One of the first questions that our clients ask is how they develop their community of mobile numbers. There are two main options that we recommend:

A Target Number >>

TextByNumbers provides a mobile phone number which you can use to let people send YOU text messages. So for example:

"TEXT the word 'travel' to 086-868 0002 and hear all the latest travel updates"

Everyone who sends a message to this number will have their number recorded in your in-box. All these numbers can then be transferred into a group e.g. the last-minute travel group, the student group etc.

The great thing about this number is that you can display it on all your advertising very easily. So for example, if you run a nightclub, print the number on all your fliers and posters. Using this method should grow your database of numbers quite quickly without physically approaching every single potential customer.

Collect peoples' numbers manually >>

Some of our clients prefer to collect numbers manually, frequently running a competition where people need to submit their mobile number on an application form.

The most important issue to remember is that people must opt-in to receive messages from you. When people are writing their number on the application form, they must tick a box that states something to the effect that "I agree to accept text messages from company x". This complies with the data protection and ensures that any messages sent to people aren't unsolicited spam.

Sending unsolicited to messages to people is soon to be made illegal across the EU. Phorest TextByNumbers has a strict anti-spam policy to which all its clients must subscribe.