One of the best ways to communicate with teens and college students is using SMS, or text messaging. The simple format is instantaneous, cuts through the clutter of other mediums, and appears on something these younger generations tend to be staring at anyway. The problem has always been how to manage this without a cell phone, which for nonprofits can be expensive and tricky in the policy realm. Some companies offer SMS marketing services, such as Northland SMS in Northeastern Minnesota.
Enter Joopz, an online service that emulates the ability to send and receive text messages just like a cell phone, and the messages can be sent to and received from cell phones! A nicely organized address book allows you to manage your contacts, and you can set-up groups for mass message sending.
Unfortunately, the free service is limited to 50 outgoing messages (but unlimited incoming messages) per month. However, their premium service is only $2.95 per month and gives you unlimited incoming and outgoing messages, the option to integrate Joopz with the Outlook application, and a full searchable message history.
I was first introduced to this service by a youth run program in California called “Bored Pasadena!?”, which connects youth to fun things to do, like events and concerts, in Pasadena. They use Joopz as their primary means of communication with their teenage audience, and have found it to be incredibly affective.
Learn more at the Bored Pasadena!? MySpace page. While you’re there, be sure to check out their awesome series of “Careers Your Guidance Counselor Won’t Tell You About”, where they’re created MySpace pages to teach kids about careers, like International Diamond Broker or Cereal Box Author, that they otherwise probably wouldn’t have heard of. I’ve found that Nonprofit Consultant is regrettably not on the list. I’ll have to put in a request.
