What is SMART CCM?
SMART CCM is an Acronym for Touchpoint Technologies Sales Marketing and Retention Technology Customer Contact Management system. SMART CCM uses integrated technology to provide an intuitive, effective direct-marketing system for any business owner.
What ways does SMART send messages?
The SMART System uses SMS and SMTP Text Messaging, Email and Direct Mail.
What is a TEXT Messaging?
Text Messaging is a brief text based message that can be sent to and from customers via their cellular phones.
What is a SMS?
SMS is short for Short Message Service.
What is the difference between an e-mail and text messaging?
Text messaging is sent or received using a cell phone number, whereas an e-mail is a communication message between users via an e-mail address on a computer or a mobile device.
How much information can be placed into a text message?
Regular text message includes up to 160 letters, numbers, spaces, symbols, and/or punctuation marks. Compliant messages have opt-out info that reduces the number of characters available for your SMART SMS message.
How do individuals join my organizations member list?
Any individual who wants to receive your messaging can sign up by providing their contact information, like email address, mobile phone number and mailing address. After signing up they are then registered to receive your company's promotions, advertisements, memos or announcements using SMART CCM.
What is A Keyword ?
A keyword in the simplest terms is a word that can be sent by text message to a phone number in order to opt in to a database or contest. For example, if you text contest to 55555, contest is the keyword and 55555 is the short code.
What is A Short code?
A "short code" is a 4 or 5 digit phone number that is used especially for cell phone services. By sending a special "keyword" to a "short code" you can get SMS subscriptions, ring tones, wallpapers and games for your mobile phone. In this case it's being used to provide your customers valuable information about your business and communicate your specials and member offers. Short Codes are not included in SMART CCM basic charges, they are an additional $25.00 each per month.
Can I send Bulk Text Messages?
Through our system you can, however you want to be very cautious in dealing with companies within the mobile marketing industry. First the company is required to have a short code to send commercial messages within the US. Our short code is 37025. Fines for sending text messages unsolicited have been known to be as high as $1000.00 per text message sent. SMART CCM provides member management services that ensure your message is compliant.
What are the FCC's CAN-SPAM Rules?
The FCC's ban on sending unwanted e-mail messages to wireless devices applies to all commercial messages. The CAN-SPAM Act defines commercial messages as those for which the primary purpose is to advertise or promote a commercial product or service. The FCC's ban does not cover “transactional or relationship†messages, or notices to facilitate a transaction you have already agreed to. These messages would include statements about an existing account or warranty information about a product you've purchased.The FCC's ban covers messages sent to cell phones and pagers, if the message uses an Internet address that includes an Internet domain name (usually the part of the address after the individual or electronic mailbox name and the symbol). The FCC's ban does not cover short messages, typically sent from one mobile phone to another, that do not use an Internet address. Also, the FCC's ban does not cover e-mail messages that you have forwarded from your computer to your wireless device (but the FTCs rules may restrict such messages).
What is a Text Message (SMS)?
SMS stands for Short Message Service, and it is synonymous with Text Message, Text, TXT, etc. An SMS (Text Message) is a short message, which can be sent to and from a cellular phone. Can my phone receive Text Messages? Nearly all phones purchased in the last ten years are capable of sending and receiving text messages.
What is the advantage of using Text Messaging?
Text Messages are a brief, effective, inexpensive means of communication. Most people carry their cellular phones with them wherever they go, so unlike email, text messages can reach people when they are away from their desks.
How much do text messages cost using SMART?
Unlimited texts are included in our monthly fee using our Standard Delivery service and 5 cents per message using our Premium Delivery service. We do not charge for incoming text messages.
Do you charge any fees? Am I required to sign a monthly contract?
Yes, TouchPoint Technology charge a nominal monthly fee for unlimited use of out SMART system. We also have additional charges for Keywords, Premium Texting and POS materials. However, our agreement with you is month to month and can easily be cancelled prior to the start on your next billing cycle.
What is the difference between Premium & Standard Delivery Texts?
Premium delivery messages are sent through the phone lines using our 6-digit 320785 short code that is connected to all the major cell phone carriers. Deliverability rates are extremely reliable, and your messages are received with minimal delay to all your subscribers. Premium delivery speed and reliability is comparable to sending a text message from one cell phone to another. Standard messages are sent out through the Internet using SMTP technology, rather than being sent directly through the phone lines. Deliverability rates are for the most part consistent but can be unpredictable. Standard messages are NOT supported by the carriers and are dependant upon factors such as the carrier's server speed, web traffic, wireless carriers' network delays and downtime, cell site malfunctions, and SPAM filters. These factors can lead to delays and/or dropped messages and causes standard messages to be less reliable than express delivery messages.
Do you charge for incoming text messages?
No. We do not charge you for incoming text messages.
Does my carrier (or my contact's carrier) charge for received messages?
Every carrier offers different text messaging packages.
Can I send a single text message?
Yes. Instead of selecting a group of contacts, choose just one member when you create your message.
How many characters may I include in a text message?
Unlike other websites, SMART offers you up to 160 characters but please keep a couple of things in mind. First, your Username counts against the usable characters. Second, some carriers limit messages to 140 characters, so if your message is sent to one of those carriers anything after 140 characters in length will be cut off.
How long does it take to deliver a Text Message?
Text Messages are usually delivered to mobile phones in a few seconds or a few minutes. During peak hours, there could be a short delay. Please note that additional delays may occur if a recipient's phone is turned off or out of the coverage area, when this happens a carrier will attempt to deliver your message for up to 72 hours.
Does SMART limit me to a certain number of Text Messages?
No. As long as you do not violate our Terms of Use Policy.
How come some of my contacts didn't receive a text that I sent them?
First, please make sure that the recipient has text messaging enabled with his/her carrier. If your recipient uses a pre-paid mobile phone service, his/her balance may be too low (assuming he/she pays for incoming text messages). Other reasons that a recipient may not receive a text message include (but are not limited to): memory full, out of network, and a number entered incorrectly.
Can you guarantee delivery of every Text Message that I send?
No. As text messaging is store-and-forward technology dependent, delivery is dependent on carriers and their networks and it is impossible to guarantee delivery of a text message. For mission critical SMS/Text messaging we do recommend our Premium Text service.
Do I pay for Text Messages that my recipients do not receive?
There is never any additional charge for Standard Delivery text messages but for Premium messages, yes. We charge your account $.05 every time our system sends a Premium text message on your behalf, because we are charged every time we pass your message through our SMS Gateway to the Carriers.
What is a Keyword?
A Keyword is a unique term (letters and/or numbers) that people can use to communicate with you via a Short Code.
How do Keywords work?
You purchase the Keyword from us, which we will setup on our shared Short Code 32075. Interested individuals can then send a message containing the Keyword to 32075 to automatically join your Group Messaging list. Our software will respond to them for you with a customizable message confirming that they have joined and Opted-In to your list.
Can I have any Keyword I want? Are there any limitations?
As long as the Keyword you want is available. Once a client has been assigned a Keyword the same Keyword can not be used by another client on our shared Short Code.
What is a Short Code?
A Short Code is a 5 digit or 6 digit number, to which text messages can be sent from a mobile phone. Wireless subscribers send text messages to short codes to access a wide variety of mobile content. Common short codes are easy to remember and they are compatible across all participating carriers.
Where is my data stored?
When you create a SMART account we store your information on our secure web server. No one outside of the SMART System administrators has access to your data (personal or business information and your contacts). If you would like to share the data in your account with someone else, you may choose to provide them with your login information.
Who owns my data?
You own your data. We will never contact the people on your lists, nor will we do anything else with your data without your consent.
How long does it take to get started?
SMART Clients can be up in running within days of signing up. With our turnkey system success is a cinch!
Do I need to posses any technical knowledge/skills?
Absolutely not! SMART was designed to be easy to use for even the least tech savvy person. SMART is so intuitive that you'll be a pro in no time. If you do run into some problems just send us a Service/Information request a from our site form
What do I need to use SMART?
All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Our system is Software as a Service (SaaS) and completely web-based, so there is nothing to download. You can use a PC, a Mac, or any other computer.
Where Does SMART Work?
SMART Texting works in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada.
Will you send advertisements via SMART to my contacts?
No we will not, but hopefully you will!
Is my list of contacts secure? How do you protect my privacy?
Your contacts are kept in strict confidentiality. We do not share, rent, or sell the contacts belonging to our clients with any third parties. Data (including contacts) that you enter in your account belongs to you, and you alone.
Do I need to know the provider of my contacts?
No. Our software will automatically figure out your contacts' providers.
Can I collect numbers on my website?
That is what we recommend in fact we provide you with an HTML signup widget that you can place on your website, Facebook page, and Email Blasts.