Full Article

Of course, to capture people’s cell numbers, you need some way to get their attention. “I tell businesses to think about the resources they already have at their disposal,” said Jed Alpert, the founder of Mobile Commons. “If you’re a restaurant, you have tabletops. If you have a highly trafficked Web site, or are running billboards or radio spots, those are all good places to let people know about your texting campaign.”

John Mullin, founder of the New York interactive agency On the Go Mobile + Media, designed a program for the Army in which the initial invitation to text in appeared as part of its ads in digital jukeboxes in bars. Another campaign considered by a national steakhouse chain would have advertised text coupons for blooming onions in its “stadium” ads inside an EA Sports video game.

The Shedd Aquarium, in Chicago, uses a combination of on-site signs, end-of-aisle displays at local CVS stores with Coca-Cola as co-sponsor, and TV advertising. “We even built in a control group,” said Jay Geneske, assistant director of marketing. “For the promotion running on three local TV stations, we just gave out our phone number and Web site. But on the Fox affiliate we gave out our short code and asked people to text in to win. The response to the Fox ad was more than the other three combined.”

Free stuff also helps. Emitations, an online retailer of costume jewelry, is about to start a texting campaign promoting a new product line inspired by the “Twilight” vampire-themed book and movie series. Users who text in to register will receive regular alerts about new releases and sales on products tied to their favorite characters. Just for taking part, though, they’ll receive a sampler modeled on the gift bags handed out at Hollywood award dinners.

This Week’s Netbook Contest Winners

Mobile Commons provides many ways for citizens to contact their local representatives in the Senate and Congress, as well as the President of the United States.

With Mobile Commons, calls can be initiated via web interface, SMS, or simply by dialing 866-581-7519

Try the demo now.

Advocacy customers of the Mobile Commons Platform use their software to generate thousands of phone calls to congressional representatives all around the country.

Using mapping data from census.gov, Mobile Commons built an open-source legislative district lookup tool available at http://congress.mcommons.com.  Combining this with other government data sources, they maintain an up-to-date address book of almost 20,000 capital and district offices for all federal and state representatives.

Congratulations to FixMyCityDC, they also won the Twilio for Government Contest.

Read the full article on Twilio’s Blog.