allowing the employee to choose the restaurant or allowing the group to vote on the restaurant they want to eat at.
Priority vacation scheduling—You could allow the employee receiving the recognition to be the first person to schedule their vacation for the holiday season or in the summer time, and then have the rest of the employees work their vacation time around them.

These are obviously just some of the infinite number of ideas for rewarding employees. If you get a little creative, you’ll see there are lots of low-cost ideas for rewarding employees that would mean a lot to them.

Written/Created by: Christine Campbell