• WHAT: An easy way to dip a toe into the text messaging waters for your business
• WHY: It’s easy and can be very effective in generating new business
• COST: Zero for the basic service, small monthly cost for the premium version

Grab your phone - go ahead, I’ll wait.  OK, got it?  Now, send a text message with the word “wireless” to 82442.  Within a few seconds you’ll get an automated message back from me - or, more accurately, from a system doing it for me - with a few words about what I do.  I set the whole thing up on a new site called “Tagga” (as in “tagger,” I presume) in about five minutes.  Before I started tinkering with it I didn’t quite get it, but now that I do, I’m going to advocate it to you.  It’s an easy, fast way to get your business involved in text messaging without incurring a lot of startup costs or complications.  The basic version, which is the one that I’m using for this demonstration and contains an ad in each message, is free.

You can use Tagga for a lot of different purposes - it just takes a little imagination.  Here’s how it works.

You’ll need to sign up for an account at Tagga.com - the whole thing takes a minute and doesn’t ask for a lot of personal information.  Then you simply decide what you want your code to be and, if it’s not already taken (I was, frankly, shocked that the word “wireless” was still available) you can grab it.  If you’re quick you’ll be able to land one that’s really germane to your business - think “pizza”, “plumbing”, “houses” or whatever else is appropriate for you.  Then you put in the text that you’d like to appear on the sender’s phone when they send a text message to you.

That’s pretty much it - once that part of it is set up you just advertise the “tag” that you’ve created using one of a the promotional logos that they provide for you (see the graphic at the top of this posting) or just put it on a sign.  Imagine for a moment that you’re a real estate agent and want to give people some information about yourself without having to jam it all on a sign.  Just create a Tagga, then put “Text ‘Houses’ to 82442″ on your business cards, signs and so on.  Whenever someone sends that message they’ll get a reply from the system saying whatever you’ve designated.  For example, it could say, “Scott Goldman - condo specialist. Call 818.222.8600 for help buying or selling”.  Or if you’re a restaurant put the Tagga logo in the window prompting people to send “Lunch” to the Tagga system to get a text message showing the special of the day.

Tagga is an easy to use and free way to get introduced to the effective marketing you can do with text messaging.  The system allows you to create multiple “tags” (messages”) and even provides the graphics for you to post on your web page, signs or business cards.  If you get creative you’ll think of lots of ways to use it for your business - or even for fun.  (Want to see how I used it for fun?  Send “Biking” to 82442 and you’ll get some photos of my buddies and me on a “bachelor bike ride” we did to celebrate my then-upcoming wedding  - I got married on June 14 - in lieu of the more traditional bachelor party.  P.S. I’m the one in the yellow “Livestrong” jersey.)

I’m a big fan of text messaging and how it can be used in business.  Tagga is a creative, useful solution that lets you jump in quickly with no risk.