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Virtual Mobile numbers to receive texts online

Virtual mobile numbers receive texts online.  You’ll hear them described as 2 way SMS, mobile to PC, a longnumber or even an MSISDN but it’s all just the same thing: a way for your customer to send a text to you.

They’re dead easy to use and fast to set up.

A virtual mobile number routes text messages so you receive them online and into textburst.  It’s 11 digits long and looks just like a standard mobile number 07123456789.  It routes SMS from your customers mobile through the networks and direct to your textburst account to download, analyse and respond to.

It’s a pretty tasty bit of kit for any mobile marketer.

You can use it to set up inbound text marketing campaigns and listen to what your customer’s got to say.

 Why do I need a virtual mobile number?

  1. So people can text into it and sign up for special offers.
  2. Maybe you’ve sent an appointment reminder out to me. I can’t actually make the appointment. How quick would it be if I could just hit reply and text you so to save you a bit of time and money?
  3. A text to confirm delivery tomorrow afternoon?  I’m still not available, and a simple text back to say so and confirm when I will be, would be neat.
  4. A text vote – the fastest way to get a vote in and easily counted.
  5. Request for customer service feedback by SMS.
  6. Competitions.

OK there’s a lot more too but you get the picture. If you can think of any suitably astounding uses, I might even send you a beautiful mediaburst mug (they’re pretty hot property).

If you really want to engage and help your customers, it’s got to be a two way conversation.Virtual mobile numbers let your audience text you within seconds. They can tell you what they want right now.

There’s some cool ideas here of how you can use virtual mobiles to build an SMS marketing database of your customers numbers.

How can I set one up?

If you’re interested in finding out more about virtual mobile numbers and how they can help you, then drop me a line.  If you’d like to get one set up on your account I can sort it out for you too.