Get the 'smessage'?

Derived from the words SMS and message, smessage is a campaign creation tool that uses SMS as an information request mechanism, and lets you create online campaigns instantly from anywhere in the world.

Says Johann Swanepoel, Technical Director at Amorphous: "smessage turns the idea of spam on its head and provides a measurable thread between above-the-line, online and handset media. Basically, it turns marketing from an art into a science, enabling your marketing to become truly measurable and interactively accountable."

With the smessage suite there are three campaign options - Hook, Line and Sinker. Hook offers users a free 14 day trial with one keyword, Line offers limitless keywords with a full reporting suite and campaign freedom, and Sinker offers a custom designed campaign to suit customer's requirements.

So, how does it work?

"Well, consumers will see your smessage campaign advertised and will have to SMS your campaign keyword and their email address to the smessage telephone number displayed. From there, the information you want them to receive will be sent to their inboxes from the smessage server. Simultaneously, an SMS confirming this email will be sent to the consumer, informing them that the information they requested is waiting for them in their inbox."

Although this may sound complicated, the process is actually quite simple. By using the downloadable help documentation, you are taken through the campaign creation process step by step and you are provided with all the data you need. You just need to register.

According to Swanepoel, using the smessage campaign suite holds various business benefits.

"First of all, smessage can transform your above-the-line marketing campaigns into direct marketing campaigns with punch and measurability. Campaigns can also be initiated and activated in under 24 hours, you can manage all your campaigns online via the online campaign manager, and the real time reporting function lets you track and tweak campaigns yourself.

"In addition, as smessage is request-based marketing, you can talk with your customers instead of at them, so differentiating your marketing positioning via convenient interactivity. Thus, all and all this tool will benefit your marketing campaign and not only let you measure the success, but also leave you with qualified leads."