Featured business: Mobile VIP Rewards
Founders: Kevin Young, Carrie Richards, Dean Smythia

People like being mobile, or at least having the option of being mobile when they so choose and still being in communication. Humans’ level of mobility will most likely keep on increasing from here; mobile devices have the ability to deliver an ever growing amount of information. (btw, Google “blackberry” sometime. It’s not giving you jelly recipes these days.)

So naturally, if there’s a way to reach people, businesses want to use it to promote themselves.

Mobile VIP Rewards formed this year to bring Murfreesboro businesses and organizations the ability to send text messages to a list of subscribers who want to receive information from them. Many will offer discounts and special offers to their subscribers; The Murfreesboro Pulse has begun using the service to send out updates on concerts, events and other cool happenings within the magazine’s coverage.

Mobile VIP Rewards founders say that while spam is one of the huge downfalls and annoyances of e-mail. (Google “Blackberry,” just don’t give out your e-mail or you may get bombarded with spam—say that sentence to someone just three decades ago, and they’d think you were speaking alien talk.)

At any rate, text message marketing, through the TextMeUSA network anyway, is set up to give the subscribers control of what they receive.

“We do not resell any information. It’s coded so that we don’t even see the phone numbers,” said Smythia.

The only way to subscribe to a list is to actually be in possession of the phone signing up. Users can unsubscribe from the lists by simply replying “stop” to a message, and they’re immediately removed.

Murfreesboro Pulse: Why did you open your business?
Kevin: I’ve been in the service industry for a long time. I love going out and dealing with people. I wanted to not only help local businesses, but I also wanted to help consumers save financially and find deals.

MP: What businesses/people were an inspiration for you?
Kevin: tcdealz.com (based in Minnesota), as well as other fellow members of the TextMeUSA network; the membership includes atldealz.com, instantconnection.com, mymassblast.com, etc.

MP: What challenges have you overcome in starting and growing your business?
Carrie: Gaining the trust of business owners, and getting them to understand how marketing is going.
Dean: Getting the proper literature together to show people the power of what we’re doing.

MP: What’s your favorite part about your job.
K: Helping people; getting people to spend money locally that will actually create jobs.
C: Taking the community into a whole new level of technology is awesome.
D: We’re not just retail-based. We can help churches, non-profits.

MP: What advice do you have for people starting a small business?
K: Don’t pay for something you’re not going to use.
Go with a reputable company for your text marketing needs.
The interaction between company and consumer should be like family.
Don’t overmarket to your clients.
Businesses need to understand that if they give a little, they have potential to gain a lot.
Don’t lump all of your clients together.

MP: Who are some of your top clients?
D: Revolver has an exclusive 3-month deal to be the only bar to use the service.
C: Raintree Salon and Dayspa, Blue Agave, Coach Michael Burt

MP: How are you getting the word out about your business?
C: Footwork; we’ve pounded the pavement for months.
K: The Pulse (each edition of The Pulse will now include some of the deals offered by clients of Mobile VIP marketing; read The Pulse and save locally!)
D: Coach Burt’s radio show

MP: What else do you want the community to know about Mobile VIP Rewards?
K: People can visit our website (mobileviprewards.com) and as soon as they sign up, go through all of the businesses we have and select who they want to get deals from.

You don’t have to find a coupon, you don’t have to clip the coupon, you don’t have to remember the coupon.
We’re a green marketing company.
We don’t just sell you on a brilliant idea to promote your business and leave it in your lap, we help you implement it and hold your hand the whole way.

For more information on using text message marketing with a Murfreesboro company, visit mobileviprewards.com or call (615) 485-0433.

And remember, to subscribe to The Pulse‘s list, text “pulse” to 86568, and get a free game of bowling at Lanes, Trains and Automobiles just for joining.