The Guide to Major Trusts 2025-26. DSC (Directory of Social Change)

Location-based mobile SMS targeted ads underway in UK

According to Mashable.com, “UK network provider O2 has partnered with location services platform Placecast to enable brands to automatically deliver targeted SMS and MMS to more than one million opted-in O2 customers based on their exact whereabouts”. The first two brands to trial it are Starbucks and L’Oreal.
This means that a million O2 customers will start getting up to one automated alert each day highlighting the fact that they are near a Starbucks or L’Oreal outlet where they can enjoy a discount.
Messages are targeted, based on O2 users’ stated interests. O2 says it will not share customers’ details with advertisers, meaning that if the phone user does not respond to the offer, the advertiser won’t be able to find out who they are.
So, this isn’t of course an example of a charity using mobile marketing, but as with so many mobile developments, the opportunities are clear. I tend to use charity shops as the easy example – people within walking distance of a charity shop could be sent an alert letting them know and perhaps offering them an incentive to come in. It could be particularly useful for temporary or pop-up shops, such as the Cards for Good Causes shops which appear in the run-up to Christmas in vacant or donated shops.
But there will be other fundraising opportunities too, around events, on-pack deals from manufacturers in support of a charity, celebrity supporters’ public appearances, and no doubt many others. What can you think of?
http://mashable.com/2010/10/14/placecast-o2-partnership

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