--- title: How 140 Characters Can Improve Your Business description: How 140 Characters Can Improve Your Business image: https://blog.onefire.com/hs-fs/file-3529205309-jpg/blog-files/9420651268_ddf4eff61d_z.jpg --- [![ONEFIRE](https://blog.onefire.com/hubfs/ONEFIRE_March2019%20Theme/img/ONEFIRE_Logo.png)](https://onefire.com/) - [Services](https://onefire.com/services) - Industries - [MSP / IT](https://onefire.com/industries/technology/) - [Insurance](https://onefire.com/industries/insurance/) - [Manufacturing](https://onefire.com/industries/manufacturing) - [EOS](https://onefire.com/eos) - [About](https://onefire.com/meet-onefire/) - [Team](https://onefire.com/meet-onefire/) - [Careers](https://onefire.com/careers/) - [Resources](https://blog.onefire.com) - [Blog](https://blog.onefire.com) - [Webinars](https://onefire.com/webinars) - [HubSpot](https://onefire.com/hubspot) - [Contact Us](https://onefire.com/contact/) - [Services](https://onefire.com/services) - Industries - [MSP / IT](https://onefire.com/industries/technology/) - [Insurance](https://onefire.com/industries/insurance/) - [Manufacturing](https://onefire.com/industries/manufacturing) - [EOS](https://onefire.com/eos) - [About](https://onefire.com/meet-onefire/) - [Team](https://onefire.com/meet-onefire/) - [Careers](https://onefire.com/careers/) - [Resources](https://blog.onefire.com) - [Blog](https://blog.onefire.com) - [Webinars](https://onefire.com/webinars) - [HubSpot](https://onefire.com/hubspot) - [Contact Us](https://onefire.com/contact/) # ONEFIRE Blog # How 140 Characters Can Improve Your Business Posted by [Mark Hemmer](https://blog.onefire.com/archive/author/mark-hemmer) on Feb 24, 2015 12:00:39 AM  |  ![Mark Hemmer](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/f82285816f9bbf11cab7b2960526707f) 3 minute read   [![Jim Fischer/Flickr CC](https://blog.onefire.com/hs-fs/file-3529205309-jpg/blog-files/9420651268_ddf4eff61d_z.jpg?width=640&height=425&name=9420651268_ddf4eff61d_z.jpg)](https://blog.onefire.com/hs-fs/file-3529205309-jpg/blog-files/9420651268_ddf4eff61d_z.jpg?hsLang=en) Jim Fischer/Flickr CC Sure, 140 new employees with colorful personalities would be great! But the 'characters' in question here, are those i a text message. "OMG," you might (but probably wouldn't) exclaim, "texting is just a bunch of incoherent acronyms and emojis! It's for the kids!" Your point is understandable. However: Texting gets a bad rap. With all the ‘ROFLs’ and the ‘YOLOs,’ it’s easy to see texting as something without serious application. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is this: texting may be one of the most important tools your business (and your competition) is not yet utilizing. With younger smartphone [users sending over 2,000 texts per month](http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-number-of-texts-sent-2013-3) and over 2.2 trillion texts sent globally each year, it’s clear that texting is already pervasive and is going to continue to grow as a means of communication. Here are a few ways SMS texting can make your life easier and give you an edge in the marketplace: ## **SMS Blasts:** One of the most basic texting uses for business, SMS Blasts allow you to reach entire distribution lists instantly, with urgent or up-to-the-minute news. If you’re a school or university and need to reach the student body or parents efficiently, this is the way to do it. Think about a school closing for a snow day. SMS Blasts deliver the info directly and quickly. It’s a big upgrade over asking such a large group of people to seek out the information themselves. ## **Mobile Keywords:** If you run a restaurant and need an easy way to boost walk-in traffic, why not try a mobile coupon? Unlike a paper version, a mobile coupon can be called up on a smartphone instantly and the customer doesn’t have to worry about where the physical coupon is. And, as a bonus, you’re saving the environment (if you like nature and things)! With Mobile Keywords, you can build a database and see immediate results. ## **Text-to-Screen:** The term ‘game changer’ is thrown around too flippantly sometimes. Having a giant screen where event attendees can engage with you and your business fits the bill. With Text-to-Screen capabilities, you can reach a gigantic audience all at once. That same audience can have an ongoing conversation about the event they’re attending. It’s an undeniably attention-grabbing way to use texting to your advantage. ## **Mobile Voting:** Another deft way to collect mobile numbers while gaining valuable feedback is to set-up mobile voting. On a large scale, this can be done like American Idol. On a smaller scale, it can be done to test response to new products or to host a fun poll that’s intended to engage an audience and build a database. ## **Appointment Reminders:** This feature is somewhat self-explanatory, but incredibly valuable as a business solution. If you’re a dentist office, for example, being able to send an appointment reminder text can save your clients from missing appointments and keep your schedule running smoothly. ## **Advanced Scheduling:** You can also set-up SMS texting so that messages send at a specific time. This is a great way to get last minute information to event-goers or to make sure you keep up with marketing your promotions. If you don’t already use SMS texting for your business, you are leaving a lot of marketing and organization options on the table. Texting is a classic case of ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’. All the OMGs, LOLs, and ☺s are here to stay. Consider how you can use it to your advantage. It's the perfect way to [build a database](http://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business) and leverage a medium that your audience wants to engage you on. We offer our customers solutions for text messaging through OneFire SMS. [Learn more about how it can help your company.](http://onefire.com/onefire-sms/) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1765894/2da09600-0eff-4ecb-ac4d-32f1520bedfa.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1765894/2da09600-0eff-4ecb-ac4d-32f1520bedfa) Topics: [Texting](https://blog.onefire.com/archive/tag/texting), [SMS](https://blog.onefire.com/archive/tag/sms), [Strategy](https://blog.onefire.com/archive/tag/strategy), [Industry Trends](https://blog.onefire.com/archive/tag/industry-trends), [Text Messaging](https://blog.onefire.com/archive/tag/text-messaging) [![ONEFIRE, Inc.](https://blog.onefire.com/hubfs/ONEFIRE_Logo.png "ONEFIRE, Inc.")](https://onefire.com/) #### ADDITIONAL LINKS - [Careers at ONEFIRE](https://onefire.com/careers/) - [Grow Up Podcast](https://onefire.com/growup/) - [Privacy Policy](https://onefire.com/privacy/) [![HubSpot Platinum Solutions Partner Badge](https://blog.onefire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/img/platinum-horizontal-color.png?width=600&height=206&name=platinum-horizontal-color.png)](https://hubspot.com/?__hstc=180670712.366b658ce0f7498725a286c1816213d0.1671008764530.1671721326890.1672051973331.3&__hssc=180670712.1.1672051973331&__hsfp=3382678588) [![We Run On EOS](https://blog.onefire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/img/E_web-300x198.png?width=136&height=90&name=E_web-300x198.png)](https://www.eosworldwide.com/what-is-eos) ©2026 ONEFIRE, Inc. | All Rights Reserved - - -