TextualAds integrates SMS with Facebook fan pages

A new Facebook application, called TextualAds, allows marketers to target their Facebook fans via SMS messages sent directly from their fan page.

Fans are encouraged to opt-in for SMS messages via a customizable tab on a fan page. The ads can be targeted based on age, gender, country or even exact geo-location.

According to AppBistro's Editor Review, "Not only can you target your audience so precisely, you can also customize the tabs appearance quickly, efficiently and brand-specifically. Add page descriptions, header images, custom colors or even your own CSS style-sheet to this app and you're off and ready."

Research has shown that mobile is becoming the preferred method by which consumers want to engage with brands. According to Insight Express, nearly half of consumers prefer coupons to be sent via SMS, while the Mobile Marketing Association in Europe recently discovered consumers would prefer to respond to ads via SMS, no matter what media they appear in.

Big brands are already on the SMS bandwagon. Major American drugstore chain, Walgreens, recently started sending out prescription alerts via SMS. The response to this opt-in service was huge and now more customers use SMS than email.

Tags: mobile marketing, SMS, social marketing, social network