SMS 2FA
SMS 2FA
One glimpse at the headlines and it’s pretty clear that cybercrime is huge right now. And it’s growing, so it’s no wonder businesses are so focused on boosting their cyber defenses. One of the proven recommended ways to add an extra layer of security is with two-factor authentication SMS 2FA, also known as multi-factor authentication. In fact, it’s one of the key strategies identified for stopping cybercriminals in their tracks.
What is two-factor authentication?
It’s universal. Any mobile device can receive an OTP in real-time, independent of device and operating system. It builds trust and confidence. By showing your customers that you’re doing what you can to protect them, you’ll earn their trust. It protects internal information. SMS 2FA isn’t just for your customers. Using SMS 2FA can improve security for important internal documents, files, software, passwords and sensitive information, which helps protect your business from ex-employees or scammers. It automates tasks like password resets. Free up your customer service team’s time from pesky ‘password reset’ calls. Instead of customers calling in to verify their identity before resetting a password, set up SMS 2FA to do the job. And one of the easiest ways to enable SMS 2FA? Using SMS messages to send an OTP.
To illustrate how SMS for two-factor authentication could work in your business, here’s an example of a typical ‘log in’ flow that uses SMS 2FA. Enter username and password First, the customer is prompted to enter their usual login details. This is typically a username and password, but it could also be an email address or phone number. This is the first verification. Receive a one-time code If SMS 2FA is set up, then an OTP is then sent to the customer’s mobile phone via text message. This is a temporary, unique code. Enter the SMS 2FA code Once the customer receives the code, they enter the digits into your login portal and can finish signing in. The whole process adds mere seconds to the login experience—plus a whole lot more security and peace of mind.
Why use SMS for 2FA?
If you were to do a poll of customers, you’d no doubt find that the vast majority rate SMS 2FA OTPs as the easiest way to deal with SMS 2FA . Here’s why. It’s super convenient. Most people have their phones next to them all day. They don’t want to rely on a backup email, app or (gasp) phone call to prove themselves—particularly when a quick and unobtrusive text message can do the trick. Codes are temporary. OTPs are time-sensitive. So, by the time a scammer successfully cracks the code, it’s likely to have expired. Guessing leads to lockout. The way SMS 2FA systems work is that, after a certain number of unsuccessful attempts, scammers will be locked out of an account. The real user can be alerted to change their password. Easy integration. If you have an existing SMS 2FA solution, it’s easy to integrate Message Media’s OTP feature. Check out our Integrations Marketplace. It’s safer. SMS is one of the safest choices for SMS 2FA. Other people may have access to your backup email or know the answer to your personalized questions, but it’s unlikely they’ll have your phone in their pocket.
OTT Messaging
OTT Messaging
Heard of OTT messaging? Not quite sure what it’s all about? While the acronym might not be all that familiar to you, the channels used for OTT (over-the-top, BTW) are sure to be. In a nutshell, OTT messaging uses apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Business Messages or Instagram to connect and chat with your customers. With the meteoric rise of these apps in recent years, it’s a great way to meet your customers where they hang out. Here, we break down what OTT messaging is, how it works and when you’d use it instead of SMS. Let’s dive in.
A quick explainer on OTT messaging
Without getting too technical, OTT messaging uses a text-based communications platform ‘over the top’ of an existing internet service. More broadly, OTT also describes technologies that sit on top of other systems (think the Apple TV box that streams movies to your television). With literally billions of people around the world using apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to stay in touch with friends and family, OTT messaging is a great tool to add to your communications toolkit. OTT messaging is great for your customers, too. Just like any other conversation, chats in these channels are personal, helpful and easy to track. Customers love the familiarity of their favorite channels and will appreciate the fact that you meet them there. And, with the right OTT platform behind you, it becomes incredibly easy to manage all your chats across apps and channels.
Let’s take a quick look at the main instant OTT messaging apps:
Facebook. With almost 3 billion users, Facebook is a great place to meet your customers for a chat. To make it easy for customers to chat to you, simply add a ‘Message’ button to your page, add chat to your ads, and use Messenger for live chat. Instagram. To connect directly with customers on Instagram, use direct messages (DMs). DMs are great for asking questions, providing support and general chit-chat about your brand. Google’s Business Messages. With this form of chat, customers can message you straight from where they find you on Google. You’ll just need to enable chat in your Google Business account—once done, the chat button will start showing up on your Google Business and Maps listings. WhatsApp. WhatsApp Business is an easy way to sort and manage your OTT messaging. And, with over 2 billion monthly active users, it’s clear customers love it, too. To get started, you’ll need to work with a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider like OTT Messaging Media to set up your account. Then, you can add click-to-chat to your website, run click-to-WhatsApp ads on Facebook, create a WhatsApp QR code, or run a WhatsApp marketing campaign.
SMS vs MMS
SMS vs MMS
You probably send text messages daily, but you still might not be able to answer the question: “What is SMS?” In short, SMS is simply an abbreviation for Short Message Service, or another name for a text message. You might be doubly confused when it comes to understanding the difference between SMS vs MMS. These two terms are used interchangeably but actually refer to different types of messaging. The simplest way to understand the difference is that SMS refers to text messages, while MMS refers to messages with a picture or video. Understanding the breakdown of SMS vs MMS messages and their differences will give you more insight into how to best connect with your customers, as well as which mass text messaging service is best for your business.
What is SMS?
Let’s start with the definition what SMS is. What is the difference between a text message and an SMS message? Well, an SMS is a text message. SMS was developed in the 1980s and is one of the oldest texting technologies. It’s also the most widely used, despite a growing number of alternate ways to communicate. While you might refer to a variety of different message types as simply a “text” in your daily life, however, the difference is that an SMS message contains only text (no pictures or videos) and is limited to 160 characters. For example, technically iMessages aren’t text messages, even though most people usually refer to them as such.
MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. You can think of it as an enhancement to the standard SMS message. You’ve probably guessed it by now, but the main difference between SMS and MMS is that you can send multimedia in your messages. This includes media such as videos, pictures, audio clips and GIFs, and more. Additionally, MMS allows for up to 1600 characters of text in your message — which is a considerable amount more than a standard SMS. MMS vs SMS: A Side-By-Side Comparison By now you’re probably already starting to understand what SMS is, especially since you probably send multiple SMS messages in your daily life. However, it might be easier to see what SMS is visually, especially since two pieces of similar content can look different when using SMS vs MMS messaging as a strategy. Even though the below image is based on an iPhone screen, when comparing SMS vs MMS, Android, iPhone, and other smartphones follow the same pattern.
Should I Use SMS vs MMS?
Now that you’ve answered “What is SMS?” and “What is MMS?” it’s time to decide which type of message is best for you. Choosing between SMS vs MMS requires you to understand what your end users are more likely to engage with and what your use case is. Do you need to communicate a quick message and have people follow a link? If so, SMS vs MMS may be the right choice. If you’re looking to really grab their attention, can afford the additional cost, and need to show them something visually, MMS vs SMS is the way to go. Ultimately, what’s most important is measuring your results and making adjustments to fine-tune your strategy and get the best ROI possible. Most Usms-gh users will send a mix of SMS and MMS messages to balance their costs and engagement.
Auto SMS Sender
Auto SMS Sender
It seems like everywhere you turn, people are talking about marketing automation. Even though it’s easy to tune out common buzzwords, automation is something you need to pay attention to — especially when it comes to SMS. Tools like an auto SMS sender can upgrade your messaging strategy and increase your revenue. Looking for the best auto SMS software? Here’s how to weed out the good from the bad.
If you’re considering an auto SMS sender that doesn’t have a drag and drop interface, be sure to spend time demoing the product so you know just how complicated it will be to alter the texting sequence. We find that the best automatic text messaging strategy involves incorporating data to make constant improvements — whether that be to the flow of the journey or the wording of your messages. If the process to make changes is complicated, chances are you could break the entire journey by making small changes. Or, the amount of time it takes to update your automatic texting journey could discourage you from regularly optimizing it. If you have a drag and drop interface, this isn’t a problem, but if not, don’t settle for a sales person merely showing you how it works. Ask for a demo period of the software so you can get to know it yourself.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they move to an auto SMS sender is sending out text messages that are too generic. This happens when you don’t segment your text list accurately enough. We like to use the term “segment of one” at Usms-gh, which emphasizes how niche we believe segmentation can get.
In order to maximize the potential of sending automatic SMS messages, you’ll want the platform you choose to integrate directly with the processes you already have in place.
“Collecting information is now totally automated without someone from our team having to be managing that and inputting that data. We get the information we need and save time while doing it,”
Not only do you need the first party data, but your SMS sender should be able to do the work for you when it comes to sending messages to the correct segments. There should be no manual entry involved in sorting your contact list — that’s the work for your auto SMS sender. If you’re in the process of shopping around for an auto SMS sender, this is an important feature to ask about.
For example, do you use Slack to communicate with your sales team? Find an auto SMS sender that integrates with Slack so that you can seamlessly send contacts to the appropriate sales representative for more in depth follow up or conversation.
Choosing an auto SMS sender can be overwhelming. There are a lot of companies that claim to have certain capabilities they don’t necessarily have.
source: slicktext
Spam Text
SPAM TEXT
Do you feel like you’ve been getting more spam texts than usual? Odds are, it’s because you are. Spam texts are unsolicited messages sent by scammers in an attempt to gain personal or financial information. Sometimes, these scammers may use familiar area codes or pretend to be someone you know in order to gain your trust. While carriers are constantly implementing new security measures, spam texting has exploded in popularity across the United States over the past few years. There’s even a new word to describe the phenomenon: smishing. At USMS-GH, we have a zero-tolerance policy for spam texters and smishing attempts, and we go to extensive lengths to keep bad actors from using our SMS marketing services. Keeping up-to-date on the latest spam texting statistics, data, and best safety practices can help you further protect your personal information and identify what a fake message looks like.
The Rise of Spam Texting in 2021 & 2022
From 2020 to 2021, there was a 58% increase in spam texts sent. In September of 2021, the number of spam texts sent was 1.227 million. By comparison, in August of 2022, 10.89 billion spam texts were sent. In April of 2021, Americans received around 16.9 spam texts a month. In April of 2022, that number skyrocketed to 41 spam texts a month. There’s no shame in getting caught up in a spam attempt. In fact, as of 2021, 1 in 3 Americans had reported falling for a mobile phone scam, and less than 35% of people realize that they’re a target of a scam texting attack. It’s impossible to get a break from spam texts. In fact, in 2021, January and February were the only months with fewer than 6 billion spam messages sent. Spam calls decreased by 50% from April to June of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way society operated. Spam text frequency surpassed spam call frequency for the first time in 2020, with the gap continuing to widen in 2021 and 2022 (87,850,585,036 spam texts sent vs. 72,236,875,541 spam calls placed). Phone Spam & Spam Texting Statistics & Trends Here are the scams and fake messages you should be on the lookout for, as well as the most targeted demographics.
Popular scam texting trends
59.4% of spam recipients in 2021 were male, while 38.3% were female. In 2021, the most targeted age range for phone spam was 35-44 for men and 18-34 for women. The least targeted age range for both genders was 65 and up. More recently, smishers have utilized fake two-factor authentication messages to steal personal information. Hackers also tend to use local area codes like 10DLCs or spoof numbers you might recognize in order to gain trust. How Do You Stop Getting Spam Texts? At their best, spam texts are simply annoying, but at their worst, they can be a gateway to fraud, identity theft, and cyber crimes — all of which can cost you precious time and money. So how do you stop getting spam texts? While there’s no 100% foolproof solution, there are a few things you can do to ensure you only receive the SMS messages you signed up for Block the sender Once you block a number, you won’t receive any calls or texts from them again. On an iPhone, click on the contact that the text came from. When you open the contact card, the Info tab will give you the option to block the number. On an Android, press the three buttons in the top corner of the screen, then select “block and report spam.” There’s no limit to the amount of numbers you can block, so you can do this anytime you get a text.
Notify your carrier If a carrier knows that a number is sending spam, they’ll investigate and block them from sending any more messages. All you have to do is forward the text you received to 7726 — this works for most major cell phone providers, including MTN, Vodafone and AirtelTigo. Reply stop While replying STOP to some spam texts may not work, there’s a chance the spam is from a service you signed up for at one point in time. If that’s the case, then legitimate short codes give you the option to opt-out by simply replying STOP.
USSD GH
USSD
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data popularly known as USSD is a protocol used by GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications ) cellphones to communicate with their service provider’s computers via text messages. To explain this in simple terms, when you dial a number that starts with * and ends with #, you are using USSD. This is known to be currently the best available communications technology to deliver mobile financial services to customers. USSD GH works with codes made up of the characters that are available on a mobile phone. A USSD message, which can be up to 182 characters long, establishes a real-time communication session between the phone and another device (typically, a network or server). It can be used for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browsing, mobile money services, prepaid callback service, menu-based information services, and location-based content services. With USSD, users interact directly from their mobile phones by making selections from various menus. Unlike an SMS message, during a USSD session, a USSD message creates a real-time connection. This means USSD enables two-way communication of information, as long as the communication line stays open. As such, queries and answers are nearly instantaneous.
A typical way of how the USSD works may involve a query from a mobile phone user, such as a request for a bank account balance. Once the user sends the request, the USSD gateway forwards it to the user’s USSD application, which responds to the request. The process is then repeated in reverse, i.e., the response goes back to the ussd gateway, which displays the content of that response on the screen of the user’s mobile phone. Generally, the responses, which contain a maximum of 182 alphanumeric characters, are sent in a format that’s easy to display. The user sends and receives data by dialing a specific short code — which usually, ranges from three (3) to five (5) numbers. USSD apps are instantly available to every subscriber the moment they’re deployed to a network and do not require any installation from the User.
A USSD application may be used for several reasons, such as the following : Mobile banking. Unlike banking apps that need internet access and smartphone functionality, USSD banking can work on any mobile device, including feature phones. Order confirmations. Food delivery providers can use USSD to enable two-way communication between customers placing orders and the vendors to alert customers when their orders are on the way. Marketing surveys. USSD can be used for mobile marketing. For example, organizations can send basic marketing surveys that users can respond to immediately, enabling companies to get customer feedback in real-time. Network configuration and requests. USSD is used to configure a user’s mobile device on the network. It also provides a menu of service options a user can choose from for such things as buying airtime or requesting account balances. Callback services. Service organizations, such as insurance providers and financial services companies, can use USSD to determine customers’ interests by enabling them to request callbacks after they present their offers. Coupons and vouchers. Retailers can use USSD to communicate special offers to customers, as well as send coupons and vouchers. Customer update requests. USSD can integrate with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to request updated customer information.
Bulk SMS-GH
Bulk SMS-GH
What is Bulk SMS-Gh? Bulk SMS-GH refers to the sending of large numbers of SMS messages to mobile phones. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. Hence mobile marketing must be considered in every strategic marketing planning especially for businesses that wants to have a competitive edge over their competitors within the industry. One of the biggest advantages of bulk SMS-Gh messaging is that it has the ability to reach almost anyone, anywhere across the world, with little effort. SMS marketing has proven to be one of the most effective tools in marketing and sales. Not only does this benefit your business when communicating with your existing customers but it broadens your customer reach.
What is Bulk SMS?
Bulk SMS-GH refers to the sending of large numbers of SMS messages to mobile phones. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. Hence mobile marketing must be considered in every strategic marketing planning especially for businesses that wants to have a competitive edge over their competitors within the industry. One of the biggest advantages of bulk SMS-Gh messaging is that it has the ability to reach almost anyone, anywhere across the world, with little effort. SMS marketing has proven to be one of the most effective tools in marketing and sales. Not only does this benefit your business when communicating with your existing customers but it broadens your customer reach.
Reminders To offer discounts and sale alerts Coupon codes Product news Election vote appeals Sending Thank you Messages Service notifications Feedback requests Survey links App download links Internal employee updates Emergency updates Who can use Bulk SMS-GH Service? People that can use Bulk sms-gh includes: Schools Enterprises Banks Media outlets Airlines Travel agencies Healthcare providers Retailers etc. One very important tip you need to know before sending out bulk sms-gh is your target audience. Bulk SMS-GH campaigns should be targeted as much as possible so it can be effective. Here are a few tips to make your bulk sms-gh campaigns effective: 1. Make it short Always ensure that your messages are precise and straight to the point. Do not add any unnecessary information so as not to deter your clients from reading 2. Create your business name When sending bulk messages ensure that your text comes from your business name. This is what we call Sender Id. This builds the trust people have in your message and lets people know that the text isn't malicious. Most service providers allows you to create sender ids with a maximum of eleven characters hence it is important to ensure that your sender id falls within this range. 3. Personalize your messages To build further trust with your clients, you can personalize your messages. Most bulk sms-gh platforms has this feature to allow you personalize your message, make sure you use it. WIGAL provides the lowest and unbeatable Bulk SMS-GH pricing to all mobile networks in Ghana. source: wigal
SMS sales automation
SMS sales automation
From prospecting to lead management and closing deals, your sales team can use SMS sales automation to help move customers through the sales pipeline. It works by programming text messages to be sent once specific sales steps, conditions or qualifications have been met on the sales journey. SMS shines in a wide range of sales activities, including: Sales prospecting (cold and warm) Follow-ups and reminders Relationship building Sales touchpoints Scheduling appointments, demos and consultations
Your sales team reaps some big benefits
To the buyer or prospect, SMS sales automation looks and feels like a personalized, one-on-one conversation. To you, however, it’s just one of potentially thousands of personalized messages you can send with the click of a single button. By adding automated text messaging to your sales process, you can: Drive maximum ROI. Instead of the time-consuming task of manually sending out individual messages, you can send potentially thousands of personalized messages at once to help maximize ROI.
You can add as many prospects as you like to your nurture journey. SMS sales automation programs grow with you. Get your sales messages across fast. Want to capture leads faster than your competitors, but in a less intrusive way? Instead of chasing them over the phone, send them a quick text message inviting them to get in touch when it suits. Build personalized relationships. Text messaging strikes that magic formula of feeling both personal and informal. It’s perfect for building relationships and gaining the trust of prospective clients. SMS sales automation shines at every stage of sales You can use text messaging in all stages of the sales process. Map out your entire sales journey and consider which moments are ripe for a text message or two. Here’s an example of an inbound B2B sales pipeline that could benefit from SMS sales automation In the awareness stage Using the example above, a customer downloads an eBook from your website. Instead of following up with email marketing (which, let’s face it, has lower open rates than text messaging), use SMS sales automation instead. Give the customer a few days or a week to read the eBook, then send some helpful texts with additional links to content they might find interesting.
In the consideration stage
In this stage, your customer has requested a product demo and booked an appointment with one of your sales reps. Send an automated SMS sales automation reminder one day before the meeting – it’s a helpful gesture and also reduces the likelihood of a no-show. In the decision stage The customer is so close to buying. They’ve got the contract, but they’re stalling on signing. Send a quick text reminder, asking if there’s anything you can help with. Or, to get the customer across the line, offer a discount on the original offer if they sign and send the contract back within the next 24 hours. Integrating with other platforms makes all the difference Already use other SMS sales automation tools and systems? Integrate text messaging into your preferred platform for maximum scalability and minimum effort.
For example, USMSGH integrates with some of the most popular sales automation tools in use today. It means you can easily add text messaging to your existing workflows and sales processes. You can even add SMS sales automation to your internal triggers to let sales leads know when a customer needs a follow-up. Here are three powerful integrations between USMSGH integrates and sales tools.
2-Way Bulk SMS
2-Way Bulk SMS
2-Way Bulk SMS lets you send and receive messages to and from hundreds of people at once through a web-based platform that uses API. Your customers can reach you by sending simple keywords via a short code or long code. In response, you get to reply to these messages through your computer or phone application that uses the system. In terms of using bulk SMS for business, the capability of communicating to clients or potential customers in bulk is quite an efficient way of reaching your target especially when you have limited resources or manpower to carry out your promotional strategies. The added convenience of receiving replies directly (and instantly) from your recipients, increases the possibility of quick sales, repeat business or increased conversion.
Why Should You Use 2 Way Bulk SMS
2-Way Bulk SMS provides a quick solution to customer concerns. With a single keyword, you get to know what they need and promptly give them a suitable response. You are also highlighting convenience and practicality on the part of your end-users. In the past, people had to contact businesses through phone calls or snail mail and both methods were too time consuming and counterproductive to queries and concerns that needed immediate attention.
The possibilities are endless when you begin to maximize the advantages of two way communication in honing B2C relations and expanding the influence of your business. Here are some of the biggest benefits that you can possibly gain from 2-Way bulk sms: 1. 97% Read Rate 2. Practical and Budget-friendly 3. Convenient and foolproof 4. Enhanced Communication with Customers 5. Fast and Hassle-freeresses. IP addresses filter . Sending messages will be possible only from the whitelisted IP addresses (attempts at sending messages from other IPs will result in the following response: ERROR:105). IP addresses should be separated by semicolons
There are several companies that provide 2 Way Bulk SMS applications for you to read, reply, and even monitor the messages you send and receive. Some interfaces are also available for both web and smartphone. You don’t need rocket science or additional software to operate it or deliver your message, in the same way that text messaging is an activity that is already a staple in your customers’ daily routine. Simple, quick, and easy. Out of all the constantly changing advertising trends, SMS is something that has been quite constant and flexible throughout. It is a simple and immediate exchange of messages. By using 2-Way Bulk SMS, you can send a message to a hundred customers within minutes. You can upsell more products and even convert more leads without having to stress out your marketing and support representatives.
Regardless of size, every business could use a helping hand from their customers. Since 2-Way Bulk SMS lets recipients reply directly to businesses, it effectively bridges gaps between the two. The more customers get the chance to interact with brands they support, the more likely they are to willingly participate in future promotions and efforts to sustain the business.
Conclusion
Quite frankly, there are several more advantages of 2-Way Bulk SMS marketing awaiting to be discovered. The key is to have a clear vision of how you want to grow your business so you can incorporate 2-way bulk SMS accordingly for your company’s objectives and customers’ demands. Once you decide to promote your business and reach out to customers using text messaging, be sure to the New Media Services team a message. Our very own LOOP (Live Online Operator Platform) platforms have helped countless companies carry out accessible communication channels, including bulk sms service for business, for long-term growth and stability.
Bulk SMS Marketing in Ghana
Bulk SMS
Marketing in Ghana
Bulk SMS marketing in Ghana is a form of mass communication that allows businesses to engage with their contact database via an online SMS platform. To implement bulk SMS marketing, users must pre-craft text messages containing marketing material (often a special promotion or timely offer) to send to a database of numbers.