We wanted to point your way to a great post over at MarketingProfs, Four Ways to Use Mobile at Your Next Tradeshow Booth. Our favorite tip?

2. Allow attendees to use their own devices to interact with your content

What better way to get people engaged with your content and your offering than by enabling them to use their own smartphones and tablets to interact directly with your booth?

Incorporate more traditional mobile marketing tactics, such as polls or text-to-win contests, with a custom-branded app. Give your booth a unique check-in so that attendees can share their experience via social media. Stay active on social media yourself by monitoring event hashtags on Twitter, for example, or even creating one of your own.

Find all the tips at MarketingProfs. Visit Club Texting to learn more about text message marketing for trade shows.

If you're a regular user of the Club Texting APIs we've got a quick holiday gift for you. A few weeks ago we added the ability to pay for credit purchases and Keyword rentals via API using a credit card that you have stored in your Club Texting account. At the time we posted some PHP samples, but we now have JSON & XML samples for five other languages. Check it out:

C#
Java
Perl
PHP
Python
Ruby

Looking for documentation about using stored credit cards? Check the REST API documentation.

QR Codes are an interesting technology. Some people hate them. Some people swear by them. We're not going to look at the their faults or positives today - instead we wanted to turn your attention to an interesting take on their long-term prospects over at Mobile Marketer - Are marketers killing consumer enthusiasm for QR codes?

Marketers are at various stages in the adoption of QR codes as part of their ongoing marketing efforts. However, simply linking to a video or mobile page may damage consumer enthusiasm and dampen their willingness to engage.

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Sure-fire ways to hamper the success of a mobile campaign include not featuring simple instructions around how to scan the code or featuring incomplete or unclear calls to action.

Additionally, placing mobile bar codes on collateral or signs that are not in a suitable location – such as a billboard that is far away from the sidewalk, on TV for 2 seconds, next to a busy road where it would be dangerous to stop to scan or a subway station with no network access – will prove to be ineffective.

Another way to hamper the success of a QR code campaign is delivering content that is not valuable to the consumer and directing them to a page that is not mobile optimized.

For some tips on how to effectively use QR codes, head over to our sister brand's blog, Ez Texting.

We recently released a commonly requested feature - alternate autoreplies for subsequent Keyword opt-ins. If you've been waiting for this feature, check it out now. If that first sentence confused you, allow us to explain.

When someone texts your keyword to our short code we send the auto-reply that you've setup and we add them to your contact list. But...what happens if they text your Keyword again? Whenever someone texts your Keyword the carriers and the Mobile Marketing association require that we send an automatic response. Going forward you can now customize those subsequent responses. So how does it work?

We've been powering text message marketing campaigns since 2006, and in that time we've gone through more than a few websites. Today we're launching a long overdue redesign. You can check it out now. We wanted to make it easier for you to find the wealth of content that at times took multiple clicks to get to.

To celebrate the launch of our new website we've tripled the number of free credits you can get each time you refer a friend to Club Texting. Until August 31st, for every new client you refer, we'll load your account with 600 message credits. Once you've logged into your account, just click Refer A Friend and we'll handles the rest: from importing contacts from popular email services (Gmail, Yahoo, Etc.) to pre-written tweets.

Want to learn more? Click for more details about the referral program.

For years we've offered easy to use HTTP APIs at Club Texting. This week we complimented those APIs with new REST APIs. We offer JSON/XML based REST APIs for nearly all core Club Texting functions. Multiple-recipientsending is only available via the REST API.

Check out the documentation now. PHP code samples are already available.

If you haven't logged into your Club Texting in the past few weeks we urge you to log in and check out our new reporting tools. They are available in the Advanced Features section of the menu inside your account.

What sort of tools are available? Look for trends in your incoming and outgoing messages. See when you added contacts and discover how they joined your contact list. Looks for short term and long term trends and even track spikes in opt-outs (we know they happen from time to time - knowing when they occured is the first step to making sure you don't see a spike again).

If you have a BlackBerry phone and want to use your Club Texting account when you're away from a computer we've got an App just for you: The Club Texting App. If you don't have a BlackBerry, or if you just want to send a quick message you can always use our Send From Phone Feature.

Check it out at the BlackBerry App World on the web or on your BlackBerry smartphone!

We're always trying to make Club Texting as easy to use as possible - and having seen smartphone usage explode over the last couple of years we're glad to announce a new mobile-optimized version of Club Texting. How does it work? Very simple - if you're using a smartphone (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, etc.) and you visit app.clubtexting.com we'll automatically redirect you to the mobile-optimized version of Club Texting.

Once you login to your account you can use many of our most popular features - like sending messages, checking replies, and even buying credits if you're running low. Check it out now @ app.clubtexting.com. If you prefer to use the full version of Club Texting on your mobile phone just click Full Site and we'll redirect you back to the traditional version of Club Texting.

Last week we launched our referral program. It's pretty simple, refer a friend to Club Texting using our refer-a-friend tool and as soon as they make a purchase we'll add 200 credits to your account. You can easily import contacts from popular webmail services like Gmail, Yahoo and others. We'll track everything automatically.

You can watch your referrals as they move from invited to signed up to having made a purchase in a table on the refer-a-friend page inside your account.

The best part? You can invite as many friends as you want, which means you can a lot of credits.

Head over to Club Texting to learn more or login now to get started.

We've never truly 'got' mobile barcodes, but we recognize that some consumers have embraced them as a form of mobile marketing. They certainly have their advantages, but they continue to face challenges. Consider TheNextWeb's recent post, 'Mobile Barcodes: The Challenges Ahead'

While the use of mobile bar codes has been mainstream in Asian countries like Japan, it is not until last year that we’ve witnessed their adoption in U.S. and Europe by brands in order to provide holistic experiences to their customers, blurring the line between the online and the offline world.

...

There is a long list of brands experimenting with mobile codes, but there is also a list of challenges they have to face in order to interact with customers in innovative and effective ways.

Head over to TheNextWeb to read about challenges for further adoption including fragmentation, 'Coupon Madness,' and Mobile payments.

We knew that eBay has had some success with mobile sales but their 2010 numbers are absolutely incredible:

eBay has announced that global mobile sales generated nearly $2 billion in 2010, up from $600 million in 2009. To be clear, we’re not talking revenues here but gross merchandise volume. Nevertheless, a clear sign that mobile ecommerce has reached a tipping point.

eBay earlier announced that global sales were up 166 percent to $230 million from Nov. 25 to Dec. 25 from the same period last year, so the holiday season was a clear catalyst for much of that growth.

The ecommerce company says its mobile apps, which give users access to eBay’s global marketplace on the go, have been downloaded more than 30 million times in eight languages, and in over 190 countries.

Read more at TechCrunch.

Maybe not magic, but after playing with Visual Lens on an iPhone we're absolutely floored (which seems to be the common reaction):

If you haven’t seen it already, Word Lens is a new iPhone app that instantly translates Spanish text into English and vice versa, via the medium of augmented reality.

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When I first wrote about Word Lens after it had been released on Friday by Quest Visual, the above YouTube clip had attracted just over 7,000 hits. Three days later more than 2.1 million people have seen it.

The app is getting plenty of attention from the press, and for good reason. It’s fantastically cool, and it’s a good illustration of the way augmented reality is starting to move away from marketing gimmick to useful tool.

Head over to Forbes to watch the video now, and if you have an iPhone, you probably want to download the app.

Five years ago when we built Club Texting to bring text messaging services to the nightlife industry. Since then we've grown to support tens of thousands of clients in every industry imaginable. If you're thinking about launching your business or group's first text message marketing campaign we can help. Check out some of the popular uses of Club Texting:

Real Estate - Generate leads faster and more cost efficiently with (SMS) text messaging for real estate.

Retail - The Club Texting (SMS) text messaging software makes it easy to collect cell phone numbers and send promotional text messages to your retail customers.  We offer customized solutions for car dealerships, golf courses, salons & spas, sports leagues, and theaters.

Magazines  Our cell phone advertising and mobile marketing programs for magazines and publishing allow your readers to respond to ads and articles with their mobile phone.

Radio  We offer text messaging and mobile marketing programs for radio that allow you to interact with your listeners. Take song requests, poll your listeners and more.

Television  - Offer your viewers interactive applications to compliment their viewing experience with our text messaging promotions for television.

Colleges, Universities, & Schools  Our (SMS) text messaging notification system for colleges, universities, and schools allows you to quickly get information to your students.

Social, Political & Non-Profit Groups - Use the power of (SMS) text messaging to rally supporters, organize meetups, and increase the bonds of community. If you work for a political organization or candidate, please visit our text messaging solutions for political campaigns section.

Churches, Temples, & Congregations  - Our (SMS) text messaging software is the perfect communications solution for faith-based institutions. We can help foster a sense of community with (SMS) text messaging for churches, temples, and other congregations.

Direct Mail & Out-Of-Home - Customized SMS text messaging solutions for direct mail and out-of-home advertising firms.

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Don't see your type of business or group on the list? Don't worry - we have clients in too many industries to count. See what some of our clients are saying about us to get a better idea of what we can do for you.

Our Facebook signup widget is one of our most popular features - but we also know that adding it to your Facebook Page can be a bit confusing. Had trouble adding the widget in the past? Haven't tried adding a signup tab to your Facebook Page yet? Then check out our new step-by-step guide to adding the Facebook signup widget. 

For all of those retailers who still send customers coupons via email or hand out reward vouchers there’s an easier way to gain customer loyalty: SMS messages. Instead of having customers print out page-sized coupons and present them all crumpled up at the register, with mobile coupons customers simply receive a notification which contains a coupon link and present it to the cashier.

“This is easier for the consumer and for the company as well, which now has less need to print and distribute expensive catalogs. The conclusion is simple – mobility is a key to the future success of loyalty programs.”

To read the entire article, click here.

Click here to learn more about mobile coupons at Club Texting.

Click here to learn about text message marketing solutions for retailers at Club Texting.

Further reason and proof that adopting mobile into your marketing mix is essential!

Within the next year, targeted mobile offerings are going to prove to be essential components of integrated marketing campaigns for both B2B and B2C companies. Used creatively and with respect for consumers’ preferences, mobile is a valuable tool for shaping the compelling customer experiences necessary today to drive brand loyalty and business value. One imperative we face as marketers as we connect Mobile to our mix – let’s not spam like we did with email or the channel could prove less relevant than promised.

Read on @ Forbes Blog.

A great way to implement text messaging in disaster relief efforts:

The power of the mobile phone as the technology tool of choice became clear in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. SMS text messaging was used extensively by a variety of groups not only to deliver first-response emergency aid to people trapped in the rubble or with critical medical conditions but also to share information about shelter, food supplies and general sanitation advice.

Read the full article @ The Guardian. 

This isn't the first time that text messages have been used in disaster and recovery efforts. After tornadoes destroyed the community of Greenburg, Kansas, the local LSI Corporation teamed up with Club Texting to set up a text message communication system. 

Within three hours of handing out the first flyer, 47 people had signed up for the Club Texting-powered service. A week later that number had reached 177, and subscribers continue to join at a rate of 10 per day.

Read the entire case study at Club Texting. 

George DiGuido recently posted an interesting article at iMedia Connect exploring where email marketing is going/changing this year:
 

As we close the first quarter of 2010 it is a good time to reflect on where the year is headed and where we stand with all of those New Year’s resolutions made in January.  Marketing plans are well underway and budgets are being used to help drive conversion.  Beyond the tried and true email strategies, what more can be done to increase successes moving forward?  What’s next for email marketing in 2010?

There has been a lot of discussion around social media and mobile marketing and how the three channels work together in a marketing mix.  Leveraging these channels in concert can significantly impact the success of your customer acquisition, retention and loyalty programs and drive greater ROI across the board.

You should read the entire piece, but here are his takeaways:

We will see companies continue traditional channels like email to continue to drive promotions and brand awareness.

Marketers will start to become more relevant in their marketing efforts to consumers.  When a customer tells you what they want, you have to listen and show that you are listening.

Push SMS messaging from major brands will make a strong push in the second half of 2010.  Retailers will be the first to lead the charge.
 

Email will survive it’s for told death and prove to be a strong medium for promotion and retention efforts.

Head over to iMedia Connection to read the entire article.

Want to learn everything there is to know about text message marketing in less than five minutes? Our new getting started video is just what you're looking for. Watch it now, then try out Club Texting for free.