I was surprised to find this, as I was browsing a site the other day. I was looking for some help on PHP and came across this ad for SQL Server 2008.
“Hardness the power of the data explosion!” reads the ad. Followed by a prompt to text ‘SQL’ to 88882 for a free mobile screensaver.
Standard rates apply, it says.
Pretty neat as I was browsing on a US-centric site. So the ad-engine had, I assume, geolocated me and severed me a UK ad. 88882 looks like a UK shortcode.
I wonder how many people have got their handset out whilst browsing to do this. I’d genuinely be interested in the stats. I also wonder how Microsoft have deployed this campaign. What happens? Do I get a download link back? From what site?
Let’s find out.
I’ve just sent SQL to that shortcode.
Ah hah.
I clicked the SQL08.mobi link…
I am now the proud owner of an SQL screensaver:
Tah dah.
A well executed mobile advertising delivery system. If it was me running it, I’d have sent the user to a mobile web site at sql08.mobi — with a bit of info about the software and the like, but with a big fat ‘download your screensaver here’ link as well.
Glad you liked it! It's always tempting to put more messaging in front of people but sometimes less is more 😉
By the way, all feedback welcome!
Glad you liked it! It's always tempting to put more messaging in front of people but sometimes less is more 😉
By the way, all feedback welcome: matthew.dunstan@microsoft.com
We were initially surprised at response rates online.
Why would someone send a text when they could just click?
We're not sending mobile specific content, just information with mobile site links.
People do respond though, in droves.
We were initially surprised at response rates online.
Why would someone send a text when they could just click?
We're not sending mobile specific content, just information with mobile site links.
People do respond though, in droves.
We were initially surprised at response rates online.
Why would someone send a text when they could just click?
We're not sending mobile specific content, just information with mobile site links.
People do respond though, in droves.