<p>Customer service has the potential to be the greatest asset for a company. No customer wants to go through an obstacle course just to request help or ask a question. Waiting on hold only to be redirected from one agent to another is just inconvenient and often not worth getting the answer. There&rsquo;s got to be a better way. Fortunately, there is, and it&rsquo;s called omnichannel customer support.</p>

<p>This highly effective customer service strategy gives consumers the choice to connect with a business in any way they want. In other words, it tailors support to customer preferences The result is increased satisfaction and brand loyalty. But what is omnichannel customer service? Read on to find out.</p>

<h2>Understanding Omnichannel Support</h2>

<p>Omnichannel customer support is the advice and assistance businesses provide to their customers across a unified network of devices and applications. Having a robust omnichannel strategy can help you maintain a positive and consistent experience for your audience, no matter which communication channel you&rsquo;re using.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the progress of digital channels and the introduction of new technologies, businesses can embrace an omnichannel approach to customer service. This gives them the ability to coordinate interactions across several channels like SMS, email, call centers, social media, and live chat. Customers can transition between multiple communication channels smoothly without disrupting their journey with your brand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Questions and requests for assistance you receive from your existing or potential customers flow into one track; the customer service agent will receive relevant customer context, and the customer will get a quality experience.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Benefits of Omnichannel Customer Service</h2>

<h3>Tailored Customer Experience</h3>

<p>Omnichannel service makes it possible to give customers the exact support and answers they need, at the time and place they need them. More and more companies are making use of the customer insights they collect from omnichannel communications. This helps them determine pain points and customer behavior and offer a personalized experience.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Enhanced Customer Satisfaction</h3>

<p>By using omnichannel for customer service, you get to assist customers on their preferred channels. Your customer support team can answer questions more efficiently if they have access to customers&rsquo; cross-channel conversation history. This means customers won&rsquo;t need to explain their issues all over again when they switch to another channel. As a result, you&rsquo;ll end up with happier and more loyal customers.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Higher ROI for Less</h3>

<p>An&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-strategy/">omnichannel strategy</a> allows you to maximize the potential of your customer service team and increase the return on investment while minimizing costs. It facilitates streamlined customer support interactions and boosts productivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A unified interface gathers all the channels and information you need, and you won&#39;t have to toggle between applications. With features like automation, you can boost cost-efficiency even more by responding to basic questions with pre-programmed answers. This way, your team can focus on more complicated interactions.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Faster Channel Activation</h3>

<p>Omnichannel customer engagement preferences are constantly shifting. Being able to address them quickly is essential in this fast-paced digital landscape. The right&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/omnichannel-messaging/">omnichannel messaging</a> tool lets you meet your customers&rsquo; needs by adding more channels to your customer support strategy whenever necessary.</p>

<h3>Unified Brand Voice</h3>

<p>Consistency is key to developing a strong brand voice. Customers should have the same experience whether they&rsquo;re interacting via email, social media, or any other communication channel. A unified view of customer interactions allows you to deliver a streamlined brand voice and offer the same digital customer experience at every touchpoint.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Standing Out&nbsp;</h3>

<p><a href="https://www.wundermanthompson.com/insight/experiences-customers-want#:~:text=Seamless%20experiences%20across%20channels%20are,factor%20for%20great%20customer%20experience." target="_blank">Research shows</a> that 42% of consumers prefer a cross-channel experience. Be that as it may, there are many businesses that don&rsquo;t offer that option. Taking the initiative to provide multiple channels is a great way to set your business apart from the competition. You&rsquo;ll also be able to deliver consistent service while gaining your customers&#39; trust through integrated touchpoints.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Moreover, an omnichannel support system lets you carry out&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-marketing/">omnichannel marketing</a>. This means using the same method to boost brand awareness and demonstrate your customer-centric approach.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Use Cases</h2>

<h3>On-Demand Services</h3>

<p>With the popularity of apps that provide on-demand services, the standard for customer convenience is much higher today. Customers can find just about anything they need on their mobile devices in a matter of seconds. With that in mind, customers expect similar access to on-demand services from other brands. And that&rsquo;s where omnichannel customer service software becomes useful.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Financial Services</h3>

<p>Customers should be able to trust financial institutions with their money and sensitive information. Thanks to solutions like verification APIs and digital banking systems, customers can have access anytime and anywhere. These solutions also safeguard customers&rsquo; accounts and information. Banks and financial institutions that adopt an omnichannel service system get considerable returns on investment. For example, they can use SMS to send notifications about bank transfers and other transactions.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Retail and eCommerce</h3>

<p>Offering personalized experiences allows retail and eCommerce businesses to stand out from the crowd. As a matter of fact, customers prefer to buy from a company that takes a tailored approach to good customer service. Communication channels that use conversational AI (artificial intelligence) can help you interact with customers in real time and provide 24/7 tailored support.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Food and Beverage</h3>

<p>Restaurants and coffee shops allow customers to place orders in multiple ways. For example, they can order in person, via a web browser, via a mobile app, or via phone call. You can then log the order history of customers for future ordering and to make it easier to provide personalized support.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Creating an Omnichannel Customer Service Strategy</h2>

<h3>Know Your Customers</h3>

<p>By figuring out your customers&#39; needs and favorite channels, you can orchestrate each customer lifecycle accordingly. Start by using customer data to map the customer journey and find out which channels your customers prefer for various needs. For example, they&rsquo;ll be using a mobile app for shopping and&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/business-messenger/">Facebook Messenger</a> for asking questions. In addition to being available on those channels, it&rsquo;s also important that the experiences are consistent across each of them.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Offer Self-Service</h3>

<p>With self-service options, customers can get the answers they need on the spot. Common ways to offer customer self-service options include FAQs, tutorials, documentation, support forums, and knowledge bases. By having these options available for customers, you&rsquo;ll be saving time for them and your support team. You&rsquo;ll also want to make sure the self-service tools are easy to find and use.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Enable Seamless Experiences</h3>

<p>With the abundance of ways to reach your customers, it makes sense to maximize the possible touchpoints. Failing to do so can result in dead ends in the customer journey. Let&rsquo;s suppose a customer using a chatbot doesn&rsquo;t get the answers they need. Ideally, a live support agent should take it from there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Certain businesses prefer to address customers&rsquo; needs more immediately through other communication channels like SMS, email, and instant messaging apps. Integrate all these channels together to ensure a seamless customer experience for your audience.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Prioritize the Entire Customer Journey</h3>

<p>There&rsquo;s more to the customer journey than just the sales funnel. Consider going beyond purchases and customer service to cover the whole journey and boost loyalty. This means using your company&rsquo;s communication tools to their full potential to empower your support agents with a complete picture of the customer&rsquo;s interaction history. It&rsquo;s also a good idea to offer cost savings to strengthen customer relationships.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Optimize Communications With New Technology</h3>

<p>Customers often don&#39;t mind providing personal information if it means receiving high-quality service. That data is key for delivering customer service and enhancing the omnichannel customer experience. Adopt tools that provide tailored service by leveraging personal data. Take advantage of technologies like AI and IVR (interactive voice response) to optimize your communication efforts. For example, this allows customers to receive online assistance at night when the support team isn&rsquo;t available.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Make Sure the Service Is Mobile-Friendly</h3>

<p><a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/245501/multiple-mobile-device-ownership-worldwide/" target="_blank">Experts predict</a> that the number of smartphones will surpass 18 billion by 2025. In addition to communicating via SMS, voice, and instant messaging, mobile device users get access to an abundance of information at their fingertips. You can use the growing popularity of mobile devices to your advantage by optimizing your customer service resources for mobile&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s a chat widget, a self-service tool, or a link to support email.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Differences Between Omnichannel and Multichannel Customer Support</h2>

<p>It&rsquo;s not uncommon for people to use the terms&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-vs-multichannel/">omnichannel and multichannel</a> interchangeably. But there&rsquo;s a fundamental difference between them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Multichannel customer service is when you provide several different channels for customers to get in touch with you. Whichever channel they choose, your multichannel support team can be available to help them. But here&rsquo;s the catch: the channels are separate and disconnected from each other. And each channel most likely has its own team, process, and objectives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This can result in inconsistencies among support teams. Siloing hinders effective communication between departments, and customers will need to explain their issues all over again when they reach out. As a result of this, two or more customer service agents can possibly end up working on the same case or even giving the customer contrasting information.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the other hand,&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-retailing/">omnichannel retail</a> or customer support takes multiple channels and integrates them together. This way, the customer gets the same brand experience, whichever platform they use to connect with you. Suppose a customer contacts you via phone call. They can then follow up via email and resume the interaction later on&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/whatsapp-business-api/">WhatsApp Business</a>. Plus, their engagement history will follow them from one platform to the next, creating a seamless experience.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Overcoming Challenges of a Successful Omnichannel Approach</h2>

<h3>Maintaining Price Transparency</h3>

<p><strong>Challenge</strong>: Customer expectations involve transparent and consistent pricing across every channel in an omnichannel space. Any mismatch in pricing can lead to confusion and damage trust.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Solution</strong>: Apply unified pricing strategies and solutions that guarantee consistency across all channels, whether online or offline. Make sure to update customers about any changes in pricing. Leverage technology to deliver price information in real time and offer price-matching policies where possible. Transparency is key to building trust and fostering customer loyalty.</p>

<h3>Coordinating Inventory</h3>

<p><strong>Challenge</strong>: Managing your inventory across channels can be complex, and providing inaccurate stock information can compromise the customer experience.</p>

<p><strong>Solution</strong>: Implement a reliable inventory management system that you can integrate with your omnichannel services. By using data analytics, you can predict demand and adjust inventory levels accordingly. Track inventory in real-time to deliver accurate stock information to customers, whichever channel they contact you from. And with options like in-store pickup or cross-channel inventory transfers, you can meet customer needs instantly.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Training a Customer-Centric Team</h3>

<p><strong>Challenge</strong>: Are your customer service reps empathetic, well-informed, and capable of providing consistent service across various channels?</p>

<p><strong>Solution</strong>: Train your support team on a regular basis, emphasizing the importance of customer-centricity and omnichannel communication skills. Encourage the team to listen actively and to be empathetic. Make sure they get familiar with the technology and tools they need to work with multiple channels effectively. You&rsquo;ll also want to identify any areas for improvement by monitoring and measuring customer satisfaction as well as agent productivity.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Managing Data Across Channels</h3>

<p><strong>Challenge</strong>: Contact center analytics give access to large volumes of data and statistics about channels, usage, agents, and more. Using this information can be tricky and overwhelming for those who don&rsquo;t have enough experience with contact centers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Solution</strong>: Start with only the channels that your audience will use the most. Starting with more channels than you can handle can be counterproductive. Begin with a basic structure, like email, voice calls, and live chat. Over time, you can integrate more channels and track the performance of each while capitalizing on the most successful one.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Maintaining a Personal Experience</h3>

<p><strong>Challenge</strong>: Chatbots, IVR, and other self-service options are essential for an omnichannel support strategy. But these tools often sacrifice the human, personal tone of real agents.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Solution</strong>: Keep automated tools for handling basic, repetitive, or routine customer inquiries. For each scenario, create separate conversation paths within the IVR or chatbot. Make sure customers can smoothly switch from self-service to interacting with a human agent.</p>

Understand the concept of omnichannel customer support and learn about its advantages, strategies, challenges, and how it differs from multichannel support.

What Is Omnichannel Customer Support: A Comprehensive Guide

What is Omnichannel Customer Support: A Detailed Guide

<p>It&rsquo;s hard to tell when you might be facing an emergency. Natural disasters, safety hazards, severe weather conditions, and other unfortunate scenarios are bound to happen at any given time. That being said, it&rsquo;s always a good idea to be prepared and know how to react. Text message alerts can be a lifesaver in these situations. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-open-rates/">high open rates</a> of text messaging make it an effective way to spread information about an urgent case.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Understanding Emergency Texting Systems</h2>

<p>A text message emergency alert system is a communication platform that lets you deliver vital information or instructions to a certain group of recipients during crises. Organizations, government agencies, and other institutions send these alerts to spread awareness about an urgent situation and let recipients who are at risk know what to do.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These systems are critical tools for public safety and disaster response. You can use them to convey various kinds of information, like health alerts, security threats, weather warnings, and evacuation instructions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By using SMS as a communication channel, these critical messages can reach a wide audience as quickly and reliably as possible. Text alert systems often include features like&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/audience-segmentation/">audience segmentation</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/two-way-sms/">two-way communication</a>, and delivery reports, making them more effective in emergencies.</p>

<h2>Who Uses Emergency Text Alert Systems?</h2>

<h3>Human Resources</h3>

<p>Human resource teams use an emergency text service to get in touch with their employees. They send critical updates that require instant attention to the entire workforce. This is especially useful for companies that have a large workspace or building, and for teams that work in separate offices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Example: &ldquo;Attention! The fire alarm has been activated. Please evacuate the building immediately.&rdquo;</p>

<h3>Weather Services</h3>

<p>Weather services and meteorological agencies utilize&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-alerts/">SMS alert</a> platforms to send emergency messages. These can include severe weather forecasts, warnings, and other weather-related updates for the public. By receiving these emergency alerts, residents can take safety precautions or other appropriate measures.</p>

<p>Example: &ldquo;Hurricane watch for Los Angeles, California, until tomorrow. Be prepared to move to a safer area and check local media for more updates.&rdquo;</p>

<h3>Facility Managers</h3>

<p>Facility managers often send SMS text alerts to notify a building, business center, or whole campus about an emergency. They can advise off-site employees or students to stay away and warn those who are on-site about the possible risks. In turn, recipients can follow instructions or standard emergency protocols.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Example: &ldquo;There is a gas leak in Block A. Please evacuate immediately and gather in the East parking lot. We will send more updates soon.&rdquo;</p>

<h3>Local Municipalities</h3>

<p>Government agencies and local municipalities make use of emergency texting services to let residents know about local cases like blocked roads, power outages, and epidemics. You can also expect these kinds of messages from health departments, police departments, fire departments, and other local bodies.</p>

<p>Examples: &ldquo;As a result of the heavy flooding, city buses will not be available today. Please stay indoors and avoid using alternative transportation unless necessary.&rdquo;</p>

<h3>School Administrators</h3>

<p>The safety of students and staff is a top priority for schools and other educational institutions. An emergency text notification system can be useful for informing students, teachers, and parents about lockdowns, snowstorms, and evacuations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Examples: &ldquo;Due to the snowstorm, Edgewood School will be closed for the rest of the week. Classes will resume on Monday.&rdquo;</p>

<h3>Non-Profit Organizations</h3>

<p>Non-profit organizations that take part in disaster response, community outreach, and humanitarian aid use text message alert systems to reach out to donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. These messages can be anything from deployment locations to urgent relief efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Examples: &ldquo;Blood donors urgently needed at Cordial Care Hospital. Address: 795 E&nbsp; Willow Ave. Los Angeles CA 85705.&rdquo;</p>

<h2>How to Set Up an Emergency Texting Alert System</h2>

<h3>1. Choose a Reliable Texting Platform</h3>

<p>Go for a reputable messaging platform provider that specializes in SMS emergency alerts and other features that suit your needs. The platform should support&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/how-to-send-a-mass-text/">mass texting</a>, guarantee high deliverability, and offer tools that let you manage your contact lists and track message status. You&rsquo;ll also want to make sure the service is compliant with data protection and privacy laws.</p>




<h3>2. Build and Sort Your Contact List</h3>

<p>Create and segment your contact lists based on factors such as demographics, geographic location, or specific needs. Regularly updating contact information is essential for maintaining list accuracy and making sure your alerts reach the intended recipients. You can either import contacts manually or integrate the system with existing databases to guarantee that the lists are always up-to-date.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3. Compose Predefined Message Templates</h3>

<p>Create a series of predefined message templates that you can use for a variety of emergencies. You can customize the templates with key details that are specific to each scenario, including location, type of emergency, recommended steps, and contact information for assistance. Preparing messages in advance helps speed up the alert process in critical cases.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>4. Integrate With Other Systems</h3>

<p>Efficiency is key for emergency alert systems. To benefit from an efficient solution, integrate your alert service with internal tools, databases, and emergency management software to make sure your contact lists are accurate and up-to-date. This helps prevent inconsistencies and guarantees that each intended recipient actually receives the text alert.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>5.&nbsp; Define Clear Protocols for Activation</h3>

<p>Establish clear protocols for when and how the emergency text system should be set in motion. Define the criteria for delivering alerts, determine who has the authority to send them, and lay out the process for validating an emergency. By doing so, you&rsquo;ll be avoiding false alarms and ensuring that alerts are only sent when necessary.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>6. Conduct a Test</h3>

<p>Make sure to test the notification system before you use it in an actual crisis. Send out test alerts to a small group of people to verify that the system is working properly and that the messages are being received instantly. Consider testing features like link integration, personalization, and interactive options for recipients to reply or confirm their status.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>7. Train Your Staff</h3>

<p>Train those who will be responsible for handling the text alert platform. Demonstrate how to use the system, access templates, manage contact lists, and deliver alerts. Besides the initial training session, carrying out drills helps the team become proficient in using the platform effectively when disaster strikes.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>8. Introduce the System to Your Audience</h3>

<p>Let your audience know what your emergency text alert system is for and how it can benefit them. Spread the word using various communication channels like email, social media, and your website. Clarify how recipients can subscribe to receive emergency messages and specify what type of information they can expect to receive.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Best Practices of Using an Emergency Texting System</h2>

<h3>Keep It Clear and Concise</h3>

<p>Messages you send via the emergency text service need to be short and easy for the recipient to grasp quickly. This is especially crucial for notifications that call for immediate action.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Make sure to include key details such as the type of emergency (fire, tornado, gas leak), the location, what the recipient should do (evacuate, seek shelter, stay indoors), as well as helpful resources or contact information.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Ensure Prompt Delivery</h3>

<p>Timing is vital when it comes to emergencies&mdash;you should be able to send alerts instantly and without lag. Modern SMS alert systems are designed to process a significant number of messages, reducing delivery delays. This level of responsiveness guarantees that people receive urgent notifications swiftly, allowing them to react on the spot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, it wouldn&rsquo;t make sense to receive an emergency alert text message about a tornado that&rsquo;s already close enough to send you flying.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Allow Two-Way Communication</h3>

<p>Recipients should be able to reply to alerts or ask any questions they may have about the emergency. Either include a way for them to respond directly to the message or provide a channel that&rsquo;s designated for inquiries, such as a separate hotline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two-way communication allows contacts to ask for further clarifications or report their status, boosting responsiveness and situational awareness.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Regularly Update Contact Information</h3>

<p>Make sure your contact list is always up-to-date. Do this by encouraging contacts to update their information whenever they change locations or phone numbers. Obsolete details can result in notifications not reaching their intended destination.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A reliable contact management system, on the other hand, guarantees that your emergency SMS alerts reach the recipients, even if they&rsquo;ve changed their number or address.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Regularly Test the System</h3>

<p>You&rsquo;ll want to test your emergency text message alerts regularly to ensure that they&#39;re functioning properly. This involves carrying out simulated drills every now and then.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It&rsquo;s also a good idea to train your staff members who are responsible for sending emergency alert text messages, making sure they are familiar with the system&rsquo;s features and protocols.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Being prepared and having an emergency text alert system you can rely on goes a long way in preventing glitches or other issues during actual crises.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Segment Your Audience</h3>

<p>Consider segmenting your contact list based on relevant criteria like demographics and geographic location. This allows you to tailor messages to the right audience, such as residents of a certain town, verifying that the information is relevant and practical.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For instance, sending an evacuation alert about a wildfire to recipients who are too far away from the affected area might cause confusion. Or, imagine receiving a snowstorm warning while you&rsquo;re relaxing in your backyard with not a single cloud in sight.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Have a Multichannel Strategy</h3>

<p>While there&rsquo;s no denying that SMS is effective as it is, you can reach a wider audience if you combine it with other communication channels. These can include email, social media, and voice calls. Different people prefer different methods of communication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That being said, a multichannel approach guarantees that your emergency alerts reach everyone, regardless of which method they prefer.&nbsp;</p>

Find out how an emergency SMS alert system can potentially save lives and get familiar with the ins and outs of using one for urgent situations. 

How to Use Emergency SMS Alert Systems the Right Way

How to Use an Emergency SMS Alert System to Save Lives

<p>It&rsquo;s hard to deny that text message marketing is a highly effective channel as it is. Throw keyword text messaging into the equation, and you get a powerhouse of a strategy.</p>

<p>Keywords are the secret ingredient that unlocks the full potential of your marketing efforts. In an ever-evolving digital sphere, staying ahead of the game is crucial for continuity. And for that, you need powerful tools like keywords.&nbsp;</p>

<h1>What Is a Text Keyword?</h1>

<p>A text keyword is a word that essentially serves as a means of communication between a business and its customers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An SMS keyword, or mobile keyword, lets people opt in to receive special offers, important updates, and more. It often accompanies an&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-short-code/">SMS short code</a> to which the customer sends the text. Short codes consist of 5 or 6 digits and are easier to remember than long codes, which are practically phone numbers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A text keyword service is quite useful when it comes to connecting with customers easily and quickly.</p>

<h2>How Do Text Marketing SMS Keywords Work?</h2>

<p>Text messaging keywords make it easier for companies to set up a subscriber list. Once a contact sends the keyword, they automatically&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-opt-in/">opt into getting messages</a> from the company or organization. The contact&rsquo;s number then enters a special list under the corresponding keyword.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This helps the company identify which SMS keyword campaign the contact opted into, so it can send similar promotions later on.</p>

<h2>Top Benefits of SMS Keywords</h2>

<h3>Creating a Call-to-Action</h3>

<p>Keyword text messaging serves as a call to action, encouraging recipients to opt in for benefits such as offers or discounts. A CTA for texting a specific word can be a helpful ad tool for TV, social media, and other marketing channels.</p>

<h3>Gaining Valuable Insight</h3>

<p>Another advantage of using text keywords in your&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a> campaign is the valuable insight you gain. This helps you determine which of your products or services are most popular among your target audience.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Expanding Your Contact List</h3>

<p>When you use keywords in&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a>, your subscriber list grows significantly. This is because different keywords tend to catch the attention of different people. When you send a specific word to a number and the person replies, their number goes into the subscriber list. You can then keep sending them&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-alerts/">SMS alerts</a>, promotions, and other kinds of messages.</p>

<h3>Monitoring Ads More Easily</h3>

<p>One of the greatest benefits of SMS keyword marketing is the ability to monitor how recipients discover your business. By using various keywords for various campaigns, you can determine which of your ads catch more attention. This can come in handy when launching campaigns down the road.</p>



<h2>4 Common SMS Keyword Examples</h2>

<h3>Text-to-Vote</h3>

<p>Also referred to as SMS polling, a text-to-vote message helps you obtain the recipients&rsquo; choice or opinion. This type of text keyword typically involves asking a simple question to determine what your customers prefer.</p>

<p><strong>Example</strong>:<em> &ldquo;Text SODA to 12345 to vote for your favorite flavor of soda.&rdquo;</em></p>

<h3>Mobile Couponing</h3>

<p>You can send text message coupons to your target audience to offer a deal or a discount on your products. Customers love a good deal, especially those they receive from their favorite companies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Example</strong>: <em>&ldquo;Text SHOES to 12345 for a limited 50% discount on our new collection.&rdquo;</em></p>

<h3>Generating Leads</h3>

<p>Leads generally require several touchpoints to ensure conversion. By employing&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-leads/">SMS lead generation</a> as a means of outreach, you&rsquo;ll be able to connect with potential customers right away.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Example</strong>:<em> &ldquo;Text BURGER to 12345 to claim your special deal.&rdquo;</em></p>

<h3>Text-to-Win</h3>

<p>Another SMS keyword example is the&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/text-to-win/">text-to-win</a> message. This is a faster and more effective way to engage your customers, taking advantage of people&rsquo;s love of winning prizes.</p>

<p><strong>Example</strong>: <em>&ldquo;Text YOGA to 12345 to win a free session with us.&rdquo;</em></p>

<h2>Opt-Ins and Compliance</h2>

<p>With compliance at the forefront of SMS marketing, you must get consent from customers before texting them. This allows you to follow regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). You&rsquo;ll also be able to safeguard your brand&#39;s reputation and gain the trust of your audience.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When a person texts a keyword to your textable number, it automatically counts as an opt-in. You can even set up a double opt-in process by having initial opt-ins text &ldquo;YES,&rdquo; for example. This confirms that they&rsquo;re willing to receive your SMS messages.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The Role of Autoresponders in Keyword Texting</h2>

<p>Autoresponders are incredibly useful in keyword-based text marketing, where they automate real-time communications with customers. Whenever someone texts a certain keyword to your number, an autoresponder replies with a pre-programmed message. Or, it carries out specific actions like confirming subscriptions or providing information.</p>

<p>These auto-replies improve the customer experience while facilitating engagement and allowing for timely communication. With autoresponders, businesses can be available 24/7 while enhancing their marketing and customer support efforts.</p>

<h2>SMS Keyword Marketing Tips</h2>

<h3>Pick a Simple Keyword</h3>

<p>The keyword you choose should be simple and easy to remember. Complex keywords can result in typing errors and reduce the likelihood of people opting in. Create a text keyword that relates to your brand or the purpose of a specific campaign.</p>

<h3>Avoid Using Special Characters&nbsp;</h3>

<p>There are special characters and symbols that certain mobile devices or carriers may not support. You want to avoid using those when choosing your SMS keywords. Instead, stick to alphanumeric characters to ensure that the keyword is compatible with all phones and carriers.</p>

<h3>Use Specific Keywords for Each Campaign</h3>

<p>If you&rsquo;re planning to have more than one <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing-campaign/">SMS campaign</a>, consider using specific keywords for each one. This way, your customers will know which campaign they are signing up for. An example is to text &ldquo;NEWS&rdquo; for updates and &ldquo;SALE&rdquo; for discounts.</p>

<h3>Promote the Keyword</h3>

<p>Once you decide on a keyword, you&rsquo;ll want to advertise it to the masses. Leverage various channels like email, social media, and offline methods to promote your SMS keyword. Make sure it&rsquo;s visible and enticing enough for people to opt in.</p>

<h3>Monitor the Engagement</h3>

<p>Have tracking mechanisms in place to monitor engagement and see how your keyword campaigns are performing. Measure open rates, opt-in rates, and conversion rates so you can optimize your marketing strategy as you go.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Include an Opt-Out Text</h3>

<p>Besides consent, compliance also means letting customers know how to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/sms-opt-out/">opt out</a> when they no longer want to receive text messages. This means adding something like &ldquo;Text STOP to unsubscribe&rdquo; in the confirmation message or promotional campaigns.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to Set Up a Keyword With Dexatel</h2>

<p>You can set up your own keyword on Dexatel&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-platform/">SMS platform</a>. Here&rsquo;s a step-by-step process to guide you through the process:</p>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>Sign up for a free account with Dexatel</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Set up the Dexatel message API and the message webhook</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Create a keyword and criteria in your system</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>An incoming SMS will trigger the Dexatel message webhook</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>If the incoming SMS text contains a keyword, the system will automatically send a response</p>
	</li>
</ol>

Set up a text keyword to expand your subscriber list and keep your customers up-to-date with your products and services. 

What Is Keyword Text Messaging?

What is Keyword Text Messaging: All You Need to Know

<p>Dexatel recently teamed up with Zapier, joining the latter&rsquo;s extensive network of more than 5,000 app integrations. Collaborations like this prove beneficial for all parties involved, including the users. In this case, Dexatel gets to provide its services through an additional channel, while Zapier adds to its wealth of integrations. As for the users, they get the best of both worlds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But what exactly is Zapier? Simply put, it&rsquo;s a platform with a customizable interface where users can create workflows. It allows businesses to automate recurring tasks, saving a great deal of time and effort as a result.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Understanding the Integration</h2>

<p>As a workflow automation platform, Zapier gives teams the control and convenience they need to carry out their day-to-day operations. These include <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a>, which is where Dexatel enters the scene. By leveraging Zapier&rsquo;s automation tools and Dexatel&rsquo;s communication services, businesses can streamline their messaging efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the immediacy of features like <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/bulk-messaging/">bulk messaging</a>, users can benefit from a broader reach, increased efficiency, and better engagement. And thanks to automation, they can do all this with minimum effort.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What You Can Do With Zapier&rsquo;s Dexatel Integration</h2>

<p>Using the Dexatel integration with Zapier gives you access to Dexatel&rsquo;s core functions. These include sending individual SMS messages, bulk texting, and adding to your contact list.</p>

<h3>Send a Single SMS</h3>

<p>Zapier&rsquo;s Dexatel app makes sending&nbsp;individual SMS messages easy. Whether you&rsquo;re sending <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/text-appointment-reminder/">appointment reminders</a> or updating a buyer about their order, the integration guarantees prompt and efficient delivery of messages. You can remind a customer about an upcoming payment, and once they pay, you can confirm that the transfer was successful.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Suppose you had a meeting or consultation with a client. Once it&rsquo;s over, you can provide additional information or thank the client for their time. You can also inform a customer when a product they were interested in is back in stock.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Send a Bulk SMS</h3>

<p>The Dexatel integration lets you send bulk messages to a broad audience, allowing you to deliver various types of messages straight from your Zapier account.</p>

<p>You can keep your audience engaged by sharing discounts, time-limited offers, or new product launches. This helps you boost sales and foster loyalty among customers. Another use case is informing clients about scheduled maintenance, service interruptions, and critical updates.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;re hosting a webinar, workshop, or product launch, you can use SMS to extend invitations to your contacts. You can also reconnect with inactive leads and re-engage them through special offers. The integration also allows you to update customers on changes to loyalty programs or exclusive VIP member deals.</p>


<h3>Add a Contact</h3>

<p>Another core feature that&rsquo;s available with Zapier&rsquo;s Dexatel integration is the ability to add contacts to your SMS list. Your contacts must consent to receive <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-communications/">SMS communications</a> from you. Sending unsolicited text messages is illegal in many countries. To make sure you&rsquo;re compliant with <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/personal-text-message-privacy-laws/">privacy regulations</a> while texting, you&rsquo;ll want the recipient to <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-opt-in/">opt in</a> first.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are many ways to collect opt-ins from your audience. The most common is by creating a keyword that customers can text to subscribe. Another method is to set up an opt-in form on your website. QR codes can also be a practical way for customers to subscribe to your <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing-campaign/">SMS campaigns</a>. But compliance doesn&rsquo;t end with opt-ins; it&rsquo;s equally important to provide <a href="https://dexatel.com/features/sms-opt-out/">opt-out</a> options, among other measures like the protection and secure handling of customer data.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Why Choose Dexatel?</h2>

<p>Following the collaboration between the two platforms, Zapier users can conveniently access quality communication tools through the Dexatel integration. Dexatel prioritizes secure, user-friendly, and cost-efficient messaging. With advantages like robust data security, immediate implementation, and dedicated customer support, businesses can communicate with their audience confidently, knowing they have access to top-notch solutions.</p>

<h2>How to Use the Dexatel Integration</h2>

<p>Dexatel&rsquo;s integration with Zapier combines the efforts of both platforms to create a powerful solution for users. Here&rsquo;s how you can access and use the unified services:</p>

<p>1. Sign in to your <a href="https://zapier.com/sign-up" target="_blank">Zapier account</a> or create a new one via Google, Facebook, Microsoft, or your work email.</p>

<p>2. From the top menu bar, head over to &ldquo;My Apps.&rdquo;</p>

<p>3. Select &ldquo;Connect a new account&rdquo; and look for &ldquo;APP.&rdquo;</p>

<p>4. Enter your credentials to link your APP account to Zapier.</p>

<p>5. Once you connect your APP account, You can move on to setting up an automation task by using a pre-made Zap or creating your own with the Zap Editor. You don&rsquo;t need coding knowledge to create a Zap. The system will walk you through the process step by step.</p>

Zapier teamed up with Dexatel, unlocking more benefits for its users. Find out what this integration means and how you can use it.

How to Use Zapier’s Dexatel Integration

Zapier Tutorial: How to Use Dexatel’s Services Via Zapier

<p>Much like any other organization, churches need an efficient and affordable way to get in touch with their community members. This is where church SMS enters the scene, giving a whole new meaning to mass texting (pun intended). The&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-open-rates/">high open rates</a> and convenience of SMS make it the easiest and fastest way to connect with an entire congregation. But first, you&rsquo;ll need a church texting service.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Benefits of Using a Church Texting Service</h2>

<p>Implementing a texting service for churches can prove to be very beneficial. And the advantages are quite similar to those of&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a>. Ultimately, the efficiency, effectiveness, and affordability of SMS speak for themselves.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Instant Reach</h3>

<p>Equipped with an&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-platform/">SMS platform</a>, churches can instantly reach out to their congregation members. Whether it&rsquo;s to share updates or announcements, sending church-related texts to community members has a bigger impact than you think. The high open rates of text messages allow church staff to communicate and establish strong relationships with their community.</p>

<h3>Better Engagement</h3>

<p>The personalized and direct communication made possible by church text message services generates&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/customer-engagement/">increased engagement</a> in the community. Churches can deliver Bible verses, event reminders, and more to encourage attendance and keep congregants actively involved.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Increased Participation</h3>

<p>Sending out event reminders and invitations can boost participation in Bible studies, Sunday services, and community events. Through personalized messaging, churches can also ask for feedback and participation in polls, surveys, and volunteering. This results in a more engaged and tight-knit congregation.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Support Networks</h3>

<p>Platforms that facilitate text messaging for churches make it easy to create prayer chains or support networks within the congregation. By subscribing to the church&rsquo;s contact list, community members can offer support and promote a sense of compassion and fellowship.</p>

<h3>Cost-Effective Communication</h3>

<p>As opposed to traditional communication, texting serves as a cost-effective way for church community builders. It facilitates getting in touch with a large number of people while minimizing the costs of printing and phone calls</p>

<h3>Timely Encouragement</h3>

<p>Churches can share devotionals, Bible verses, and spiritual messages on a daily basis to keep their members inspired throughout the week. Texts like these can serve as a source of encouragement that reinforces the community&rsquo;s faith and closeness to the church.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What to Look for in a Texting Platform for Churches</h2>

<p>You&rsquo;re spoiled for choice when it comes to the variety of church texting services available. Taking certain factors into consideration will help you choose the platform that fits the bill.</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Mass texting: A decent messaging platform will have a mass texting feature that allows you to connect with the entire congregation. This makes it easy to spread important information quickly and efficiently.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Audience segmentation: Another feature to look for is&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/audience-segmentation/">audience segmentation</a>. This allows churches to divide members into various groups such as youth, seniors, and volunteers, guaranteeing that members receive relevant information.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Two-way communication: It&rsquo;s also vital that the church text service supports&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/two-way-sms/">two-way messaging</a>. Members should be able to reply to messages, submit prayer requests, and chat with church leaders.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Automation and scheduling: Robust texting platforms come with automation and scheduling features. Churches can use these solutions to schedule devotional messages and plan other communications in advance.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Data security and compliance: When it comes to text messaging, data security is paramount. Churches should go for a provider that&#39;s compliant with data protection laws and offers features that safeguard members&rsquo; information.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Pricing and scalability: The platform should have a flexible pricing structure that aligns with the church&rsquo;s budget while offering scalability.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>Top Texting Platforms for Churches</h2>

<p>With the large number of options to choose from, settling on a church text messaging service can be a challenge. But to help you make an informed decision, we&rsquo;ve narrowed down a few of the best communication platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>1. Flocknote</h3>

<p><a href="https://flocknote.com/" target="_blank">Flocknote</a> is an SMS texting and email tool that caters to small churches and other community organizations. The platform even offers free services for churches with fewer than 40 members. It comes with features like text-to-join forms, bulk text messaging, analytics, RSVPs, member management, and more.</p>

<p>On top of that, the platform also includes a content library, a Spanish option, and various admin levels for adding volunteers. Flocknote is an employee-owned company that prefers to grow through customer referrals instead of advertising.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2. PastorsLine</h3>

<p>Designed with churches in mind, <a href="https://pastorsline.com/" target="_blank">PastorsLine</a> allows pastors and other church leaders to easily text, engage, and organize their congregation members. You&rsquo;ll find features like automation, integrations, connect cards, templates, analytics, data capture, and two-way texting. What sets PastorsLine apart is its user-friendly interface and the automated workflow it creates. The platform also caters to churches with multiple campuses.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3. Clearstream</h3>

<p><a href="https://clearstream.io/" target="_blank">Clearstream</a> is a text messaging service for churches that integrates with various tools like MailChimp, Rock SMS, Planning Center, and Community Builder. It boasts a range of features, including workflows, text-to-join keywords, personalization, guest follow-up, and more. Multi-location churches benefit from subaccounts together with short codes, 10-digit long codes, integration with other software, and more.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>4. ChurchCast</h3>

<p>A branch of High Ground Solutions, <a href="https://www.highgroundsolutions.com/our-solutions/#churchcast" target="_blank">ChurchCast</a> is a multichannel messaging service that provides SMS, voice, email, and social media solutions. It&rsquo;s the go-to platform for churches looking to communicate across channels without navigating all the bells and whistles. ChurchCast isn&rsquo;t lacking in features either, offering solutions like text keywords, message translation, and integrations.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>5. Tithe.ly</h3>

<p><a href="https://get.tithe.ly/" target="_blank">Tithe.ly</a> is a user-friendly solution that enables churches to connect with their members easily and cost-effectively. Offering robust features for both text and email, this service helps create a fast and convenient communication strategy. Users get access to 500 free messages per month on top to contact storage, follow-up automation, and two-way texting. Tithe.ly also provides a complete email marketing tool that lets you customize and launch email campaigns.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>6. Dexatel</h3>

<p>As a cloud communications platform, Dexatel provides messaging solutions that cater to all kinds of companies and organizations, including churches. The service offers two-way messaging and enables users to easily manage their communications via a single dashboard. Churches can take advantage of customer-centric features such as templates,&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/campaign-scheduling/">campaign scheduling</a>, automation, integration, and contact list management.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Implementing a Church SMS Solution</h2>

<p>Before launching your first church text messaging campaign, there are a few essential measures you need to take.</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Assess your needs: Begin by figuring out what the congregation needs in terms of communication. Understand what type of messages you should send, who your target audience is, and how often you need to communicate.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Choose a texting platform: Look into various church text services and choose the one that best suits the needs of the church. Make sure it offers standard features like scheduling and automation and is compliant with privacy regulations.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Collect and sort contacts: Gather the contact information of congregants who have opted in to receive text messages from you. You&rsquo;ll also want to sort them into separate groups to ensure the right message reaches the right person.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Form a messaging strategy: Create a solid messaging strategy that highlights the types of SMS texts you&rsquo;ll be sending and their frequency. Try to switch between general announcements, devotional messages, and other updates.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Train staff: Train your staff or volunteers who will be handling the&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-communications/">SMS communications</a>. Make sure they know their way around the platform and how to carry out effective interactions with the recipients.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Promote the channel: Launch the communication channel for the whole congregation. You can encourage churchgoers to sign up by promoting the channel via social media, the church website, and other communication methods.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>Best Practices for Church Messaging</h2>

<p>Granted that texting is only effective when done right, there are certain rules to follow to make the most of your church messaging system.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Get Consent and Offer Opt-Out</h3>

<p>You must obtain permission from congregants before sending them any messages. You&rsquo;ll also need to provide an opt-out option to respect their preferences and privacy.</p>

<p>Doing so guarantees that you&#39;re getting in touch with those who actually want to receive your messages. And at the same time, you won&rsquo;t be spamming those who don&rsquo;t. This helps build trust and foster a positive relationship with your community.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Segment Your Audience</h3>

<p>People tend to be more receptive to messages that are targeted at them. By segmenting your audience, you&rsquo;ll be able to send more relevant and targeted messages to various groups within your congregation. You can segment your contacts based on interests, demographics, or ministry groups.</p>

<p>For example, you may send volunteering requests to young congregants and event updates to ministry groups. With targeted messages, the potential for engagement is significantly higher.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Consider the Timing</h3>

<p>Imagine receiving a message from your pastor at six in the morning&mdash;before you&rsquo;ve even had your coffee. Needless to say, it can be somewhat annoying. With that in mind, make sure you don&rsquo;t send texts late in the evening or early in the morning when people may be sleeping or just waking up.</p>

<p>On weekdays, aim to reach out during non-working hours. As for weekends, the timing of your messages should ideally align with church events and activities. Being considerate when you text your congregation members shows respect for their schedules.</p>

<h3>Be Consistent</h3>

<p>Establishing a consistent texting schedule helps foster a sense of trust and reliability among your congregation. It makes recipients more likely to engage with your messages and stay connected to the church. Whether you&rsquo;re sending daily devotionals, weekly updates, or event reminders, maintaining a regular schedule helps community members anticipate your communications. While consistent communication is essential, you may also want to avoid overwhelming your recipients by sending too many messages.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Diversify Your Messages</h3>

<p>Mix up the content of your SMS messages to keep church members engaged and interested. Although regular updates are necessary, try including devotionals, Bible verses, and inspirational quotes to uplift your congregants. You can also add value to your communications by sending prayer requests, event invitations, and links to church content. Keeping your messages diverse ultimately enhances the overall communication experience.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Encourage Recipients to Interact</h3>

<p>Encourage community members to reply to your texts when it makes sense. Suppose you sent a prayer request, for example. Naturally, you&rsquo;d invite the recipient to respond with their thoughts.</p>

<p>This bilateral communication creates a sense of belonging and community, allowing churchgoers to feel heard and valued. It also helps in figuring out what the congregation needs, enabling the church to be of better service.</p>

<h3>Analyze and Adapt</h3>

<p>Remember to analyze how your church SMS campaigns are performing. Keep track of open rates, response rates, and engagement levels. Use this information to pinpoint the types of messages that resonate most with your community and optimize your communications accordingly. Try out various content, timings, and segments to maximize the effectiveness of your messaging strategy.</p>


Get familiar with six of the best platforms for church texting and learn all you need to know about the whys and hows of using them. 

The 6 Best Church Texting Services

The Best Communication Platforms for Church Texting

<p>Text message marketing has seen a massive rise in popularity. Many businesses and organizations are rushing to include SMS in their marketing strategies&mdash;it&rsquo;s convenient, affordable, and effective.</p>

<p>But all the advantages aside, this communication channel comes with its own set of laws and regulations. And it only makes sense for companies handling large amounts of personal data to be mindful of privacy and data protection. Staying compliant with personal text message privacy laws keeps hefty fines at bay. Not to mention, it prevents your brand reputation from going down the drain.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>SMS Privacy Laws Around the World</h2>

<p>While text message privacy laws vary from one region to another, they all share a purpose: to safeguard the privacy and personal data of consumers.</p>

<h3>Telephone Consumer Protection Act (United States)</h3>

<p>Passed by the United States Congress in 1991, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, or TCPA, is legislation that restricts the use of autodialers, fax machines, text messages, and prerecorded or artificial voice messages. The government body regulating these laws is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the TCPA, companies and organizations are supposed to obtain written consent from recipients before sending text messages. The fine for violating the TCPA is $500 for each text message sent (not the entire campaign). If the violation is deemed to be intentional, the fine goes up to $1,500 per SMS. For example, willfully sending unsolicited messages to 2,000 contacts would result in a fine of $3 million.</p>

<h3>CAN-SPAM Act (United States)</h3>

<p>Created by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the CAN-SPAM Act prohibits companies and organizations from sending unsolicited advertisements or promotions for a product or service via email or text message. This law was passed in 2003 before text messaging became popular as a communication channel. Therefore, it doesn&#39;t completely dictate cellular telecommunications. While the FTC is allowed to come up with new laws, the FCC is the chief legislator for SMS regulations in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CAN-SPAM Act forbids using deceptive subject lines or header information and requires mentioning details like the return address in emails. It also prohibits sending messages after a recipient has opted out.</p>

<p>Informational messages that don&rsquo;t promote a product or service are an exception. For example, order confirmations or delivery updates can be sent without the recipient&rsquo;s consent.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (Canada)</h3>

<p>The Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation is a law that monitors commercial emails, SMS messages, and other digital communications. Its purpose is to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/spam-text-messages/">spam texts</a>, promote fair messaging practices, and safeguard the privacy and personal information of consumers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Enforced by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, this law revolves around getting consent from recipients and providing the option to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/how-to-unsubscribe-from-texts/">unsubscribe from campaigns</a>. The CASL also maintains that marketing messages must contain the sender&rsquo;s contact information. Companies or organizations that fail to comply with these regulations can face a fine of up to $10 million.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (United Kingdom)</h3>

<p>The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) in the United Kingdom govern digital marketing, website cookies, and forms of electronic communication. This set of regulations works in conjunction with the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation to guarantee that consumers&rsquo; privacy rights are protected in the digital space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The PECR covers a variety of digital communications: emails, SMS texts, and phone calls. Businesses and organizations must get consent before communicating with consumers via text, email, or phone call.</p>

<p>They are also obligated to ask for permission before placing website cookies on users&rsquo; devices and inform them about the type of cookies being used. Violating these laws can result in fines of up to &pound;500,000.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>General Data Protection Regulation (European Union)</h3>

<p>In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) dictates how data is processed within the EU member states. It aims to protect the privacy of consumers during commercial activities and communications. The GDPR is also responsible for regulating the export of personal information outside of the EU.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The GDPR&rsquo;s requirements include obtaining consent for data processing, reporting data breaches to appropriate authorities, and maintaining the anonymity of collected data. Organizations and public authorities that handle the processing of large-scale personal data are required to appoint a data protection officer. Failure to comply with GDPR can result in penalties of up to &euro;20 million, or 4% of the preceding year&rsquo;s annual turnover.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Text Message Privacy and Data Protection Laws in Education</h2>

<p>Text message privacy laws in educational institutions govern the collection, storage, and communication of personal data via SMS. They often go hand in hand with wider data privacy laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the US. Such laws aim to guarantee the secure and confidential handling of students&rsquo; personal data.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to these regulations, schools and universities must obtain permission from students, parents, and faculty members before sending them SMS messages. They should also have security measures in place to protect the confidentiality of student information. And if an institution uses a third-party service for text messaging, the service provider should also be compliant. Other requirements include securely erasing student information when it&rsquo;s no longer needed as well as notifying authorities and affected contacts in the event of a data breach.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Text Message Privacy and Data Protection Laws in Business</h2>

<p>In the business world, privacy and data protection laws control how companies gather, use, store, and share personal information. These regulations are meant to safeguard the privacy rights of consumers and ensure that businesses are handling personal data legally and responsibly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides obtaining explicit consent from customers and offering the option to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/sms-opt-out/">opt out</a>, businesses also need to be transparent about sender information. They are also responsible for the safety of the customer data they collect via&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a>. This means taking security measures to protect sensitive information from data breaches and unauthorized access.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Text Message Privacy and Data Protection Laws in Healthcare</h2>

<p>In the healthcare industry, laws pertaining to SMS privacy and data protection are particularly strict due to the sensitive information involved. These regulations aim to ensure that patient information is handled securely.</p>

<p>In the US, for example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates explicit consent from patients to communicate via SMS in addition to limited use of identifiable information.</p>

<p><a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/hipaa-compliant-texting/">HIPAA compliance</a> also means using a secure SMS platform with encryption, establishing breach notification protocols, and taking measures to prevent unauthorized access. By upholding patient confidentiality, healthcare organizations can avoid the risks that come with text messaging.</p>

<h2>How to Ensure Compliance With SMS Privacy Laws</h2>

<p>Being considerate of your contacts&rsquo; privacy and personal data goes a long way in protecting your own brand reputation. Here&rsquo;s what you can do to make sure you&rsquo;re compliant with text message privacy laws:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Stay up-to-date with local text message privacy and data protection regulations</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Always get permission from your recipients in the form of&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-opt-in/">opt-ins</a> before sending them marketing messages</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Include an easy opt-out mechanism in your&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing-campaign/">SMS campaigns</a></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Use encryption and other security measures to protect personal data from breaches</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Make sure the third-party&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a> platform you use is also compliant with privacy and data protection regulations</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Train your team in text message privacy and proper data handling</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Review and update your privacy policies regularly to reflect any changes in regulations</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Regularly ask your subscribers if they wish to keep receiving text messages from you</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Be transparent and identify yourself in your text messages</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Be prepared for data breaches by developing a response plan, which includes informing authorities and affected individuals</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Get legal advice from experts who specialize in SMS privacy and data protection laws to make sure that your business is compliant</p>
	</li>
</ul>

Get familiar with personal text message privacy laws and data protection regulations around the world and understand how to maintain compliance. 

How to Stay Compliant: Personal Text Message Privacy Laws

How to Comply With Personal Text Message Privacy Laws 

<p>Recently, Dexatel entered a partnership with Pipedrive, an online CRM software provider with a wealth of features. This strategic collaboration means that Dexatel has an extension for Pipedrive users to install and make use of. It&rsquo;s a win-win situation for everyone involved; Dexatel expands its user base, Pipedrive adds to its abundant list of integrations, and users get access to top features.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Understanding the Pipedrive Integration</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.pipedrive.com/en/marketplace/app/dexatel/8bd4b197f9cbe5b7" target="_blank">Dexatel&rsquo;s extension for Pipedrive</a> allows you to instantly connect with your audience wherever they are, whether it&rsquo;s an individual lead, a group of customers, or your entire contact list. Send special offers, <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/order-confirmation-text-message/">order confirmations</a>, <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/text-appointment-reminder/">appointment reminders</a>, time-sensitive updates, and more while easily managing your communications from one place. By integrating your Pipedrive SMS workspace with the Dexatel platform, you can:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Send SMS messages to individual Pipedrive contacts</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/how-to-send-a-mass-text/">Send mass texts</a> to your Pipedrive contact list through filters</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Customize your sender ID to enhance brand awareness</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Compose Pipedrive text messages in any language or alphabet</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>What You Can Do With Pipedrive&rsquo;s Dexatel Extension</h2>

<h3>1. Reach Out to Individual Contacts</h3>

<p>Pipedrive SMS integration with Dexatel makes sending and receiving individual messages easy. Whether you&rsquo;re delivering <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/payment-reminders/">payment reminders</a>, updating a customer about an order, or trying to drive a prospect through the sales pipeline, Dexatel&rsquo;s platform guarantees that your text message reaches its destination quickly and efficiently.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Immediately get in touch with potential customers after they show interest, making sure they stay engaged and boosting the chances of conversion</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Remind clients about their upcoming payments and confirm successful transactions</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Send a follow-up text to your customers, thanking them for their time or providing additional information after a call or a meeting</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Keep customers posted about their orders, requests, or any updates in the sales process</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Send reminders for booked appointments, scheduled meetings, or product demonstrations&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
</ul>



<h3>2. Reach a Massive Audience</h3>

<p>Pipedrive texting via Dexatel&rsquo;s SMS platform allows for sending bulk messages to a wide audience. Deliver general updates, <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/texting-promotions/">promotional messages</a>, urgent alerts, and more directly from your Pipedrive account.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Let your audience know about discounts, limited offers, or new product releases to drive sales and build customer loyalty</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Keep customers in the loop regarding scheduled maintenance, service interruptions, and other important information</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Invite contacts to attend webinars, workshops, product launches, and other events that might interest them</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Get in touch with inactive leads and regain their attention with special offers&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Inform customers about point balances, loyalty program updates, or special deals that are exclusive to VIP members</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h3>4. Customize Your Sender Name</h3>

<p>Dexatel&rsquo;s SMS platform lets you choose a custom sender name for text messaging campaigns. This boosts the effectiveness of your <a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a> strategies. It also helps in maintaining compliance with texting regulations that require being transparent with your identity.</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Build trust and credibility by allowing recipients to recognize the source of the text</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Assure recipients that they are communicating with a known entity instead of a generic one</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Minimize the chances of your messages being mistaken for spam by going for a sender name that your recipients can associate with your business</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Use A/B testing to figure out which sender name works best&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Boost your localized marketing efforts by using a <a href="https://dexatel.com/features/custom-sender-id/">sender ID</a> that is relevant to a specific location</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Use district sender names to differentiate your messaging if you have multiple brands or services within your company</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Prevent confusion if the name of your company is different from its legal entity or trading name</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Convey authority and expertise in your industry with your sender name, making your recipients more receptive to your <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-communications/">SMS communications</a></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h3>5. Choose Any Language or Alphabet</h3>

<p>With Dexatel, you can compose your messages in any language or alphabet. This allows you to tailor your communications to global audiences and widen your marketing horizons while catering to cultural and linguistic diversities.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Break down language barriers and expand your marketing reach</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Show respect for specific cultural preferences and differences</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Create a more personalized experience by writing messages in the recipients&rsquo; native tongue</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Boost conversion rates by sending messages that recipients can understand and possibly act upon</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Enhance your brand image by portraying your business as inclusive and international</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Gain a competitive advantage by being able to communicate in multiple languages</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Make all your customers feel valued and acknowledged, regardless of what language they speak</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Increase customer satisfaction by providing multilingual customer support</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>How to Set Up and Use the Dexatel Extension</h2>

<p>Before you start sending Pipedrive text messages with Dexatel, you will need to have active accounts with both Pipedrive and Dexatel. You must also have a stable internet connection to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted service. Here is what you will need to do:</p>

<h3>Step 1: Start by Creating Your Free Dexatel Account</h3>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>Head over to <a href="https://dashboard.dexatel.com/sign-up/">https://dashboard.dexatel.com/sign-up/</a> and create an account</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Once you sign up, verify your email address. This is essential for security and access to the services</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Verify your phone number to make sure you can send and receive SMS text messages</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>With the previous steps out of the way, submit the form to activate your 30-day free trial account</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<h3>Step 2: Install the Dexatel App on Pipedrive</h3>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>From the Pipedrive Marketplace page, go to the &ldquo;Apps&rdquo; tab toward the top left corner of the screen</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Use the search bar to find Dexatel. You can also browse for it by scrolling down</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>After entering the Dexatel page, Click on &ldquo;Install now&rdquo;. This completes the Pipedrive integration with Dexatel and you can start using the features</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<h3>Step 3: Send Individual or Bulk Messages from Your Pipedrive Account&nbsp;</h3>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>Select who you want to send your message to from your contact list</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Click on &ldquo;Send Dexatel SMS&rdquo;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Choose a sender name and compose your text message</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Deliver your SMS by clicking on &ldquo;Send&rdquo;</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<h3>Pricing</h3>

<p>Dexatel offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing businesses to scale their text messaging as they grow. This also means that you only pay for the features you use. You can start with a 30-day free trial and test out the services before investing in the platform. Moreover, you can benefit from ongoing loyalty discounts for committed use.</p>

<h3>Customer Support</h3>

<p>Dexatel&rsquo;s customer-centric approach guarantees a seamless customer experience, with dedicated support to assist you every step of the way. Make sure to reach out to <a href="mailto:customer.support@dexatel.com">customer.support@dexatel.com</a> for any questions, feedback, or support needs you may have.&nbsp;</p>

Find out all you need to know about the partnership between Dexatel and Pipedrive, including how to use Dexatel’s Extension and what you can do with it.

How to Use the Dexatel Extension on Pipedrive

How to Use the Dexatel Extension for Pipedrive

<p>Get ready for the ultimate showdown as we put two of the most popular messaging apps against each other&mdash;Viber vs. WhatsApp. With over 3 billion active users combined, these apps have become essential tools for staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues around the world. But which app reigns supreme? Let&rsquo;s find out.</p>

<h2>Understanding the Difference Between WhatsApp and Viber</h2>

<p>When it comes to Viber vs. WhatsApp, both&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/instant-messaging-for-businesses/">instant messaging apps</a> were created with the primary intention of connecting people through text, voice, and video messages. However, the specific intentions of the two apps differ in a few significant ways.</p>

<p>WhatsApp was created in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, with the intention of providing a simple and secure messaging app. The founders of WhatsApp believed that people should be able to communicate with each other without being tracked, spied on, or having their data sold to advertisers. They designed the app with strong privacy features, such as end-to-end encryption, to protect users&#39; messages and calls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Viber was created in 2010 with the primary goal of providing a communication app that was accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. It aimed to become a messaging app that could compete with other apps like Skype and WhatsApp. While Viber also offers end-to-end encryption, its focus is more on providing a customizable and fun user experience.</p>

<p>The intentions of the Viber app vs. WhatsApp can also be seen in their different&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/mobile-marketing-strategy/">mobile marketing strategies</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-whatsapp-marketing/">WhatsApp&rsquo;s marketing</a> represents it as a secure and private messaging app, while Viber has focused on its customization options, such as custom themes, emojis, and stickers.</p>


<h2>User Interface and Features</h2>

<p>One of the most noticeable differences between Viber vs. WhatsApp is their user interface. Viber has a more colorful and playful interface, with a variety of themes and customizations available. Users can change the background, chat bubble colors, and even add stickers to their conversations. WhatsApp, on the other hand, has a more straightforward and minimalist interface, with a limited number of customization options.</p>

<p>Another significant difference between WhatsApp and Viber is their features. While both apps allow users to send messages, make voice and video calls, and share media files, there are some differences in their functionality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, Viber allows users to play games within the app, send secret messages that disappear after a certain amount of time, and even make purchases directly from the app. WhatsApp has a feature that allows users to send their live location to contacts, and it also has a status update feature similar to Instagram stories.</p>

<p>Moreover, Viber has a feature called Public Accounts, which allows businesses to create a public profile and interact with their customers directly through the app. WhatsApp does not have this feature, but it does have a business version called WhatsApp Business that offers similar functionality.</p>

<h2>Security and Privacy</h2>

<p>WhatsApp is known for its strong security features, including end-to-end encryption. This means that only the sender and receiver of a message can see the content, and even WhatsApp itself cannot access the message. WhatsApp also allows users to verify the identity of contacts through a unique QR code or fingerprint scan. Additionally, the app provides two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.</p>

<p>In comparison, Viber also offers end-to-end encryption, but it is not as strong as WhatsApp&#39;s. Viber&#39;s encryption does not include group chats, and it can be turned off by the user if they choose. Viber also allows users to verify the identity of contacts through a verification code, but it does not offer two-factor authentication.</p>

<p>Another significant difference to note when discussing WhatsApp vs. Viber is their approach to data sharing. Viber collects some user data, such as location information and device information while file-sharing, to provide personalized content and ads. Meanwhile, WhatsApp does not collect any user data beyond what is necessary for the app to function.</p>

<h2>Popularity in the Business World</h2>

<p>While both have made significant strides in recent years, WhatsApp, in particular, has developed a dedicated&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/whatsapp-business-api/">WhatsApp Business API</a>. This allows businesses to interact with their customers directly through the app. The API offers features like automated messages, customer support, and even transactional messaging. This way, businesses can improve their customer service by utilizing VoIP apps in their strategies.</p>

<p>Viber has also developed a business version of its app, called&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/viber-business/">Viber Business</a>. This version offers features like auto-replies, chatbots, and public accounts, which allow businesses to create a public profile and interact with customers directly.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Call and Message Quality</h2>

<p>Both apps use internet connectivity to make calls and send messages, so call and message quality can be affected by internet speed and connection strength. However, both Viber and WhatsApp use advanced compression technology to ensure that messages and calls are delivered efficiently and with minimal delay.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In terms of voice and video calls, both apps offer clear and stable connections, though the quality may vary based on internet connectivity.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>User Base and Popularity</h2>

<p>WhatsApp has a larger user base than Viber, with over 2 billion active monthly users compared to Viber&#39;s modest 1 billion. This is partly due to WhatsApp&#39;s widespread popularity in countries like India and Brazil, where it is the most widely used messaging app.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Viber has a loyal user base in certain regions, such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East, where it is particularly popular.</p>

<h2>Monetization Strategies</h2>

<p>Both Viber and WhatsApp are free to download and use, but they have different monetization strategies.</p>

<p>WhatsApp&#39;s main revenue stream comes from charging businesses to use their WhatsApp Business API to communicate with customers. This allows businesses to send messages such as order updates, shipping notifications, and customer support messages.</p>

<p>Viber offers a variety of monetization options. They have in-app purchases, such as stickers and games, that users can buy to enhance their messaging experience. Viber also offers Viber Out, a feature that allows users to make low-cost calls to non-Viber users. Besides, Viber has a partnership program that allows businesses to integrate Viber into their customer support systems for a fee.</p>

<h2>Mobile Marketing</h2>

<p>Thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/mobile-marketing-services/">mobile marketing services</a>, businesses can connect with their customers, send notifications, and respond to inquiries. Using WhatsApp Business, companies can create a company profile, which includes their logo, description, and contact information. WhatsApp offers various features such as product catalogs and the ability to create and send automated messages.</p>

<p>Similarly, Viber&#39;s messaging platform also offers features such as chatbots, polls, and surveys to enhance the customer experience. Businesses can also create public accounts that users can follow, allowing them to receive updates, news, and promotions directly in their Viber app.</p>

<h2>Secret Chat</h2>

<p>One of Viber&#39;s standout features is the ability to send self-destructing messages. This feature allows users to send messages that disappear after a set period of time, ensuring that sensitive information stays private and secure.</p>

<p>To send a self-destructing message on Viber,&nbsp; type out your message and tap the clock icon next to the send button. This will bring up a menu where you can choose the amount of time before the message disappears, ranging from 1 second to 1 minute. Once you send the message, the recipient will have a set amount of time to read it before it disappears.</p>

<p>The self-destructing message feature on Viber is particularly useful for users who want to ensure that their messages are only viewed by the intended recipient and not stored on their device. It can also be useful for sending sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers, without leaving a digital trail.</p>

<p>Unlike Viber, WhatsApp does not have a Secret Chat feature. However, it does offer an Archived feature that allows users to hide chats without completely deleting them.</p>

<p>When a chat is archived in WhatsApp, it is moved to a separate folder and removed from the main chat list. This means that the chat is hidden from view and can only be accessed by scrolling down to the bottom of the chat list and tapping on the Archived Chats folder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Archived feature on WhatsApp may not offer the same level of privacy as Viber&#39;s Secret Chat, it can still be useful for users who want to keep certain conversations out of sight. Archived chats can also be unarchived at any time, making it easy to bring them back into the main chat list if needed.</p>

<h2>Which Is Better: WhatsApp Or Viber? Key Takeaways</h2>

<p>As of now, there is no clear winner in the Viber versus WhatsApp debate. Both are great messaging apps that offer unique features and benefits. WhatsApp has a larger user base and a user-friendly interface, while Viber offers more customization options and advanced security features. Choosing between the two largely depends on personal preferences and specific needs.</p>

<p>So, which is better&mdash;WhatsApp or Viber? As a matter of fact, ask yourself these questions:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Which app do you actually prefer?</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>What features do you find most important in a messaging app?&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Do you value a larger user base or advanced security features?</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p>Consider these key takeaways when deciding which messaging app is right for you.</p>

Compare Viber vs. WhatsApp in the ultimate showdown, analyzing user base, compatibility, monetization strategies, mobile marketing capabilities, and more.

Viber Vs. WhatsApp: Which is Better?

Viber Vs. WhatsApp: Which One Is Better?

Understand the nuances of SMS marketing pricing, compare the fees of top platforms, and take a look at how to boost your messaging ROI.

SMS Marketing Pricing and How to Maximize ROI

A Complete Guide to SMS Marketing Pricing to Maximize ROI

<p>Introduced in 2018, Viber Communities are like a group chat, but with an unlimited number of members, more admin controls, and advanced features that make for seamless communication. They offer a chat space on&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/viber-business/">Viber Business messages</a>, where members can exchange messages and engage with one another in a moderated and safe environment that respects user privacy. All the conversation features that make a great channel for large groups, also make Communities on Viber a remarkably effective business channel.</p>

<p>With this option, <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a> becomes a piece of cake. You get the perfect platform for managing, engaging, and growing large, active groups. These groups can connect any number of people around interests, causes, and anything else you can think of.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Community on Viber for businesses and brands offers a great space to keep customers and fans updated on company news and new product offerings. You can directly engage your audience in&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/text-to-win/">text-to-win contests</a>, giveaways, and other fun activities that reward participation and keep everyone engaged with your business.</p>

<p>So what is a Viber Community? Here&#39;s everything you need to know about the new feature and how to use it for your business.</p>

<h2>What is a Viber Community?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>A Community is a group within the Viber messaging app where people can connect with others who share similar interests, hobbies, or passions. Members of a Community can interact with one another, share relevant information and links, and participate in discussions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Brands and public accounts often use their list of Viber Communities to connect with fans and businesses use the feature to engage with their customers and gather prospects. Businesses can share updates, promotions, and more with their entire Community in a single chat window.</p>

<p><img alt="what-is-a-viber-community" src="/images/blog/176/body/what-is-a-viber-community.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>Viber Group Chats Vs. Communities</h3>

<p>Viber group chats are usually for family or friends and can have up to 250 members. Members can only join by invitation or a direct link. Communities on the Viber app are larger, public-facing groups, usually made up of people who are not personally connected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Group chats work best when everyone knows each other and feels safe with other participants because the phone numbers of everyone in the group are visible. Communities hide the phone numbers of their members and only allow incoming messages from others if a member has approved of it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another big difference between Viber group chats and Communities is that in a group chat, new members are not able to view the earlier conversation. In a Community, the entire chat history is available to everyone, no matter when they joined. In group chats, admins can only remove or add other members.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in communities, admins can also manage the conversation by deleting messages and adding or revoking certain privileges for members. These <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/viber-features/">features make a Viber</a> Community a better option for businesses that want to bring together their entire audience without compromising on privacy or accessibility.</p>

<p><img alt="viber-community-features-that-set-it-apart" src="/images/blog/176/body/viber-community-features-that-set-it-apart.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>9 Community Features That Set It Apart</h2>

<p>These are the top Viber Communities features that Viber users should know about:</p>

<h3>1. Unlimited Members&nbsp;</h3>

<p>The biggest advantage of the Communities feature is having an unlimited number of members.</p>

<h3>2. New Member Engagement</h3>

<p>New members can see the Community chat history and join the conversation without losing a beat.</p>



<h3>3. Conversation Management</h3>

<p>You decide whether your members can post in the chat or just view messages posted by admins.</p>

<h3>4. Messaging Features</h3>

<p>Community members can react to messages, respond directly, or mention a member.</p>

<h3>5. Member Privacy</h3>

<p>All members&rsquo; phone numbers are hidden; just their Viber username and photo are visible.</p>

<h3>6. Discussion Moderation</h3>

<p>Add admins to help you manage your community and delete messages or remove members.</p>

<h3>7. Community Growth</h3>

<p>Easily invite new members or allow members to add friends with an invite link.</p>

<h3>8. Chat Safety</h3>

<p>Members can choose whether to let other members message them in a hidden-number chat.</p>

<h3>9. Poll and Quiz Creation</h3>

<p>Use polls and quizzes to create fun engagement and collect feedback from your community.</p>

<p><img alt="how-to-create-a-viber-community" src="/images/blog/176/body/how-to-create-a-viber-community.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>How to Create a Viber Community</h2>

<p>&nbsp;Anyone can create their own Community group on Viber in just a few simple steps:</p>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>In the Viber app on your phone, tap on the new chat icon and select New Group or Community</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Select the first member(s) from your contacts you&rsquo;d like to form a Community with and tap Next. These first members will automatically have an Admin status (you can toggle this off later)</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>On the next screen, you&rsquo;ll choose a group type: Group Chat or Community. Select Community and enter a name and an optional description</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Tap the checkmark and voila, you have your first Community. The Community will be pinned to your home chats screen. The contacts you had selected when creating will be sent a notification</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>From here, you can then start inviting more people to join, add or remove admins, and manage individual member privileges such as the ability to send messages or links&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<h3>Tiered Management Roles: Superadmins, Admins, and Members&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Each Community group on Viber has three tiers of participants. As the Community creator, you are the first Superadmin and have full control and flexibility to create an environment that reflects the purpose of your group. A Superadmin can:</p>

<p>&middot; Promote members to admin or Superadmin status</p>

<p>&middot; Add or remove Community members</p>

<p>&middot; Pin messages to start a group discussion or promote a certain topic or link</p>

<p>&middot; Delete one or all messages written by specific members</p>

<p>&middot; Publish public links to invite new members</p>

<p>&middot; Decide whether all members of the Community can share its link</p>

<p>&middot; Control admins&rsquo; and members&rsquo; writing privileges</p>

<p>While superadmins have the final say, admins help them manage the Community and moderate the discussion by:</p>

<p>&middot; Adding or removing Community members</p>

<p>&middot; Pinning messages</p>

<p>&middot; Deleting messages</p>

<p>Every member has full access to the Community&rsquo;s complete history and can contribute to the conversation with all of Viber&rsquo;s messaging features: text, pictures, videos, GIFs, and stickers. This is, of course, possible if a Superadmin has allowed member writing privileges. Members can mention other users within a message and make quoted replies.</p>

<p><img alt="top-advantages-of-a-viber-community-for-businesses" src="/images/blog/176/body/top-advantages-of-a-viber-community-for-businesses.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Top 3 Advantages of a Community for Businesses</h2>

<p>By bringing together all your customers and prospects in a Community, you have a single space where you can easily communicate and engage with all of them simultaneously. Members are already warm leads who expect updates from you and are more receptive to messages from your business. Think of it like&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/mass-texting/">mass texting</a> everyone on your chat list, except with more collective participation.</p>

<h3>Gain Visibility&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Community messages appear alongside private messages in a user&rsquo;s Viber inbox, giving your business high visibility and keeping it top of mind for your customers and prospects.</p>

<h3>Collect Feedback</h3>

<p>No matter if you&rsquo;ve chosen your Community on Viber to be a one-way or two-way communication platform, members can still react to messages sent by admins to express themselves. You can test your new ideas with your Community first before launching a more public chat campaign.</p>

<h3>Engage Your Audience&nbsp;</h3>

<p>You can use the feature&rsquo;s built-in polls and quizzes to engage with your customers and get to know their preferences while emphasizing the importance of their opinion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Businesses of all types can use quizzes to create giveaways or contests with prizes, and polls to get opinions on new products. For example, cafes can do a poll to get opinions on a new ice cream flavor or decide on the week&rsquo;s special. Use a Community as part of your overall&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/industries/food-and-beverage/">food and beverage messaging solutions</a>.</p>

<p>The app&rsquo;s Community Insights feature allows businesses to better understand their audience and determine what type of content they are most receptive to. This is information that you can then use in other communication mediums as well, online or offline.</p>

<h2>Grow Your Viber Community Group&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Viber has over 1 billion users worldwide, accounting for about 15% of the world&#39;s population. So, any community has the potential to reach 1/8 of the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Of course, that&rsquo;s a tall order for any business. Many would be happy just to engage a few hundred or thousand customers who are interested in the company or brand, but the potential to expand your Community is vast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;re already using Viber Business messages or&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-platform/">SMS platforms</a>, then your existing contacts should provide a good base to start with.</p>

<p>To grow a Community on Viber, share your Community link on your website and social media or allow members to invite their contacts through an invite link. Your most active members can become your brand ambassadors and spread the word.</p>

<p>When your members forward a message from the Community to any of their friends, groups, or other Communities, it has the potential to go viral throughout the app. Every forwarded message has a label with your Community name on it, so everyone who sees it knows where the message came from and can tap the Community name to join.</p>

<p>Sticker packs are one of Viber&rsquo;s most popular promotional tools to attract users to join a Community. You can create free branded stickers, which can be downloaded from Viber&rsquo;s sticker market to convert Viber users to Community members. Promoting a sticker pack on the sticker market is a great way to gain exposure for your Community and provide a fun experience for users.</p>

Leverage the power of Viber Community for your business. We'll guide you through the process of creating and managing a successful Viber Community.

Viber Community: How to Take Advantage For Your Business

Viber Community: How to Create and Use It for Your Business

<p>Imagine reaching for your pocket to hand out a business card, only to find out there&rsquo;s none left. Instead of heading over to the printing house for another batch, you could make your life much easier. Go digital instead&mdash;send your card directly to your customers&rsquo; mobile phones.</p>

<p>Text business cards are the go-to choice for the modern businessperson. They&rsquo;re convenient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly&mdash;think of all the trees you&rsquo;d be saving! Plus, you can create one in just a few minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Understanding SMS Business Cards</h2>

<p>A text business card is essentially a digital version of a traditional one that you can send via SMS message. Much like its physical counterpart, it usually contains basic info like name, job title, phone number, email address, and company logo. Rather than handing out a physical card, send a digital one directly to your customers&rsquo; mobile phones. This allows the recipients to save your contact details on their devices easily.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The most common ways to send an SMS business card are via link sharing and as an attachment. The latter involves attaching your contact info file to the SMS as you would with a&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sending-pdf-via-text/">PDF document</a>.</p>

<p>As for link sharing, simply upload it to an online platform that supports electronic business cards like Dropbox or Google Drive. Then, copy and paste the link into the SMS and send it to your recipients. You can also use an&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/sms-url-shortener/">SMS URL shortener</a> to prevent the link from taking up characters in the text message. Plus, you&rsquo;ll be able to use the&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/short-sms-link-tracking/">short link for tracking</a> results.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="tips-for-creating-a-text-message-business-card" src="/images/blog/178/body/tips-for-creating-a-text-message-business-card.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Tips for Creating a Text Message Business Card</h2>

<h3>Emphasize Your Name and Job Title</h3>

<p>The main purpose of sending a business card via SMS is to serve as your professional ID. This means letting recipients know who you are and what you do. That being said, you&rsquo;ll want to highlight your name and job title by placing them front and center.</p>

<p>You can also use a larger and bolder font than the rest of the contact information. As for the typeface, make sure to pick one that looks clean and professional. Helvetica is a great choice.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Use a Simple Color Palette</h3>

<p>Your digital card&rsquo;s color scheme is another detail to consider. Minimalism is key here, so it&rsquo;s best to stick to no more than two or three colors. Go for a pale shade of yellow for the background and pick a brighter hue to highlight certain details.</p>

<p>It&rsquo;s also worth noting the effects of certain colors. Warm hues like reds and oranges inspire a sense of energy. Simultaneously, shades of blue and green tend to be more soothing. The palette should ultimately reflect your brand.</p>

<h3>Visuals Go a Long Way</h3>

<p>Adding a visual element can be a great way to catch the recipient&rsquo;s eye, like a photo of yourself. Remember to look confident, approachable, and professional.</p>

<p>It may also be a good idea to add a short video or a slideshow that introduces your brand. This is especially useful since it&#39;s something you can&rsquo;t do with a physical business card. Whatever visual you choose, make sure the placement is strategic and doesn&rsquo;t look overwhelming.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="contact-details-should-be-easy-to-see" src="/images/blog/178/body/contact-details-should-be-easy-to-see.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>Contact Details Should Be Easy to See</h3>

<p>There&rsquo;s no denying that your name and job title are paramount in a text business card. But it&rsquo;s just as important that your viewers easily know how to reach out to you. The way you display this information can say a lot about your brand.</p>

<p>You don&rsquo;t want your contact information to look flashy, but it should nonetheless be easy to spot. A simple yet clear typeface is the way to go. And be sure to keep it concise to make room for other elements.</p>



<h3>Don&rsquo;t Forget Your Social Media Links</h3>

<p>Is your business active on social media? Assuming it is, be sure to add your socials to your digital card. While it&rsquo;s possible to include them in the form of hyperlinks, consider opting for clickable icons instead. You can place them somewhere convenient where they don&rsquo;t take up much space but are easily visible.</p>

<p>Then again, it all depends on your type of business and which details you want the recipient to focus on.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Make Sure Your Website Link Is Clear</h3>

<p>Another feature that could use special attention is your website, especially if it plays a major role in your business. There are several ways you can incorporate your website into your virtual business card. For example, it can be a simple URL beneath the logo or a visual.</p>

<p>You can also hyperlink a certain icon to make it more visually appealing. In any case, it should grab just the right amount of attention it needs.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Look for a Digital Card Platform With Smart Features</h3>

<p>You&rsquo;re spoiled for choice when it comes to digital business card apps. Go for one that offers smart features that you can take advantage of. Elements like QR codes and email signatures tend to make your electronic business card all the more practical. The more useful its digital tools are, the more effectively you&rsquo;ll be able to communicate with customers and business partners.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to Send a Text Business Card With Dexatel</h2>

<p>As a&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a> provider, Dexatel lets you send your business card via text message. This step-by-step guide walks you through the process.</p>

<p>1. Sign up for an account with the Dexatel platform or log in if you already have one. Register for a Sender ID unless you have a pre-approved name.</p>

<p><img alt="sign-up-for-an-account-with-dexatel" src="/images/blog/178/body/sign-up-for-an-account-with-dexatel.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>2. Form an SMS template that includes the link to your electronic business card. You can create using a virtual card app or a graphic design tool like Canva.</p>

<p><img alt="create-an-sms-template" src="/images/blog/178/body/create-an-sms-template.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>3. In the Audiences section, prepare a contact list to whom you want to text your digital business card.</p>

<p><img alt="prepare-your-contact-list" src="/images/blog/178/body/prepare-your-contact-list.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>4. Go to the Campaign section and choose the SMS template, your Sender ID, and the contact list.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="choose-your-template" src="/images/blog/178/body/choose-your-template.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>5. Take a look at the summary to check if everything is in order and send your message on its way.</p>

<p><img alt="review-and-verify-message" src="/images/blog/178/body/review-and-verify-message.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>The Role of SMS Business Cards in Company Growth</h2>

<p>SMS cards play a major role in generating leads and boosting sales, purely based on their simplicity and accessibility. Needless to say, sending a digital business card text message is an easy and convenient way to share your contact details. You can even employ&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/two-way-sms/">two-way messaging</a>, which helps you turn a simple interaction into an actual lead.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharing your card via SMS also enables direct communication on a personal level. Think about how many traditional cards people have handed you. Chances are, you&rsquo;ve lost or forgotten many of them.</p>

<p>A digital one, on the other hand, has the potential to foster a more immediate and lasting connection. This way, your company can drive more communications and nurture more leads, resulting in growth in sales.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can also integrate your virtual card with other systems like lead capture and CRM. This makes it easier for you to track and manage leads, essentially by using data from business card text messages. You&rsquo;ll be able to drive conversions efficiently and make sure valuable leads don&rsquo;t get lost in the sales funnel.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="the-role-of-sms-business-cards-in-company-growth" src="/images/blog/178/body/the-role-of-sms-business-cards-in-company-growth.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Legalities of Texting Business Cards</h2>

<p>Much like sending any&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a> message, it&rsquo;s crucial to get permission before you text your business card. This means giving recipients the choice to opt-in to receive messages from you.</p>

<p>Since these cards contain personally identifiable information (PII) under data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), sending them without consent can be considered a violation of privacy regulations.</p>

<p>That being said, regulations vary from one region to another; make sure to check the laws that apply in your jurisdiction.</p>

Get familiar with the concept of text business cards, learn how to create and send one, and understand their role in sales growth and lead generation.

How to Text Business Cards: A Modern Solution

How to Text Business Cards: A Handy Guide

<p>Strategic partnerships between service providers often come as an advantage for the businesses that use those services for various purposes. That is the case with Dexatel and Customer.io, who partnered up to give users the opportunity to make the most of both platforms through integration. Clients of Customer.io can now benefit from Dexatel&rsquo;s solutions for their <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business messaging</a> needs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How Customer.io Users Can Benefit from Texting Solutions</h2>

<p>As a provider of marketing automation solutions, Customer.io provides its users with the control and flexibility they need to communicate with their audiences. It does so by making use of logic-based tools as well as behavioral analytics. With automation tools already in place, clients of customer.io can take their messaging to the next level by leveraging a variety of other SMS solutions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Services like personalization and bulk texting allow businesses to benefit from a wider reach, enhanced efficiency, increased <a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/customer-engagement/">customer engagement</a>, and cost-effective communication. And that&rsquo;s where Dexatel comes in.</p>

<p><img alt="why-choose-dexatel-for-integration" src="/images/blog/177/body/why-choose-dexatel-for-integration.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Why Choose Dexatel for Integration</h2>

<p>Thanks to the partnership between the two companies, Customer.io users don&rsquo;t need to look further than Dexatel for texting solutions. Dexatel&rsquo;s communication platform is designed with secure, effortless, and cost-effective messaging in mind. With perks like customizability, data protection, instant implementation, 24/7 customer support, and pay-as-you-go pricing, businesses can communicate with their audience in confidence knowing that they&rsquo;re equipped with industry-leading tools.&nbsp;</p>


<h2>How to Integrate Dexatel With Customer.io</h2>

<p>Integrating the two platforms lets you send text messages with Customer.io through Dexatel. To do this, you&rsquo;ll need to start by setting up a Dexatel account. Here&rsquo;s how:</p>

<p>1. <a href="https://dashboard.dexatel.com/">Sign up</a> for an account with Dexatel</p>

<p>2. Set up a Sender ID that you&rsquo;ll be using to send messages</p>

<p>3. Create an API Key for the integration</p>

<p>After completing these preliminary steps, you can move on to creating a campaign in Customer.io.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Create Your Campaign in Customer.io</h3>

<p>1. Head over to &ldquo;Campaigns&rdquo; and click on &ldquo;Create Campaign&rdquo;</p>

<p><img alt="create-campaign-on-dexatel" src="/images/blog/177/body/create-campaign-on-dexatel.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>2. Give it a discernible name and description, and select &ldquo;Create Campaign&rdquo; again</p>

<p><img alt="name-campaign" src="/images/blog/177/body/name-campaign.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>Set Up a Trigger</h3>

<p>1. Go to &ldquo;Triggers&rdquo; and select &ldquo;Create your own trigger from a webhook&rdquo;</p>

<p><img alt="create-your-own-trigger-from-a-webhook" src="/images/blog/177/body/create-your-own-trigger-from-a-webhook.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>2. Click on &ldquo;Next: Trigger Configuration&rdquo;</p>

<p>3. You&rsquo;ll be redirected to the &ldquo;Triggers&rdquo; tab, where you&rsquo;ll find an auto-generated webhook URL. From there, select &ldquo;Save &amp; Next&rdquo;</p>

<p><img alt="what-triggers-this-campaign" src="/images/blog/177/body/what-triggers-this-campaign.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>Set Up a Webhook and Configure a Request</h3>

<p>1. From the &ldquo;Build&rdquo; menu under the &ldquo;Workflow&rdquo; tab, drag a &ldquo;Send Data&rdquo; action to the Workflow canvas. The next step involves configuring a request to Dexatel&rsquo;s API. You can learn more about the API <a href="https://dexatel.com/developers/">here</a></p>

<p><img alt="drag-send-data-to-workflow-canvas" src="/images/blog/177/body/drag-send-data-to-workflow-canvas.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>2. Click on the webhook. This will open a window on the left-hand side&nbsp;</p>

<p>3. Name your webhook and select &ldquo;Add Request&rdquo;</p>

<p><img alt="name-your-webhook-and-add-request" src="/images/blog/177/body/name-your-webhook-and-add-request.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>4. Select the &ldquo;POST&rdquo; method and add the API URL: https://api.dexatel.com/v1/messages&nbsp;</p>

<p>5. Click on &ldquo;Add Headers&rdquo; to add the following headers along with their values:</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NAME: Content-Type; Value: application/json</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NAME: X-Dexatel-Key; Value: Fill Your API key here</p>

<p>6. Copy and paste the following request body onto the request canvas:</p>

<p>{</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;data&quot;: {</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;from&quot;: &quot;{{ trigger.sender_name }}&quot;,</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;to&quot;: [</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;{{ trigger.phone }}&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;],</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;text&quot;: &quot;{{ trigger.text }}&quot;,</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;channel&quot;: &quot;SMS&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;}</p>

<p>}</p>

<p><strong>Note that &ldquo;trigger.sender_name&rdquo; is your sender ID, &ldquo;trigger.phone&rdquo; is your phone number, and &ldquo;trigger.text&rdquo; is the SMS message you&rsquo;ll be sending.</strong></p>

<p>7. Select &ldquo;Save&rdquo; to save your data</p>

<p><img alt="save-your-data" src="/images/blog/177/body/save-your-data.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>Review and Send Your Messages</h3>

<p>1. Click on &ldquo;Send test&rdquo; to check if it works by sending a test message</p>

<p><img alt="send-test-message" src="/images/blog/177/body/send-test-message.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<p>2. Use your Trigger URL from the &ldquo;Overview&rdquo; tab to send messages from customer.io through Dexatel</p>

<p><img alt="use-trigger-url-from-overview-tab" src="/images/blog/177/body/use-trigger-url-from-overview-tab.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

Follow the step-by-step guide to set up your Dexatel account and API Key to start leveraging SMS solutions within Customer.io campaigns.

Customer.io Tutorial: How to Send Messages Via Dexatel

Customer.io Tutorial: How to Send Messages Through Dexatel

<p>When comparing the various messaging apps at our disposal, one interesting face-off that often comes to mind is Telegram vs. WhatsApp. As a matter of fact, both are prime examples of instant messaging&mdash;to the point where they&rsquo;re virtually synonymous with the term. Both apps provide access to online communication tools that are available worldwide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The features that each app offers are more or less similar in purpose and functionality, which begs the question: is Telegram better than WhatsApp or is it the other way around? It&rsquo;s fair to say that each is better in some ways and lacking in others. If you had to pick between WhatsApp and Telegram, you&#39;d need to determine which features mattered most to you.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>WhatsApp and Telegram: Getting Familiar With Each</h2>

<p>There are several differences to account for when choosing either Telegram or WhatsApp. WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption for all its messages. Telegram, on the other hand, offers secret chats and other security measures instead.</p>

<p>While Whatsapp has a larger user base, Telegram provides more features. And of course, each app has its own unique backstory.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="whatsapp-and-telegram-getting-familiar-with-each" src="/images/blog/167/body/whatsapp-and-telegram-getting-familiar-with-each.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>What Is WhatsApp?</h3>

<p>With roughly two billion users around the world, WhatsApp is among the largest and most popular&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/instant-messaging-for-businesses/">instant messaging apps</a> available. Yahoo! Engineers Jan Koum and Brian Acton launched the app on Feb. 24, 2009. It is currently owned by Meta Group, the parent company of Facebook.</p>

<p>Despite its end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp has sparked controversy with a series of privacy-related allegations over the past few years. In 2021, Irish authorities issued a &pound;193 million fine against WhatsApp for privacy violations.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>What Is Telegram?</h3>

<p>Founded in 2013 by brothers Pavel and Nikolai Durov, Telegram is a cross-platform instant messaging app that prioritizes privacy. It is an open-source app, which means anyone from security experts to the general public can scrutinize the code that is related to it.</p>

<p>The Telegram app is registered in the British Virgin Islands and as an LLC in Dubai, where its current CEO, Pavel, and its 15 core team members live. The billionaire CEO continues to fund Telegram in an effort to maintain its independence from major tech companies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="whatsapp-and-telegram-user-base" src="/images/blog/167/body/whatsapp-and-telegram-user-base.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>WhatsApp and Telegram: User Base</h2>

<p>Among the main factors in the WhatsApp vs. Telegram saga is the number of users. As one of the fastest-growing apps, Telegram boasts over 700 million active users per month worldwide&mdash;a 150 million increase from 2021. It was also in the top five of the most downloaded applications in 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, WhatsApp reigns supreme in this case, with more than two billion users and nearly 100 million messages sent daily. The majority of users being on WhatsApp gives the app an advantage mainly because it would be difficult for them to switch to other messaging platforms, especially considering most of their contacts are on WhatsApp. This large user base also makes&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-whatsapp-marketing/">WhatsApp ideal for marketing</a> purposes, making it easy for businesses to reach a wide audience via&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/mass-texting/">mass texting</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>WhatsApp and Telegram: Features</h2>

<p>Another way to differentiate between WhatsApp vs. Telegram is by looking at what features they offer. These include everything from transfer limits to group capacity to whatever makes the app more practical and desirable for the user. Here&rsquo;s how the two apps compare in terms of features:</p>



<h3>WhatsApp Features</h3>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Group capacity of 1,024 members</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Up to 32 participants in a voice or video call</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Compresses images, videos, and other files automatically</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Bots available for WhatsApp Business accounts and&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/whatsapp-business-api/">Whatsapp Business API</a></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Saves media files on mobile storage</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>File sharing limit of 2 GB&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Ability to use up to four devices with one account</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Option to create and share polls in groups</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Disappearing messages option for messages that are unread within 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Ability to delete messages for everyone within two days&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>New WhatsApp Communities feature</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h3>Telegram Features</h3>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Group capacity of 200,000 members</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>No limit to the number of voice call participants</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Up to 30 participants can broadcast their camera or screen, and up to 1,000 participants can watch</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Asks for permission to compress files</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Bots available for all users</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Saves media on server (unlimited storage)</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Ability to edit messages within 48 hours&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>File sharing limit of 2 GB (and 4 GB with Telegram Premium)</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Ability to import chats from other messaging apps&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Ability to create up to three accounts on the same mobile phone, and link the account to multiple devices</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Creating and sharing polls in groups</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Secret Chat option with self-destructing messages</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Option to delete messages sent from either end of the chat</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Telegram Channels feature</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Built-in sticker maker</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p><img alt="whatsapp-and-telegram-security" src="/images/blog/167/body/whatsapp-and-telegram-security.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>WhatsApp and Telegram: Security&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The security measures of Telegram vs. WhatsApp is another area to look at when comparing between the two apps. Needless to say, privacy and security are crucial when it comes to digital communication. That being said, there are various features that can make a messaging app safe to use.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Encryption</h3>

<p>When it comes to privacy, all chats on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that only you and the people you&rsquo;re communicating with can read the messages. This makes it secure for all users by default.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Compared to WhatsApp, Telegram&#39;s end-to-end encryption only applies to its Secret Chat feature. Messages that you send and receive through this feature will vanish after a set period ranging from one second up to one week. Another privacy measure with this option is that you can&rsquo;t forward messages. Telegram will also delete the chats permanently from its servers.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Deleting Chats</h3>

<p>With WhatsApp, you can delete your messages for both you and other users, but only within two days after sending them. The previous limit for this option was 51 minutes. After that time frame, you can only delete messages for yourself. In any case, WhatsApp leaves a clue indicating that the message was erased.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Telegram users, on the other hand, can delete messages sent from either side of the conversation at any time, unlike WhatsApp users, who can only delete messages that they sent. The app&rsquo;s CEO justifies this feature by stating that users should be able to have full control over their chats on instant messaging platforms.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Auto-Delete</h3>

<p>WhatsApp offers a &ldquo;disappearing messages&rdquo; feature that users can activate to have unread messages disappear after 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days. This option is available for both private and group chats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Telegram takes the lead with a similar option it introduced long before WhatsApp. It is the self-destruct functionality of the Secret Chat feature that automatically deletes messages after the recipient has seen them. And while WhatsApp only offers three different options in regard to the auto-delete time frame, Telegram lets you choose between 1 to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, one minute, one hour, one day, and one week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="screen-lock" src="/images/blog/167/body/screen-lock.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h3>Screen Lock</h3>

<p>Regardless of whether you&rsquo;re using auto-delete features or not, anyone other than you who has access to your smartphone can see your messages. Telegram offers a solution to this issue with its in-app screen lock feature. Once you activate this feature, it will request a passcode or a fingerprint scan before granting access to the app. You can set Telegram to auto-lock after a preset period of time ranging from 1 minute to 45 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Compared to Telegram, WhatsApp has a similar form of this feature, where users can either activate fingerprint lock or password-protect the app&mdash;depending on the version of the app. The difference between the Telegram app vs. WhatsApp here is that the former offers fewer options in terms of preset time intervals.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Hidden Numbers</h3>

<p>Part of the Telegram signup process is providing your phone number. Meanwhile, you&rsquo;ll also have the option to keep the number private by hiding it.</p>

<p>By default, only the contacts you&rsquo;ve saved on your phone can see your number. You&rsquo;ll simply need to change the &ldquo;Who can see my phone number?&rdquo; setting to &ldquo;Nobody.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>WhatsApp users, however, do not have this option. You&rsquo;ll have to keep your number displayed at all times. This means every contact on your chat list can see it, even those you haven&rsquo;t saved on your phone.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Two-Factor Authentication</h3>

<p>Activating two-factor authentication is an excellent way to safeguard your messages in case someone gets access to your phone. This feature allows you to set a second password that you enter after an SMS code. In regards to the security measures of Telegram and WhatsApp, both messaging platforms offer&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-verification/">SMS verification</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Enabling this feature essentially adds a second layer of protection to your messaging app, keeping it safe from third-party intruders or unwanted login attempts. Nowadays, two-factor authentication is a security standard and it would be a shame if any of these apps didn&rsquo;t have it.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>FAQ About The Difference Between WhatsApp And Telegram</h2>

<h3>Is Telegram Secure?</h3>

<p>Telegram is generally considered to be a safe messaging app. It has various security features such as end-to-end encryption for self-destructing messages, and two-factor authentication, which help protect user data and privacy.</p>

<h3>Is Telegram More Secure Than WhatsApp?</h3>

<p>Telegram and WhatsApp both offer encryption and various security features.</p>

<h3>How To Forward Voice Message From Telegram To WhatsApp?</h3>

<p>To forward a voice message from Telegram to WhatsApp, you can save the voice message to your device and then share it via WhatsApp. To save the voice message in Telegram, tap and hold on the message, then tap &quot;Save to Downloads&quot;. Once saved, go to your device&#39;s file manager and locate the voice message file. From there, you can share the file via WhatsApp.</p>

Check out how Telegram Vs. WhatsApp compare against each other and find out which app is better in terms of features, user base, and security measures.

Telegram Vs. WhatsApp: Which Is Better?

Telegram Vs. WhatsApp: Which One is Better?

<p>In a world that thrives on instant and flexible communication, businesses everywhere are adopting a tool that cuts through the noise and goes straight to the mobile phones of customers and employees. Meet the Short Message Service, a versatile channel that&rsquo;s transforming how companies and organizations communicate both internally and externally.</p>

<p>Whether it&rsquo;s an urgent update, a personalized&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a> campaign, or any other form of business text, SMS messaging is a surefire way to get your message seen and heard. But what is SMS communication and how can businesses benefit from it? Let&rsquo;s find out.</p>

<h2>Understanding Text Message Communications</h2>

<p>SMS communications fundamentally involve sending and receiving short text messages. It is a popular way for businesses and individuals to share information instantly. This ubiquitous technology works on the signaling channel of a mobile network and is compatible with all mobile devices. When a text message goes out, it is transmitted from the sender&rsquo;s device to the nearest network tower before traveling through the network infrastructure and making its way to the recipient&rsquo;s mobile phone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While SMS allows you to send messages of up to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-character-limit/">160 characters</a>, concatenation enables companies and organizations to send texts that are longer, although SMS best practices suggest keeping the message short and straightforward. As a brand, you can choose to send messages in bulk or individually. You also have the option to include anything from links to contact information.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="types-of-business-messaging" src="/images/blog/175/body/types-of-business-messaging.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Types of Business Messaging</h2>

<p>SMS for business communications typically falls into two main categories: internal and external. The latter can be divided into two separate types depending on the purpose of the message, which can either be&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/difference-between-promotional-and-transactional-sms/">transactional or promotional</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>1. Transactional Messages</h3>

<p>Transactional messages are those you send to customers following a transaction or business operation. They are often triggered by certain activities, such as when a customer makes a payment or places an online order.</p>

<p>Other forms of transactional texts include account balance alerts, withdrawal notifications, and&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/otp-sms/">OTP verification</a>. They are meant to offer instant updates and time-sensitive information regarding transactions, account activity, and other forms of operational interactions with a business. This helps in creating a seamless customer experience.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>2. Promotional Messages</h3>

<p>As the name implies, promotional texts are meant to promote a product or a service. They are marketing messages businesses send to their customers to let them know about sales, offers, new product releases, and upcoming events, just to name a few.</p>

<p>These messages are sent with the intention of generating leads, driving conversions, and boosting customer engagement. Promotional communications usually involve adding call-to-action elements such as links where the recipient can redeem a discount or get more information.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3. Internal Messages</h3>

<p>Also referred to as SMS employee communication, internal SMS involves using text messages for communication within a workplace. It&rsquo;s an easy way to share updates and other notifications among teams and departments.</p>

<p>As a manager or team leader, you can use SMS to send meeting reminders, project updates, shift schedules, employee surveys, and other important announcements. Internal communication via SMS helps foster collaboration. This is in addition to ensuring that employees are connected and well-informed, especially in situations where they may not have access to their email or an internet connection.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="advantages-of-sms-over-other-communication-channels" src="/images/blog/175/body/advantages-of-sms-over-other-communication-channels.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Advantages of SMS Over Other Communication Channels</h2>

<h3>1. High Open Rates</h3>

<p>SMS text messages boast significantly&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-open-rates/">high open rates</a>. In fact, studies have shown that most recipients read a text within five minutes after receiving it, which proves how reliable a communication channel SMS can be.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2. Cost-Effective</h3>

<p>Compared to traditional methods like phone calls, SMS is a relatively cost-effective channel of communication. This makes it ideal for businesses looking to reach out to customers or employees without breaking the bank.</p>

<h3>3. Wide Reach</h3>

<p>SMS messages can be sent to just about every mobile device that&rsquo;s connected to a network. This means businesses can reach a broad audience, including those who don&#39;t have access to WiFi.</p>

<h3>4. Mobile-Friendly</h3>

<p>The widespread use of mobile phones welcomes SMS into the daily lives of people. And since it doesn&rsquo;t require internet, customers and team members can receive text messages no matter where they are.</p>

<h3>5. High Response Rates</h3>

<p>SMS messages normally result in higher response rates than other channels such as email. The sheer convenience of replying to a text makes SMS a reliable way to confirm appointments, collect feedback, and carry out surveys.</p>

<h3>6. Consent-Based</h3>

<p>SMS messaging requires getting consent from recipients, often in the form of&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-opt-in/">opt-ins</a>. Recipients who have opted in are more likely to engage with messages and be receptive to your communication efforts.</p>

<p><img alt="how-sms-can-be-useful-for-internal-communications" src="/images/blog/175/body/how-sms-can-be-useful-for-internal-communications.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>How SMS Can Be Useful for Internal Communications</h2>

<h3>Instant Updates</h3>

<p>Business operations often depend on a timely and efficient exchange of information. SMS communication facilitates that by allowing for instant and direct communication between employees and team members. It ensures that employees receive crucial updates, reminders, or announcements as promptly as possible, boosting cooperation and responsiveness.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Remote Workforce Connectivity</h3>

<p>Text messaging serves as an effective communication tool for businesses adopting a mobile or remote work policy. It offers smooth connectivity with employees who may not always be able to check their email or have constant access to Wi-Fi. A journalist attending a conference, for instance, probably can&rsquo;t respond to an email on the spot. Staying in touch via SMS, however, would be much more convenient in this case.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Urgent Notifications</h3>

<p>Suppose there&rsquo;s an emergency at the office, and you need all the employees to evacuate the building. You obviously wouldn&rsquo;t send an email to let them know about a fire in the hallway. A work text message, on the other hand, can prove to be a crisis communication tool for urgent situations. It enables you to immediately send critical alerts, evacuation notices, or safety instructions to employees, prompting an organized response and making sure everyone is safe.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Shift Scheduling and Announcements</h3>

<p>SMS can come in handy for shift scheduling as well as other updates. As a manager, you can send notifications to team members, reminding them about upcoming shifts or alerting them of any changes in the schedule. This helps reduce confusion and keeps everyone in the loop. You can also use SMS to inform employees about unexpected closures, such as due to extreme weather conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Confidential and Secure Information</h3>

<p>It goes without saying that security is key when it comes to internal business communication. With the help of secure platforms or encryption technologies, text messaging can provide that confidentiality. Employees can exchange sensitive information like passwords or access codes without having to worry about the risk of interception. This guarantees that private internal communications remain confidential and protected.</p>

<p><img alt="how-sms-can-be-useful-for-external-communications" src="/images/blog/175/body/how-sms-can-be-useful-for-external-communications.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>How SMS Can Be Useful for External Communications</h2>

<h3>Instant Customer Engagement</h3>

<p>SMS is the go-to channel for engaging with customers in a direct and immediate way. Businesses can send tailored messages, news, promotions, and service announcements directly to the customer&rsquo;s hands. This ensures that the communication is not only timely but also reaches the right people&mdash;with the intention of prompting a quick response.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Efficient Customer Support&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Text messaging comes in handy as an efficient way to carry out customer support interactions. Customers can easily ask questions, raise concerns, or give feedback via SMS. In turn, businesses can respond on the spot and provide solutions if necessary. And if you need to send out a short survey to your target audience, SMS texting serves as a convenient way to do so; recipients can easily reply in a matter of seconds.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Timely Reminders and Notifications</h3>

<p>Another area where SMS plays a pivotal role is sending timely notifications. This can include appointment or payment reminders, reservation confirmations, order delivery updates, and more. Keeping customers in the loop helps prevent missed appointments and forgotten payments, in addition to enhancing customer satisfaction. It also helps in streamlining business operations and minimizing logistical issues.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Targeted Marketing Campaigns</h3>

<p>With high open rates and a vast user base, SMS texting is known for being a highly effective tool for&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/mobile-marketing/">mobile marketing</a>. It allows brands to send personalized offers, deals, and exclusive discounts to a target audience in an effort to promote their products or services. By reaching out to customers directly, businesses can boost customer engagement and drive audiences down the sales funnel.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Two-Way Messaging</h3>

<p>As a mobile messaging tool, SMS allows for two-way communication. Companies and organizations can engage in meaningful dialogue with their customers. In their turn, customers can ask for help, provide their opinions, or make inquiries. This helps build strong relationships between businesses and their audiences.</p>

<p>SMS can also be useful for interactive campaigns like polls and contests, allowing customers to easily participate and provide valuable insights.</p>

Get familiar with the advantages of SMS communications and find out how useful the channel can be for both internal and external business messaging.

How to Use SMS Communications: Internal & External Purposes

Why You Need SMS Communications for Business Messaging

<p>After months of hard work and preparation, it&rsquo;s time for your restaurant&#39;s soft opening. You&rsquo;ve set up your location, hired and trained your staff, and perfected your menu items. Now you can invite your first select guests for a trial run before you officially open your doors.</p>

<p>A soft opening, or soft launch, gives you a chance to iron out all the details and make tweaks in a low-pressure environment. The idea is to build momentum and attract customers while making adjustments and improvements based on feedback from this initial period.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Preparing to host a soft opening usually isn&rsquo;t a buzz-filled affair; you can save that for your grand opening day. But it doesn&rsquo;t have to be very low-key and quiet, either. You can still entertain your guests and provide them with a full experience, just in a more relaxed setting where the stakes are lower, and mistakes are expected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However big or small you decide to go, this guide will show you how to use&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/text-message-marketing-for-restaurants/">text message marketing for restaurants</a> to plan a soft opening&mdash;before you open your restaurant to the world.</p>

<h2>What&rsquo;s a Soft Opening?</h2>

<p>So what is a restaurant soft opening? A soft opening is when you start operating your restaurant for a limited number of people, before officially opening your doors to the public. Think of it as a practice period made up of invite-only days or a series of events designed to test your operations and create some marketing buzz before the official launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You may operate on a limited basis during this period, perhaps only a few hours a day or with a limited menu. And you may not have your full staff on hand yet. A soft opening typically lasts from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how long you need to incorporate all the feedback and fix any last-minute hitches.</p>

<p><img alt="advantages-of-a-soft-opening" src="/images/blog/164/body/advantages-of-a-soft-opening.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Advantages of a Soft Opening</h2>

<h3>Less Pressure</h3>

<p>A grand opening with all its fanfare and expectations is a lot of pressure. And things will go wrong in more ways than you may have expected. A soft opening is like a rehearsal where you practice with your performers (staff) and get an initial audience reaction. It&rsquo;s the perfect way to prepare and anticipate problems before they happen during the real thing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That said, a soft opening is real. And you should take it seriously. To have a successful soft opening, think of it as a day with your closest customers and treat it as the special occasion it is.</p>

<h3>Chance for Improvement</h3>

<p>Hosting a soft opening may give you a chance to see which areas of your operation are lacking, what&rsquo;s not working, and how to streamline your processes before the big crowds start coming in. You may have imagined everything down to the smallest detail, but you won&rsquo;t truly know how everything works in reality until people are inside and eating.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is a period where you can make mistakes and learn from them without harsh reviews or sullying your reputation. A soft opening gives your staff a chance to work together in a real environment and identify shortcomings before opening to the public.&nbsp;</p>



<h3>Spread the Word</h3>

<p>A soft opening is also a great marketing opportunity for your new restaurant. Use it to generate buzz and spread word of mouth within your community and build anticipation for the grand opening. People will be sharing their impressions and photos with their own networks and raising awareness for you.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By inviting the right people and hosting a great night, your soft opening will attract more attention to your restaurant than an immediate grand opening. You can use&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a> in the days and weeks following to keep your restaurant top of mind for new and returning customers.</p>

<h2>Send a Soft Opening Restaurant Invitation via Text</h2>

<p>While email and direct mail have been the traditional channels for invites, sending a soft opening restaurant invitation via text is quite effective to reach your audience. Text messages are more personable, and unlike many emails, they actually get viewed. Text messaging allows for two-way communication, so invitees can directly reply with any questions or to RSVP.</p>

<p>With&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/mass-text/">mass texting</a>, you can send out multiple invites and easily personalize them to each recipient. Your invite can be viewed at any time and any place, and the recipient will get the whole experience right on their phone.</p>

<p>To make sure that your guests haven&rsquo;t missed the announcement, you can set up an&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-alerts/">SMS alerts service</a> to automatically reach out to your invitees for follow-up. And before your big day, you can use an&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-reminders/">SMS reminder service</a> to notify your guest list of the upcoming soft opening event so they don&rsquo;t miss it.</p>

<p>But SMS isn&rsquo;t the only way to send a message to a phone number. With&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/viber-business/">Viber Business messages</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/whatsapp-business-api/">WhatsApp Business API</a>, you can also invite your guests on their preferred messaging platform.</p>

<p><img alt="what-to-include-in-your-restaurant-soft-opening-invitation" src="/images/blog/164/body/what-to-include-in-your-restaurant-soft-opening-invitation.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>What to Include in Your Restaurant Soft Opening Invitation</h2>

<p>Texts are short and to the point, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean that you can&rsquo;t include visuals or links. With&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/mms-marketing/">MMS marketing</a>, you can design an invitation or include a photo of your restaurant.&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-platform/">SMS platforms</a> have a variety of features to assist you with&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/bulk-sms/">bulk texting</a> and effective customer outreach.</p>

<p>Include the essential information of who, what, where, and when. You can create a simple landing page online that will list this information and include a link in your text message. Remember, this is a personal invitation, don&rsquo;t make it a marketing promotion. Send a personalized text with the details included and attach a more general invitation.</p>

<p>Even though you may have limited seating, allow your guests to bring a +1 if you can and mention it in your invite. This will make them have a more enjoyable and memorable time, courtesy of you and your restaurant.</p>

<p>If you wish, include a link or an image of your full menu. You can then text your guests asking about their preferred meal or inquire about any allergies or dietary restrictions for an even more personalized experience.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It&rsquo;s a good idea to create some unique dishes apart from your regular menu or some signature drinks to mark the special occasion. And if you are going to have a special pricing strategy or comp some of the meals for certain guests, mention that too.</p>

<p>It&#39;s important to give your guests an easy way to contact you with feedback after your restaurant&rsquo;s soft opening, and SMS is a fantastic communication channel for this. Collect your guests&rsquo; phone numbers during the invite-only event, but make sure that they explicitly agree to receiving text communications from you. And even if you&#39;re not getting organic feedback, you&#39;ll have a user base to approach, get your questions answered, or try out&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing-ideas/">SMS marketing ideas</a> later on.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Whom to Invite to Your Restaurant&rsquo;s Soft Opening&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Soft openings for restaurants are usually invite-only, so it&rsquo;s important to think about who you want to be there. You might be tempted to invite all your friends and family, and it&rsquo;s certainly important to have a night dedicated to those closest to you sharing your big occasion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Make sure that you also invite people from the food and dining industry who can help you with informed and professional feedback. If this is your first foray into the restaurant business, they can help you create a network and generate awareness. This entails fellow business owners, food bloggers, critics, local influencers, and others from the wider community.</p>

<h3>1. Friends and Family</h3>

<p>Your friends and family are the most likely to leave praise and positive reviews, and they are your strongest supporters. Give them an early first-hand experience and ask them for honest direct feedback.</p>

<h3>2. Business Owners</h3>

<p>Hotels and BnB owners who can recommend your restaurant to their guests can be great allies to have. Other businesses in your area can also be useful contacts and potential customers, especially if you offer special deals for large groups or events.</p>

<h3>3. Media</h3>

<p>Reach out to food critics from your local newspapers, emphasizing that this is a soft opening and that you would value their constructive feedback. They may be more forgiving during this initial period than once you are fully operational.</p>

<h3>4. Influencers</h3>

<p>Local influencers and bloggers can be helpful advocates for your restaurant and help spread the word. Inviting them during this initial phase rather than on a grand opening night will allow you to show them more personalized attention and build early rapport.</p>

<h3>5. Restaurateurs</h3>

<p>You may perceive other restaurant owners as your competition, but it doesn&rsquo;t mean that you don&rsquo;t have to be friendly with them. Restaurant associations and other industry groups often help each other out and have stronger collective power when it comes to lobbying local regulators.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="soft-openings-for-restaurants-do-it-right" src="/images/blog/164/body/soft-openings-for-restaurants-do-it-right.webp" style="width:100%" /></p>

<h2>Soft Openings for Restaurants: Do it Right</h2>

<p>The question of how to do a soft opening for restaurants depends on the areas of the business you most wish to test and improve. A good soft opening is one that you learn from, not necessarily one that goes perfectly. So take it all in stride and make sure that it not only goes right but that it serves its purpose.</p>

<h3>Atmosphere</h3>

<p>Pay attention to how people are behaving and interacting. Are the tables too close to each other? Are they too far apart? Do things get in the way of the waiters?</p>

<p>Think of the atmosphere you want to create, but also from the point of view of the customer. You may have worked hard to create a unique atmosphere, but is it comfortable for the guest? And as a restaurant, you have to think&mdash;is it comfortable for eating?</p>

<h3>Food&nbsp;</h3>

<p>You can have the best decor, the softest seats, and the perfect playlist, but the food is what matters the most. Does your menu reflect the type of restaurant you want to be?</p>

<p>Don&rsquo;t be afraid to change things up if you sense that some things on the menu don&rsquo;t fit or aren&rsquo;t as highly praised as you thought. That&rsquo;s what a soft opening is for.</p>

<h3>Brand</h3>

<p>Once you show your restaurant to the general public, you may realize that some of your branding and creative quirks need reevaluation. Your visuals and branding are a huge part of your restaurant&rsquo;s identity, but don&rsquo;t get overly attached to ideas. It may turn out that the menu design you loved is actually hard to read or navigate, some of the decor is off-putting, or the staff uniforms are hard to work in.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Staff</h3>

<p>You can prepare your staff as much as you want, but you won&rsquo;t see how well they work together until your first busy night. Use your soft opening as a test run to ensure that everyone understands their role and provides the same level of professional service. This is the time to improve your service and create a smooth process from start to finish for waiters and kitchen staff.</p>

<h3>Kitchen</h3>

<p>As the unseen powerhouse of a restaurant, the kitchen is where many problems can arise that affect your customer service. Make sure that your food prep times are realistic, and that you have all the equipment you need. This is your chance to take a look at the overall running of your restaurant, identify what needs changing, what requires your closer attention, and what&rsquo;s working right.</p>

<p>Whatever happens, remember that unhappy customers are an inescapable part of the food service business. Your soft opening is the perfect platform to take a proactive approach and get feedback from all your customers to ensure they are satisfied by the end of their meal.</p>

<p>Dexatel is a leading&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/business-messaging/">business text messaging</a> provider with complete&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/industries/food-and-beverage/">messaging solutions for the food and beverage industry</a>. Send reservation reminders, order delivery notifications, and weekly specials through an easy-to-use SMS platform that will serve you long after your restaurant is officially open.</p>

Discover how your restaurant’s soft opening can be a success with text marketing. Learn how to effectively build anticipation and increase attendance.

What is a Restaurant Soft Opening and How to Do it

Restaurant Soft Opening: How to Do It via Text Marketing

<p>With companies shifting their focus to customer experience, businesses are making sure they&rsquo;re available across multiple platforms. This buzz has resulted in two approaches&mdash;having an omnichannel presence as opposed to a multichannel presence. At first glance, these two terms may seem interchangeable. And while people do use them along these lines, each conveys a different meaning.</p>

<h2>What is a Multichannel and Omnichannel Marketing Strategy?</h2>

<p>The strategies by which a brand raises awareness and advertises its product or service are known as marketing channels. These could be websites, actual stores, billboards around the city, or even the packaging design. Customers can contact a company through a variety of methods, including&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-in-omnichannel/">omnichannel SMS</a>, email, live chat, and phone calls.</p>

<p>Channels may be used as a marketing tool and a means of interaction in many circumstances. Email, for instance, may be used for&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing-campaign/">marketing campaigns</a> as well as responding to a customer&#39;s query. Physical stores provide a way for customers to reach out to a company and have their questions answered.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that channels have multiple functions. When communicating with clients via a contact channel, you&#39;re still advertising your company.</p>

<p>Now, on to the bigger picture&mdash;what are multichannel and omnichannel in marketing and&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/customer-engagement/">customer engagement</a>? The term &ldquo;multichannel&rdquo; entails using more than one channel for spreading brand awareness or contacting customers. You may use&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/sms-marketing/">SMS marketing</a>, put up a billboard promoting your product or service, and so on. While SMS and billboards are not directly related to your company website, they are two different channels that play a role in promoting your business.</p>


<p>Simultaneously, an omnichannel marketing strategy also entails using more than one channel. Here is where it gets tricky. The channels used are integrated to provide a seamless customer experience. This means that if a customer stops using a specific channel, they can pick up where they left off on another channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, you may engage in a live chat with a customer service agent and then switch to a video chat without having to start over.</p>

<h2>The Key Differences Between Multichannel and Omnichannel Marketing</h2>

<p>Businesses that use omni vs. multichannel support and marketing may run into an array of issues. Those who primarily use a multichannel solution may experience inconsistencies between channels such as tone and voice. Moreover, the chances of miscommunication are higher, with customers growing frustrated.</p>

<p>Businesses may switch to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-marketing/">omnichannel marketing</a> from multichannel marketing to tackle these issues in their strategies. This way, a brand can be more consistent, communication becomes straightforward, and you won&rsquo;t have consistent customers dissatisfied with your services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The key distinction between omnichannel and multichannel marketing is integration. It makes all the difference. Customers may indeed access information through several channels, but multichannel marketing can&rsquo;t get them to function coherently. This is because each channel offers distinct services and operates independently of the others.</p>

<p>The consumer is at the core of omnichannel marketing. They concentrate on the customer&#39;s demands, sending them a tailored message in a cohesive, seamless experience. Because all of the channels are linked together, the client can readily obtain information from any of them.</p>

<p>Customers want a consistent experience across all channels. If they visit your Instagram page, they want to see similar content to your website&rsquo;s tone and voice or your newsletter&rsquo;s wording. This way, you show your client base that you are unified, consistent, and reliable. Every detail matters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a nutshell, a multichannel marketing strategy is when a business uses multiple channels to deliver a particular message to clients. The company is now at the core of the plan, and the channels work actively to transmit that message.</p>

<p><a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-strategy/">An omnichannel strategy</a> takes a different route. It puts the consumer at the heart of the strategy, with a single message that adjusts to each customer&rsquo;s touchpoint. A multichannel strategy does not allow for that degree of personalization; it&#39;s not as customer-centric as omnichannel.</p>

<h2>Advantages of an Omnichannel Approach</h2>

<p>While a multichannel strategy does have its perks, such as flexibility and channel independence, an omnichannel approach has several added advantages. These include:</p>

<h3>Higher ROI</h3>

<p>An omnichannel solution allows you to allocate your budget and resources more efficiently by focusing on the most successful channels. An omnichannel marketing platform provides a comprehensive view of the performance metrics across all channels, helping you enhance the allocation of resources for optimal results and&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/sms-marketing-roi/">return on investment</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Increased Sales</h3>

<p>By letting customers move seamlessly between channels, an omnichannel solution tends to smooth the customer journey. This has the potential to maximize conversion rates since your customers can carry out transactions on any channel they prefer.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Improved Customer Experience</h3>

<p>An omnichannel strategy aims to provide a consistent experience for audiences across each channel, whether it&rsquo;s SMS, email, phone calls, social media, or&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/instant-messaging-for-businesses/">instant messaging apps</a>. This coordinated and tailored approach helps deliver the best customer experience, increasing brand loyalty and buyer satisfaction.</p>

<h3>Competitive Advantage</h3>

<p>With competition being high, a special offer once in a while or a couple of products isn&rsquo;t enough to gain a customer. To really set your business apart, you&rsquo;ll need to have a successful omnichannel marketing strategy in place. It shows that your business is dedicated to meeting the expectations of customers as well as providing a smooth, customer-centric, and unified experience.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Enhanced Data and Analytics</h3>

<p>An omnichannel approach gives you the ability to not only gather but also unify customer data from various channels. By extracting information from social media channels, website cookies, shopping carts, mailing lists, and point-of-sale systems, you can get a better view and understanding of your audience. You can leverage that information to offer tailored experiences and optimize your campaigns.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Omni Vs. Multichannel Marketing Examples</h2>

<p>Analyzing customer insights about their behavior or attitudes is a concern for many companies. They have a small grasp of how the discovery occurred and what behaviors transpired throughout their engagement with the brand. The most critical component of deciding between the two strategies is determining which one is best for your company. Let&rsquo;s take a look at multi vs. omnichannel examples to better understand each case.</p>

<h3>Multi Vs. Omnichannel Support</h3>

<p>Multichannel support differs from omnichannel support in that the context and history of the customer are not shared across channels. Every channel is responsible for a separate chat stream. Typically, separate agents handle the interactions across these separate channels.</p>

<p>However, this isn&#39;t to say that multichannel capability isn&#39;t useful. Samsung, for example, provides help for inquiry resolution across a variety of channels, including call centers, online and offline messaging, social media, and community support.</p>

<h3>Multi Vs. Omnichannel Contact Center</h3>

<p>Having a multichannel contact center means that your support function is now available across several channels. Omnichannel, on the other hand, refers to a consistent experience across all of these channels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although multichannel appears to require less time and commitment, omnichannel provides more benefits. An omnichannel contact center runs across several platforms with customer data continuity. Multichannel implies that agents specialize in a specific channel and handle that particular channel only&#39;s interactions independently.</p>

<h3>Omni Vs. Multichannel Marketing</h3>

<p>The goal of multichannel strategies is to deliver a single message across multiple channels. You may promote a certain promo code on a social media account to entice people to buy a product or service using the promo code.</p>

<p>An omnichannel marketing strategy aims to engage users by delivering various sorts of information across several channels. A person may receive an email advertising a new product while also getting a promo code for the same product on Instagram.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In short, multichannel vs.&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/features/omnichannel-messaging/">omnichannel messaging</a> can be broken down into these points:</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Multichannel is the old way; omnichannel is the new way</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Multichannel requires one main message; omnichannel marketing has multiple&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Multichannel implies one-on-one interaction; omnichannel marketing is more personalized</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h3>Omni Vs. Multichannel eCommerce</h3>

<p>Both omnichannel and multichannel&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/industries/ecommerce/">eCommerce</a> entail engaging customers across numerous channels throughout the customer experience. Multichannel emphasizes the channel itself, whereas omnichannel focuses on the customer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since each channel is managed separately, with its own strategy, performance metrics, and unique customer experience, a multichannel approach typically reinforces current channel silos. All consumer interactions are integrated with omnichannel eCommerce, offering a smooth experience despite how and where they interact with your company.</p>

<h3>Omni Vs. Multichannel Marketing for Retail</h3>

<p>How brick-and-mortar stores and a company&#39;s online activities operate together is known as&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/omnichannel-retailing/">omnichannel retailing</a>. A multichannel retail strategy involves a company that has both physical and online stores, but its activities are divided into various channels rather than being integrated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Multichannel retailing sends the same or unrelated material to a consumer across several channels, whereas omnichannel retail also builds on interactions across multiple channels to progress the customer journey at every touchpoint.</p>

<h3>Multichannel Vs. Omnichannel Marketing for Banking</h3>

<p>Omnichannel banking ensures that customers can access several integrated support and service channels and seamlessly migrate between them to&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/industries/financial-services/">fulfill their financial needs</a>. These include voice and phone calls, SMS, live chat, email, and so on.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Customers can access banking services through a variety of channels, including ATMs, call centers, mobile banking, and more. However, since these are not designed to provide a seamless experience, the services may not perform consistently across the channels.</p>

<p>Each of these channels offers a variety of services, some of which may overlap. Each channel, on the other hand, functions independently from the others. This strategy is multichannel.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Multi Vs. Omni: Which Should You Choose?</h2>

<p>It&rsquo;s fair to say that both approaches have their benefits, even though omnichannel is ahead of the game. In any case, choosing the right strategy essentially depends on your business needs.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>When to Choose Multiple Channels</h3>

<p>If you happen to be a bit short on resources and prefer not to invest in an omnichannel solution, multichannel is the next best thing. Implementing an omnichannel approach involves a great deal of work. That being said, going for multichannel marketing might be easier and can still yield pretty decent results.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The main advantage of multichannel is that it tends to be flexible since each channel works separately. Cooperation isn&rsquo;t as vital in this case, which means those responsible for each channel can focus on their own platform.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Be that as it may, multichannel isn&rsquo;t as cheap as it may seem. You&rsquo;ll still need to invest in the right infrastructure to be able to scale your operations. Marketing automation is an integral part of the strategy as it enables growth without compromising on quality.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>When to Choose Omnichannel Marketing</h3>

<p>Omnichannel is an excellent choice for businesses of any size&mdash;if done correctly. Investing in and maintaining an omnichannel strategy is known to be resource-intensive. But if you have the resources to spare, the payoff is worth it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This communication approach is proven to bring exceptional outcomes in terms of conversions, customer retention, brand loyalty&mdash;the list goes on. With a solid strategy in place, you can form a unified platform where you guide prospects through the buying process and turn them into frequent customers.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to Implement Successful Omnichannel Strategies</h2>

<p>As mentioned above, implementing an omnichannel solution involves relatively more work and resources. But it&rsquo;s no less a fruitful path to venture down. Taking a few key measures will help you maximize the payoff.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Invest in the Right Solutions</h3>

<p>To implement a solid omnichannel strategy, your marketing and sales teams need to have the right tools at their disposal. Consider investing in sales, communication, and CRM systems that are integrated and user-friendly.</p>

<p>The platforms you choose should be adaptable to customers&rsquo; needs and the contextual aspects of their interactions. Developing an omnichannel approach also involves opting for advanced software that can streamline your workflows.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You&rsquo;ll want to invest in a contact center as well as a customer engagement solution that can allow you to offer omnichannel support and service. This helps in guaranteeing customer satisfaction. Aim for a&nbsp;<a href="https://dexatel.com/blog/cloud-contact-center-provider">cloud contact center</a> that supports digital interactions in addition to inbound and outbound calls. Certain platforms also feature internal messaging, CRM integrations, skill-based routing, and AI-powered smart routing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Know Your Audience</h3>

<p>Understanding your audience is essential for a successful omnichannel strategy. Know what they want, what they expect, and what their pain points are to figure out how you can help them throughout their customer journey.</p>

<p>You&rsquo;ll also want to find out which channels they prefer to tailor your messaging and provide personalized customer experiences. Using a customer persona can help you understand your audience better. Make use of the information about customer preferences you extract from data and analytics, as well as customer feedback and social listening, to make data-driven decisions for your business.</p>

<h3>Leverage Insights and Prioritize Data Security</h3>

<p>The success of an omnichannel strategy largely depends on the insights you leverage from various systems. Storing and sharing data securely and effectively is key to providing a smooth and consistent customer experience. By integrating data from inventory management, CRM, and other systems, you can take the right steps to enhance your campaigns and guarantee a personalized and seamless customer journey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And speaking of customer data, you must take all the necessary security measures. Customers trust you by sharing their personal details with you, so it&#39;s only fair that you respect their privacy by adhering to data protection principles.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Reorganize Your Structure</h3>

<p>Adopting omnichannel strategies involves effective communication and cooperation between sales, marketing, warehousing, development, and customer service teams. This means rethinking the organizational structure of your business. You&rsquo;ll also need to equip your teams with the tools and technology needed to facilitate cross-department workflows.</p>

An omnichannel vs. multichannel approach refers to using digital and traditional methods to communicate with customers. Here's how to differentiate them. 

Dexatel Blog

The Ultimate Omnichannel Vs. Multichannel Comparison Guide