Bulk SMS Accounts

ABOUT OUR BULK SMS SERVICES

Use Bulk SMS to contact multiple recipients with the same message. HostworX / eXtremeexposure offers customers access to a secure, streamline, easy to use and dependable high-capacity messaging platform. HostworX / eXtremeexposure's interactive service is provided via a direct, dedicated link into the 4 local Mobile network operators.

Advantages

Our web-based product allows you to:

• Send bulk SMS’s direct from your web browser AND receive replies
• Merge your address book
• Conduct history reports
• Conduct bulk imports of contacts
• Send SMS’s to individuals or groups directly to their mobile phone
• And many advanced sending features

Features

Let HostworX / eXtremexposure's Bulk SMS product help you with the following features:

• Import or enter contacts and manage them into convenient groups
• Personalize your messages.
• Monitor and analyze your messaging campaigns.
• Use the free two-way messaging, with reply messages sent directly to your In-box.
• Download history reports in MS Excel format.
• Market instantly and directly to your customers or group members, or alert them of offers, deals, meetings or changes in arrangements.

Let the advantages of SMS Media grow your business

SMS media is a highly effective channel, largely due to the fact that over 98% of SMS’s received are viewed. The high performance of the medium is based on the following unique characteristics:

• A mobile phone is a more personal environment than direct mail or e-mail
• SMS media has little commercial clutter and much higher standout
• SMS campaigns can be targeted more precisely by a combination of demographics such as location, age, income, education, race and experience
• SMS marketing is a relatively new medium
• A SMS can be replied to any place, any time, within seconds
• SMS's are automatically stored and can be referred to or used at a more appropriate time

Networks

Short Codes are the SMS Text Numbers widely used in print advertising, TV & radio advertising, on marketing or promotional literature, on point of sale goods and on outdoor advertising. With a Dedicated Short Code, you can define as many keywords as you want and let the system respond based on the keywords sent by the clients to the shortcode. There are no hidden costs and lofty campaign development fees. The benefit of a dedicated shortcode and customizale keywords is that it is flexible enough to be tailored to any business.

• Respond to a promotion or offer;
• Request information to be sent instantly to their mobile phone 24/7;
• Ask for a brochure to be sent to them;
• Request a call back;
• Receive a promotional mobile SMS coupon / voucher;
• Vote for a competition.

The SMS platform has been designed to be easy-to-use, ensuring that anyone situated anywhere can have access to the world of Short Codes and keywords.

The advanced management tools allow the keyword owner to alter:

• The response sent to the client;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to email;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to a mobile number;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to a URL for external use;

What is a keyword?

Keywords are your unique SMS response identity. They are the words that your customers will use to identify the service that you are offering. The scopes of keywords are limitless. When choosing a keyword remember that when customers require a service, be it subscribing to your information offering or trying their hand at competitions you are running, they would prefer sending as short an SMS as possible, so plan your keywords with this in mind.

Why use a Short Code / keyword in your marketing?

• More memorable than long phone numbers and website names.
• Provides great brand exposure.
• Raise or maintain brand awareness.

The response from a Short Code number is almost immediate. Your marketing budget benefits around the clock, engaging directly with the consumer - not missing the moment!

Register for a keyword

To register for a "keyword" you need to be a registered user on our portal. Once you have registered, you can apply for a keyword. Your campaign, service or promotion can be setup swiftly thereafter. If you require more information call our keyword support center, click here.

Shared Short Code / Dedicated Keywords is a cost reducing service offered by us to allow you to be able to use the Shortcode / Keyword Services at a much reduced rate charged on an annual basis per keyword selected. This service uses our shared short code and you then select an available dedicated keyword for your campaign. This reduces the need of a monthly cost and only need a single keyword for clients to contact you or request a service or other information. The shared short code \ dedicated keyword service however cannot use the revenue share option unfortunately. It is a zero cost service to the respondents.

The keyword selected can be configured to change:

• The response sent to the client;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to email;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to a mobile number;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to a URL for external use;

To register for a "keyword" you need to be a registered user on our portal. Once you have registered, you can apply for a keyword. Your campaign, service or promotion can be setup swiftly thereafter. If you require more information call our keyword support center, click here.

These are Premium Rated SMS’s sent from a cellular subscriber’s handset to a specific 5-digit MSISDN number (Short Code), billed at a pre-determined, advertised, and higher than normal rate. Mobile Operators in South Africa have specially introduced a series of short codes and price ranges for this purpose. Mobile Originated Messaging refers to when the mobile user is billed at a Standard or Premium rate every time they send a message to a Short Code. This is available on Vodacom, MTN, Cell-C and Virgin Mobile. The revenue generated by such a Premium Rated SMS line - hosted on our platform - is shared between the client, the Mobile Operator, and ourselves. The SMS revenue share depends on the price band and the network. Custom campaigns can be developed to cater for your specific requirements. These services are only available on a dedicated shortcode number, and needs to be requested when ordering a dedicated shortcode, it cannot be added or ammended later.

IMPORTANT !!!! Competition lines cannot be charged at rates higher than R1.50, this is a limitation defined by SA Legislation.

Users may alter the following data at any time:

• The response sent to the client;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to email;
• If the incoming SMS should be forwarded to a mobile number;

Revenue Share

Each network pays out varied amounts - according to their own revenue share models - as detailed below. A minimum monthly volume of 500 messages per network will be required before HostworX will pass on revenue to its clients. Revenues will be paid to you within 90 days or earlier. Please note that this is dependent on when the operator pays HostworX. Please note that this is a guideline of the network payments.

SMS Competition General Guidelines & Rules

Below is a list of rules that must be adhered to when setting up an SMS competition.

PLEASE NOTE: This is merely an overview of some of the more common questions asked when creating a SMS campaign or SMS competition. This information does not constitute as legal advice, nor is it warranted as legal advice. The various authors, contributors and editors of the above, shall not be held liable for any consequences that may arise from implementation of these guidelines, or from failure to implement them.

Provision of Information

• Competition lines cannot be charged at rates higher than R1.50, this is a limitation defined by SA Legislation.
• Any promotional material for a competition service must clearly display the full cost to enter the competition and any cost to the user in obtaining the prize.
• Any promotional material for a competition service must include details of how the competition operates.
• Interactive competition services with an ongoing incremental cost must, at reasonable intervals, inform the customer of any additional costs, and must require the customer to actively confirm their continued participation.

• The closing date;
• Any significant terms and conditions, including any restriction on the number of entries or prizes which may be won;
• An adequate description of prizes, and other items offered to all or a substantial majority of participants, including the number of major prizes;
• Any significant age, geographic or other eligibility restrictions;
• Any significant costs which a reasonable consumer might not expect to pay in connection with collection, delivery or use of the prize or item.

• how and when prize-winners will be informed;
• the manner in which the prizes will be awarded;
• when the prizes will be awarded;
• how prize-winner information may be obtained;
• any criteria for judging entries;
• any alternative prize that is available;
• the details of any intended post-event publicity;
• any supplementary rules which may apply;
• the identity of the party running the competition and responsible for the prizes.

• use words such as ‘win’ or ‘prize’ to describe items intended to be offered to all or a substantial majority of the participants;
• exaggerate the chance of winning a prize;
• suggest that winning a prize is a certainty;
• suggest that the party has already won a prize and that by contacting the promoter of the competition, that the entrant will have definitely secured that prize.

Children’s competitions

Competition services that are aimed at, or would reasonably be expected to be particularly attractive to children must not offer cash prizes or feature long or complex rules.

General provisions

Competition services must have a specific closing date, except where there are instant prize-winners. An insufficient number of entries or entries of inadequate quality are not acceptable reasons for changing the closing date of a competition or withholding prizes. Once the closing date for a competition is reached, the advertised prizes must be awarded, notwithstanding the number of entries. Prizes must be awarded within 28 days of the closing date, unless a longer period is clearly stated in the promotional material. All correct entries must have the same chance of winning.

PLEASE NOTE: The above does not constitute legal advice, nor is it warranted as legal advice. The various authors, contributors to - and editors of the above, shall not be held liable for any consequences that may arise from implementation of these guidelines, or from failure to implement them.