That strategy has worked well for them. The team Kassabov has assembled has vaulted Protexting from the ranks of simple text messaging marketers into the top tier of the industry. Today they offer not just messages delivered directly to cell phones, but a range of services that complement the text messages and leverage the connection to increase customer interest and loyalty.
“We’ve gone from just a simple text message distribution tool, to a text message marketing tool, to today, more complete interactions and more complete user experiences,” he says.“We can do mobile voting, tabulating the votes on a Jumbotron in real-time—connecting the offline with the online worlds. We can do automated out-responders, again, based on user feedback. We have full-blown modules and systems now.” For one, a Loyalty Program module sends out invitations and signs up customers who are encouraged to check in periodically, using any Internet-connected device. The system tracks and counts the check-ins and, when a threshold is reached, automatically sends out a reward.
Youth ministries have found text messaging a particularly good way to keep their flocks together, and several youth ministry publications have singled out Protexting as their No. 1 provider of group texting services. Nonprofits can use the Protexting programs to not only spread the word about what they’re doing, but even to solicit and collect pledges of support. For governments and those who want to be in government, Protexting offers ways of reaching constituents while gauging the interest the public has for what they want to offer. Restaurants use Protexting to advertise specials and events alike, while their customers can use Protexting tools to rate the restaurant with a star system, or to comment on the ambience, the service, and, of course, the food. Then those comments are forwarded to the restaurateurs, who can use the feedback to refine their offerings and to reply directly.
“Protexting,” he says with evident pride, “has now gone to an elite group of competitors, generally offering more functionality, and a better, easier to use interface. It has the very updated feel of a modern platform.”