| As per a report from Neustar, mobile or cell | | | | Restaurant, MacArthur Park Restaurant, Garlex |
| phone marketing is now mainstream in the U.S. At | | | | Pizza, Pastas Trattoria in Pleasanton to increase |
| the end of 2008, there were over 270 million | | | | sales through social media marketing and text |
| mobile subscribers or 87% of U.S. households. Due | | | | messaging. |
| to lower costs and unlimited text messaging plan, | | | | The key question to ask is "does text messaging |
| last year U.S. consumers sent over 110.4 billion | | | | actually work?" According to Neustar, yes and |
| SMS messages per month! This means that cell | | | | these campaigns have proven to be more |
| phones present a great opportunity to reach and | | | | effective than traditional marketing methods such |
| engage people who want to connect with your | | | | as email or banner ads. "For example, SMS-based |
| business. | | | | campaigns achieve over a 90% opt-in rate, |
| For restaurants, mobile marketing can be a new | | | | compared to 22.1% for email. In fact, the |
| way to convert first time guests into regular | | | | average SMS response rate typically ranges |
| patrons as well as increasing sales through new | | | | between 15% to 30%, compared to 5% for |
| guests. | | | | email and 2.61% for direct mail. |
| Here are the top ways restaurants can use text | | | | Restaurant operators and owners face two |
| messaging: | | | | choices: to manage their own integrated |
| 1. Convert first time guests into loyal diners | | | | marketing or to outsource the entire program. |
| 2. Increase sales by sending special discounts | | | | There are various benefits of outsourcing the |
| during slow hours | | | | entire program including: |
| 3. Instant offers on specific items via text | | | | 1. Experts deliver much higher results that you |
| messaging | | | | can count on |
| 4. Increase conversion from print, radio and online | | | | 2. You don't have to take time away from your |
| ads | | | | day job |
| To learn more about how the above can be | | | | 3. Online marketing is very time consuming and |
| achieved via text messaging request your free | | | | tedious |
| white paper on how restaurants are using text | | | | 4. The actual cost is much lower if outsourced to |
| messaging by emailing nuAlerts is a fast growing | | | | the right firmnuAlerts offers the Pro service for |
| service that combines text messaging, email | | | | $99 per month and the entire outsourced |
| marketing, widgets and social media marketing | | | | program for $500 per month. The outsourced |
| into a single service to make it easy and cost | | | | program includes content writing, link building, |
| effective for small businesses. Thousands of | | | | directory submissions and materials for launch of |
| businesses are now using nuAlerts, including Faz | | | | the program. |