Whether you’re a CMO looking to adopt mobile into your media mix or a local business owner interested in text message marketing, educating yourself on the mobile channel remains a critical component to your success. Likewise, the consumer must also be well-informed of the mobile marketing process. Regulations and compliance have been set forth by the Mobile Marketing Association in order to protect consumers, businesses, and the industry as a whole. Cellghost Mobile observes and abides by these best practices to ensure that our clients and their customers engage in a positive mobile experience.

Frequently Asked Questions-

What is your service?
Cellghost Media is a mobile marketing company that provides brands, businesses or individuals the ability to launch mobile marketing campaigns.

What is a shortcode?
Shortcodes are 5-6 common numbers that allow our platform to interact with all cell phone carriers. They are shorter easier to remember when compared to traditional 10 digit phone numbers. Shortcodes are regulated through the US Common Shortcode Administration.

What is a keyword?
Keywords are used to identify a particular campaign on a given shortcode. Users will text a keyword to a shortcode to participate in a campaign. An example of a keyword would be the word, Cellghost – Ex: Text the word “CELLGHOST” to 41513.

What wireless carriers do you support?
Cellghost reaches an audience worldwide through 91 different carriers, including all major U.S. carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Alltel, Virgin Mobile, Nextel, and Boost, to name a few.

How is text message marketing regulated?
The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) regulates all guidelines for Mobile Marketing. Cellghost Mobile is a proud supporter of the MMA, and all of our campaigns are compliant with MMA standards.

What is an SMS text message?
A message sent via a Short Message Service. 160 characters in length and most commonly referred to as a text message.

How do customers signup or participate?
With subscription list campaigns, your customers can opt-in or subscribe in two ways: (1) Your customers can sign up or participate in a text message marketing campaign by sending a simple text message with the campaign KEYWORD to a shortcode (i.e. Text “JOIN” to 12345) (2) customers can subscribe by entering their phone number at your website using a web signup form we provide to all clients.

How do customers opt-out or unsubscribe from a subscription list campaign?
Anytime a subscriber wants to opt-out of a campaign, they simply need to reply with the word STOP and they will automatically be removed from your mobile campaign.

Are my customers protected?
The carriers have strict policy regarding unsolicited messages. All campaigns are required to be 100% opt-in or permission based – there is no exception to the rules. If customers are interested in receiving promotional messages from you (find a perceived value in participating in your campaign or receiving your specials) then they will opt-in to the program with the ability to opt-out when they are no longer interested in your program. The key is to always provide high value to retain your customers or boost campaign response rates.

How much is a customer charged to receive a text message?
Customers are charged Standard Text Messaging rates per their cell phone plan. What that means is that a message counts against their text message plan (most people now have unlimited messaging plans) or incur the standard text message rate per their cell phone plan.

Are keywords case sensitive?
No, keywords are not case sensitive (i.e. Cellghost, CELLGHOST, and cellghost are all recognized).

Do you use the phone numbers for any other purpose?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! When users participate in a campaign, they are participating in a campaign for your business only. Please check our privacy policy.

What is a subscription list?
Subscription lists are used to promote events, specials, coupons, news, etc to a subscription list. Subscribers are required to opt-in (either by sending the list KEYWORD via text, or through a web widget), and can choose to opt out at any time.

How do I build a subscription list?
Simple. Promote your Keyword in your current forms of advertising (Print, Radio, TV, In Store, Web, Email etc.). The more you get the word out, the more subscribers you’ll have. Our Shadow system enables you to easily manage requests to opt-in or out so you’re always in compliance.

How does a user opt-in?
There are two ways in which a user can opt-in (or subscribe), (1) by sending a text message containing the list Keyword to a short code (4 to 6 digit phone number), or (2) by submitting their mobile phone number online via web-widget.

Can users opt-in from my website?
Cellghost Media allows you to easily create a sign up form to put on your website/MySpace page or link to the form on our server.

How does a user opt-out?
Mobile phone users can easily opt-out of your mobile marketing campaigns from their cell phone by simply replying with the word “STOP”. Cellghost Mobile’s system will automatically process these requests to ensure no one receives a message in error.

What is the opt-in message?
The initial message a user receives when joining a subscription based program. The message is required to instruct users how to unsubscribe from receiving future alerts by replying “STOP”. For example: “Thanks for joining our mobile VIP. Reply STOP to quit. IHELP for help. Msg&Data rates apply”.

Can I send to specific list segments?
Yes. You are able to setup different groups in our Shadow system and send specific messages to each group. How many messages can I send at one time, is there a limit?

There is no limit to the number of messages you can send at one time; Cellghost can accommodate any number of mobile subscribers.

Can I upload my own list of phone numbers?
The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has setup strict guidelines regarding permission-based SMS marketing. A user must opt-in by sending a text message from their mobile phone, or submitting their mobile phone number to the web-widget and subsequently confirming that they wish to participate in the program. If you have a pre-existing list of subscribers from a campaign that you have run through another company, please contact us via support@cellghostmobile.com and we'll help you out.