Txt2taste was created in response to a number of converging trends: the success of the advertorial genre of TV advertising, such as the Family Health Diary; the rise and rise of DM in the FMCG sector, particularly the rapid growth of sampling; and the growing acceptance of mobile phones. Fifty three percent of mobile phone users claim to have responded to a brand promotion using their phones.
A first for New Zealand television, txt2taste introduced television audiences to their first taste of txt response advertising - called 'try-vertising'. The vehicle also provided television advertisers with a next generation third-party product endorsement vehicle with in-built direct response mechanisms supporting the four buying cycle stages of awareness, consideration, trial and purchase in a single cohesive programme.
Combining multiple channels, including TV, txt, email, web and post for fulfilment, txt2taste lets consumers get more out of watching TV advertising by using a quick-fire mechanism to request samples and information. It also increases the value of advertising because it introduces a measure of effectiveness and the logistics machinery to grow a permission database and manage painless fulfilment.
Nestlé engaged txt2media to launch its new noodle range Maggi Noodle Temptations, using the txt2taste TVC format and underlying multi-channel technologies.
The client wanted to launch Maggi Noodle Temptations using a third-party product endorsement TVC. More than just educating potential purchasers about a new noodle offering, the aim was to place samples in-home, helping to close gaps in the buying cycle.
For txt2taste to fulfil its promise as an easy way for consumers to sample exciting new products, the complex underlying technologies could not hinder the ease of the consumer experience. In fact, the technology had to enrich the whole experience. Viewers who saw the Maggi Noodle Temptations TVC could request a sample by either txting a short code using their mobile phones or registering their details directly on the txt2taste web site.
Txters received a txt message confirming their interest and instructions to either reply, including their email address (in which case a follow-up email would prompt registration), or by visiting the txt2taste web site. Along with their details they entered the unique code received in the first txt2taste txt message reply. Once registration was completed, the product sample was sent to the delivery address specified by the registrant.
Once the sole domain of 0800 and 0900 numbers, direct response advertising using digital channels offers tremendous advantages for consumers, who these days demand immediacy and no exceptional behaviour, like coupon cutting. For advertisers it solves the difficulties of fulfilment and increases the value of advertising by introducing a measure of effectiveness and the machinery to grow a permission database.
Registration: Automated registration and ordering via SMS, web and email
Permissions: Managed permission database with one view of the customer across multiple channels
Fulfilment: Automated fulfilment of samples and notification via email and txt
Automation: Automated opt-in via web, email and txt



