Is SMS marketing doomed?

As excited as we are about our new, automated SMS broadcast tool, we’re aware of concerns that dopey marketers will kill the golden goose of SMS marketing with spam.

So, we’re joining the chorus of reputable SMS marketers in calling for voluntary use of opt-in rules before using text messages for marketing purposes.

Because of the incredibly intimate relationship people have with their mobile phones, there is really no more personal medium for communication.

That’s one of the reasons that Voicent’s BroadcastBySMS tool is so valuable for emergency alerts on college or corporate campuses, or for purchase or delivery confirmations.

It can also be used for marketing purposes, such as customer-satisfaction surveys, or alerts for special sales events. Just get permission to do this, either at the point of sale, or through special signage offering discounts or other incentives if prospects will simply text a number or phrase to you.

With Voicent’s BroadcastBySMS,you can collect opt-in requests and then broadcast text messages containing a coupon code to those who are interested.

And, with Voicent’s IVR Studio, you can completely automate the collection and the response.

SMS has a bright future in customer relationship management, so long as the goose is not senselessly stuffed with spam to the point that it dies.

Posted in SMS marketing |

Skype Connect offers 5,000 minutes for $30

Business users of Skype’s SIP-based Skype Connect service are being offered opportunities to buy 5,000 minutes for only $30. That comes to about six-tenths of a cent per minute. Considering that wholesale bulk line charges are about half-a-cent per minute that’s an amazingly generous offer.

By using SkypeConnect, Voicent software can be configured to connect to its service directly, without using the Skype softphone software. This increases simultaneous-call capacity. It also makes Windows 7 systems Skype “friendly” (Skype 3.8 cannot be used on Windows 7).

According to Skype, Skype Connect allows up to 300 monthly channel subscriptions per SIP Profile and you can have multiple SIP Profiles per device.

For more information and step-by-step directions for configuring Voicent software to use Skype Connect visit: Use SkypeConnect For Voicent Software.

Posted in Call-center management |

Have a complaint about Voicent?

Some of our visitors have reported seeing a few complaints about Voicent on-line. Not surprisingly, these complaints have given them pause as to whether or not they should try our products.

For the record:

We take the needs of our customers very seriously. We answer every single support email and we do our best to resolve any and all issues reported with our software.

Because our aim is to develop useful, affordable communication software, we do not maintain a large support staff nor offer free and unlimited upgrades of our software.

Instead, we offer free and unlimited testing of our software in your environment, a buy-it-once-and-own-it-for-life licensing policy, and very low pricing with no per-call, monthly or annual fees.

With more than 10,000 satisfied customers around the world, we believe we’ve chosen the right sales model for our software.

To those who believe we should offer low prices AND unlimited upgrades we must say “sorry, but we can’t do that,” even if it means they will post nasty comments about us on-line.

In our opinion, anonymous, on-line posting of complaints will get you nothing but bad karma.

Here is a link to use in case you ever have a complaint about Voicent software or licensing policies. There, you can get get details and explanations of our policies, or start a dialogue.

We’re confident that we will be able to keep you in the ranks of Voicent’s thousands of satisfied customers.

Posted in Business |