Congratulations to The Takeaway, WNYC, Public Radio International, Public Insight Journalism and WDET Detroit on their 2010 Knight-Batten Award for the Sourcing through Texting project.

From the official site:

A team from The Takeaway radio show joined journalists from WDET Detroit in a successful experiment that prompted residents to text tips about particular stories from Mexicantown in Southwest Detroit. Residents texted information about trucks illegally barreling down their side streets, and in another experiment, they sent keywords describing their neighborhoods. The result: non-listeners became engaged and more informed. The experiment has continued in Miami’s Little Haiti.

Alisa Miller, the CEO of Public Radio International, has a very nice insider view of the Sourcing through Texting project written up on her blog.

At Mobile Commons, we continue to be impressed and humbled by all the innovative ways our customers use mobile technology to connect with people. We work hard to create simple yet powerful tools and put them in the hands of smart, creative people; it’s amazing to see what they come up with! Great work to everyone at The Takeaway, WNYC, WDET and all the organizations who participated in this project.

MOBILE COMMONS’ MOBILE MESSAGING PLATFORM PROVIDES ADDITIONAL LINE OF DEFENSE THIS FLU SEASON

Text FLU and your address to 30644 to find the closest H1N1 vaccine in California

Mobile Commons, Inc., a pioneer of easy-to-use technology for mobile messaging, today announced its partnership with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to power a unique, California-based flu vaccination awareness program. Through Mobile Commons’ mobile messaging platform allows users to text in their zip code and receive vital flu related information including alerts when the vaccination is available, the nearest vaccination location and critical messaging regarding treatment and other information. The ubiquity of mobile phones, combined with the high projected demand for vaccinations, makes this an ideal solution to help Californians from all communities obtain vaccinations and receive necessary information on a timely basis.

“We strongly expect this program to result in high levels of participation, given the ease-of-use,” said Edgar Ednacot, Ed D. M.P.H. Health Education Supervisor at the CDPH. “Mobile Commons’ technology provides an extremely efficient system for Californians to learn where to get vaccinated and stay informed during the flu season.”

Californians will learn of the campaign through a variety of media, including out door advertising, broadcast public service announcement, social media and PR. Users will text in the word “FLU” and their zip code to the short code 30644. Once a zip code is received by Mobile Commons’ technology platform, users will receive a text message with the nearest vaccination center or other valuable information about the flu in that area or throughout the state. Additionally, all of the functionality is automatically made available on a Facebook application, Twitter and web widgets which will allow for the program to be easily shared.

“We are thrilled and honored to have been entrusted by the CDPH to help them provide Californians with an easy, cost-effective way to receive such vital information about the flu and vaccinations this year,” said Jed Alpert, Founder of Mobile Commons. “California is truly on the cutting edge of integrating communication technologies to make sure people receive the information they need in a way that is most useful to them.”

For more information about the flu vaccination campaign or Mobile Common’s technology, please visit http://www.MobileCommons.com or http://www.cdph.ca.gov.

SMS CAMPAIGN DELIVERS OVER 300% MORE CONVERSIONS THAN URLS IN TELEVISION ADS

CHALLENGE
In June 2009, the Shedd Aquarium needed to drive significant awareness and visitors to the premiere of a new aquatic show, Fantasea, in the renovated Oceanarium. Campaigns were created across multiple media channels, including a contest to win exclusive VIP tickets to the show. The Shedd team wanted to test the overall effectiveness and consumer preferences of different marketing tactics, specifically the Web versus SMS text messaging.

SOLUTION
Shedd selected the mCommons™ platform from Mobile Commons to manage the SMS text messaging campaign and measure conversion rates.

A TV commercial was created that aired on the four major networks (NBC, ABC, Comcast and FOX).  Each commercial was the same except for the call to action to enter the contest.

• Three stations asked viewers to go to a website to enter the contest.
• The fourth station asked viewers to text the word FOX to 69866.

Once a viewer texted in, they received a message asking them to respond with their email address and zip code to officially enter.

RESULTS
When Shedd compared the entries received at the end of the promotion, they were amazed at the results:

• The TV ad with an SMS call-to-action generated 325% more contest entries than any other call-to-action.
• SMS entries made up 52% of the total contest entries, despite only running in 25% of the ads.
• When Print and Outdoor were added in, SMS entries still made up more than half of all total respondents to the contest.

“Mobile text messaging has been working well for Shedd Aquarium and after results like this, we continue to think strategically about how to use SMS,” said Jay Geneske, Marketing Strategy, Shedd Aquarium. “Mobile Commons makes it extremely easy to setup and run campaigns, and the direct CRM integration allows us to be smart about the data.”

“Shedd’s results reinforce that every TV and Out-of-Home campaign should have an SMS call-to-action. It just works,” said Anthony Risicato, CEO Mobile Commons.

Download the full case study (pdf)

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the North South Motorsports team have teamed up with Mobile Commons to launch the innovative “Text to Remember” program to help raise funds and awareness for the September 11 Memorial. The SMS calls to action will be at the NASCAR Nationwide Series on September 11, 2009, and in the media leading up to the race.

To add your name to the honor roll on 9/11 Memorial’s website and commemorate the 9/11 attacks, text WTC to the number 30644

Image of the 9/11 Honor Roll, using Mobile Commons's mCast text-to-screen

Supporters texting in will have their name displayed on the honor roll and will be asked to donate $5 to support the Memorial utilizing Mobile Commons’ mobile donations application. This is a great use of the technology to connect with people, build a relationship, raise money, and engage with them in a meaningful way in the future.

Mobile Commons is honored to be working with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and we hope everyone will text in to support the memorial’s efforts, and become part of remembering the victims and families of 9/11.