Creating a Competition program in SMS

Marketer configures the game type:

SMS Question and Answer
SMS Prize Draw
SMS Instant Winner

Marketer performs a Call to Action (CTA) to inform mobile users about the new competition.

Mobile users sends a text message from their mobile phones.

The SMS Campaign Manager processes entries. You can limit the number of entries allowed.

When the competition's end time is in the past, the winner pool is considered complete and the winner selection feature becomes available, except Instant Winner games. Instant Winner entries are processed immediately and the winner is immediately notified.

Marketer decides if contacts are opted-in to the Acoustic Campaign database.

Export data that shows details from the program, such as mobile users, incoming messages, and correct answers.

Important: Competition is an advance SMS program type. In the US a client is required to have a dedicated short code and the short code must meet US carrier approvals to run a competition to collect entries via SMS. Therefore, by default this program type is not available and requires Provisioning to activate after the criteria for the client to use this program type has been verified. Contact Client Support to request access.

Types of Competitions

The following table includes the types of competitions that you can select when setting up an SMS Competition Program:

Type

Definition

Create a Question and Answer Game

Open the Competition program. See Open the SMS Program Template for details.
Click the Show Advanced Options link at the top of the template.
Complete the Basic Details section.
Complete the Message Details section according to the type of competition you are creating.
Enter information in the Action Settings section.
Click Save.

Note: If you want to cancel edits made to the template, click the Cancel button.

Enter the basic program settings for the program:

Name: Name your program.

Campaign: Assign the program to a parent campaign.

External Campaign Reference: Not applicable.

Program Duration: Choose the Defined Start and End Dates option.

Start Time & Date: Choose when you want to start the competition.

End Time & Date: Choose when you want to end the competition.

Text to Code: Select the short or long code that you want to use in this competition. In the US, only short code is allowed. You may use an alphanumeric Sender ID for MT SMS; however do not use it for an MO reply.

Time Slot: Select Yes to choose the hours when the game is available.

Secondary Keywords: If you want to use secondary keywords, type them in the Secondary Keyword box.

Keyword(s): Assign keywords to your program. Note that if you use a shared code, a desired keyword may not be available if it is allocated to another organization.

Additional Keywords: Select Yes to specify each correct answer as an additional keyword. For Question and Answer games,users can enter the competition via a choice of multiple keywords followed by their response. For example, WIN A, ANSWER A, RESPUESTA A, etc. In case of Question and Answer (Keyword) games, the correct answer has to be one of keywords.

Complete the following fields:

Note: If you send a message using more than 160 characters and the carrier supports concatenated SMS, then the longer text will be sent as a concatenated message.

Originator: This field shows when a non-US code is selected. Used only for countries that support Sender ID. Select a the MT sender. This is provisioned for you. To request a custom originator ID, see How do I request a custom originator ID?

Send Response: Choose YES to send a reply message. The system will show the Number of Reply Messages and Additional Reply boxes.

Game Type: Select the game type: Question and Answer or Question and Answer (keywords).

Question: Enter the question that you want to ask the mobile users. The purpose of this field is to remind you of the question listed in the call to action. This question will not be sent as a separate message to mobile users, but rather placed in the call to action with the short code and keyword.

Answer: Applicable only to Question and Answer games. Specify the correct answer to the question. This will be used as validation against the text string following the keyword in each MO. Do not include white spaces between words. Use a comma to separate multiple answers. End-user entries are not case-sensitive for comparison purposes.

Prize: Enter the target prize for the game. This information is for display purposes only.

Number of Reply Messages / Additional Reply : Specify how many reply messages to go out to the end-user after each entry. Additional replies are sent for correct and incorrect answers. If you select more than '1', the system will add Additional Reply N fields (where N is 1-7) to the template. For example, if you select to send 2 replies, then the SMS Campaign Manager allows you to define the second MT message in the Additional Reply 1 field.

Correct Reply: Response that will go out to all entries with the correct answer.

Wrong Reply: Response that will go out to all entries with the incorrect answer.

Stop Message: The message the mobile user gets when s/he sends 'KEYWORD STOP'.

Help Message: The Help message provides the mobile user with additional information or contact information to the customer service line. Mobile user responds 'KEYWORD HELP'.

You can limit the number of entries allowed for a Competition program.

Limit Entry: Click Yes if you want to limit the number of entries received from each mobile number.

Entries Allowed: Type the number of entries allowable from each mobile number.

Entry Window: Choose how long you want to receive additional entries.

Entry Duration: For Defined Length only. Select the timeframe that you want to receive additional entries.

Limit Reached Response: Response that will send when the entry limitation is reached.

Action Settings may be configured for each Competition program game type.

Action: Select an action from the list of options of what you want the system to do when you receive MO information. For example:

Save Entries and Forward to Email: Sends an email each time an MO is received for the program. The message details are in the body of the email.
These emails may be sent to multiple email addresses by entering them in the Email field, separated by a comma.
Save Entries and forward .csv file to Email: Sends one .csv file at the end of the program with all of the entries for the entire program in the .csv file. These emails may be sent to multiple email addresses by entering them in the Email field, separated by a comma.

Pre-program Message: The message the mobile user gets when s/he enters the competition before the program's Start Time & Date. Define when you want to start sending this message (before the Start Date). If the mobile user sends an MO SMS before the Pre-program Message Start date/time, the message will be ignored and the mobile user is not opted in to the Text to Join program.

Originator: Used only for countries that support Sender ID. Select the MT sender. This is provisioned for you. To request a custom originator ID, see How do I request a custom originator ID?

Finished Message: The message that the mobile user gets when s/he enters the competition after the program End Time & Date. Define when you want to begin sending this message (after the End Date). If the mobile user sends an MO SMS after the Finished Message Start date/time, the message will be ignored and the mobile user is not opted in to the Text to Join program.

Opt-in End User: You can allow the mobile user to be redirected to an OPT-IN program.

Text to Join Program: Specify the Text to Join program that you want to opt in contacts.

View the Winner Selection Feature

After the competition's end time is in the past, the winner pool is considered complete and the winner selection feature becomes available-you'll see a trophy icon next to the competition name on the Interactive Programs page.

Choose how to select the winners

Complete the steps below to choose how you want to select the winners:

Click the competition name to view the program details. Click the Draw Winners button.
Choose how you want to select the winners. You can a) let the SMS Campaign Manager draw winners based on your definitions or b) download a list of entries to your local server and choose your winners.

If you choose to let the Campaign Manager pick your winners:

Click the first option and configure the Competition Prize Draw page. You can define the number of winners for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place categories, enter a message for each winner/loser category, define a category from the entrants, and limit entries.
Click Perform Draw.

You are not required to specify 2nd place count or 3rd place count. These are optional.
You may leave the Winners Message, 2nd Place Message, and 3rd Place Message boxes empty, as these SMS messages are optional and in many cases, you may prefer to call the winners directly rather than send an SMS.
You are not required to specify Loser Message.
One Entry per Person: If this option is selected and a mobile user submits multiple entries, only one entry will be added to the pool of entries used to draw the winners.

If you decide to draw your own list of winners, you can click a list to download entrants that meet any of the following criteria:

Correct answers with one entry per person
All correct answers
Unique mobile numbers only
All entries

Export Competition Program Data

You can export data into a .csv file that shows the results of the program. See below for examples of data included in the files.

Refer to the View SMS Reporting article for steps on how you can export data from your SMS programs.

Example of a Question and Answer exported file

This type of competition requires a Call to Action. A radio DJ may ask a question on air; a billboard/email/web banner/store signage/packaging that poses a question and instructs to text in the answer.

Question and Answer (keyword) is configured so each possible answer is a keyword and end-users only send in a keyword that corresponded to their answer.

Open the Competition program.
Click the Show Advanced Options link at the top of the template.
Complete the Basic Details section.
Complete the Message Details section according to the type of competition game type that you are creating.
Enter information in the Action Settings section.
Click Save.

Example of a completed Prize Draw form:

Basic Details

Enter the basic program settings for the program:

Name: Name your program.

Campaign: Assign the program to a parent campaign.

External Campaign Reference: Not applicable.

Program Duration: Choose the Defined Start and End Dates option.

Start Time & Date: Choose when you want to start the competition.

End Time & Date: Choose when you want to end the competition.

Text to Code: Select the short or long code that you want to use in this competition. In the US, only short code is allowed. You may use an alphanumeric Sender ID for MT SMS; however do not use it for an MO reply.

Time Slot: Select Yes to choose the hours when the game is available.

Secondary Keywords: If you want to use secondary keywords, type them in the Secondary Keyword box.

Keyword(s): Assign keywords to your program. Note that if you use a shared code, a desired keyword may not be available if it is allocated to another organization.

Additional Keywords: Select Yes to specify each correct answer as an additional keyword.

Message Details

Complete the following fields:

Note: If you send a message using more than 160 characters and the carrier supports concatenated SMS, then the longer text will be sent as a concatenated message.

Originator: This field shows when a non-US code is selected. Used only for countries that support Sender ID. Select the MT sender. IBM provisioned this field for you. To request a custom originator ID, see How do I request a custom originator ID?

Send Response: Choose YES to send a reply message. The system will show the Number of Reply Messages and Additional Reply boxes.

Game Type: Select Instant Winner.

Question: Enter the question that you want to ask the mobile users. The purpose of this field is to remind you of the question listed in the call to action. This question will not be sent as a separate message to mobile users, but rather placed in the call to action with the short code and keyword.

Answer: Specify the correct answer to the question. This will be used as validation against the text string following the keyword in each MO. Do not include white spaces between words. Use a comma to separate multiple answers. End-user entries are not case-sensitive for comparison purposes.

Prize: Enter information about the competition, including the number of winners, whether recurring winners are allowed, and the prize. This information is for internal tracking purpose and will not be sent to the mobile user.

Number of Reply Messages/Additional Reply: Specify how many reply messages will go out to the end-user after each entry. Additional replies are sent for correct and incorrect answers. If you select more than '1', the system will add Additional Reply Nfields (where N is 1-7) to the template. For example, if you select to send 2 replies, then the SMS Campaign Manager allows you to define the second MT message in the Additional Reply 1 field.

Correct Reply: Response that will go out to all entries with the correct answer.

Wrong Reply: Response that will go out to all entries with the incorrect answer.

Number of Winners: Enter the desired number of instant winners for the competition.

Odds: Select the odds of winning from the list.

Recurring Winners: Choose Yes or No. If the Recurring Winners is set to 'No' and an end-user sends additional entries after becoming an Instant Winner, the end-user will get a Correct Reply message; however, the end-user will not win a second time.

Won Reply: Enter the text that winners will receive. This can be configured to inform the end-user that he will not be able to enter/win the competition again. If the end-user enters the competition again, if the Recurring Winner is set to 'No', then he will receive either the wrong/correct reply (or he could receive the reply/entry limit reply if you configured either of these); but the end-user will not win again.

Stop Message: The message the mobile user gets when s/he sends 'KEYWORD STOP'.

Help Message: The Help message provides the mobile user with additional information or contact information to the customer service line.

Entry Limitations

You can limit the number of entries allowed for a Competition program.

Limit Entry: Click Yes if you want to limit the number of entries received from each mobile number.

Entries Allowed: Type the number of entries allowable from each mobile number.

Entry Window: Choose how long you want to receive additional entries.

Entry Duration: For Defined Length only. Select the timeframe that you want to receive additional entries.

Limit Reached Response: Response that will send when the entry limitation is reached.

Action Settings

Action Settings may be configured for each Competition program game type.

Action: Select an action from the list of options of what you want the system to do when you receive MO information. For example:

Save Entries and Forward to Email: Sends an email each time an MO is received for the program. The message details are in the body of the email.
These emails may be sent to multiple email addresses by entering them in the Email field, separated by a comma.
Save Entries and forward .csv file to Email: Sends one .csv file at the end of the program with all of the entries for the entire program in the .csv file. These emails may be sent to multiple email addresses by entering them in the Email field, separated by a comma.

Pre-program Message: The message the mobile user gets when s/he enters the competition before the program's Start Time & Date. Define when you want to start sending this message (before the Start Date). If the mobile user sends an MO SMS before the Pre-program Message Start date/time, the message will be ignored and the mobile user is not opted in to the Text to Join program.

Originator: Used only for countries that support Sender ID. Select the MT sender. This is provisioned for you. To request a custom originator ID, see How do I request a custom originator ID?

Finished Message: The message that the mobile user gets when s/he enters the competition after the program End Time & Date. Define when you want to begin sending this message (after the End Date). If the mobile user sends an MO SMS after the Finished Message Start date/time, the message will be ignored and the mobile user is not opted in to the Text to Join program.

Opt-in End User: You can allow the mobile user to be redirected to an OPT-IN program.

Text to Join Program: Specify the Text to Join Program that you want to opt in contacts.

Identifying Instant Winners

All reporting for the Instant Winner program is currently limited to the Messages page only within SMS Campaign Manager. Go to this page to see which end-user(s) were sent a Won Reply message during the program window. Winners of an Instant Winner game will receive both the Correct Reply message and the Won Reply message.

Note: In the event that the received number of entries are fewer than expected, there may not be an instant winner. It is up to you to determine what you want to do after the game is completed.

View the Winner Selection Feature

After the competition's end time is in the past, the winner pool is considered complete and the winner selection feature becomes available—you'll see a trophy icon next to the competition name on the Interactive Programs page.

Choose how to select the winners

Complete the steps below to choose how you want to select the winners:

Click the competition name to view the program details. Click the Draw Winners button.

Choose how you want to select the winners. You can a) let the SMS Campaign Manager draw winners based on your definitions or b) download a list of entries to your local server and choose your winners.

Let the SMS Campaign Manager select the winners

If you choose to let the Campaign Manager pick your winners:

Click the first option and configure the Competition Prize Draw page. You can define the number of winners for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place categories, enter a message for each winner/loser category, define a category from the entrants, and limit entries.
Click Perform Draw.

Note:

You are not required to specify 2nd place count or 3rd place count. These are optional.
You may leave the Winners Message, 2nd Place Message, and 3rd Place Message boxes empty, as these SMS messages are optional and in many cases, you may prefer to call the winners directly rather than send an SMS.
You are not required to specify Loser Message.

Select your own winners

If you decide to draw your own list of winners, you can click a list to download entrants that meet any of the following criteria:

Correct answers with one entry per person
All correct answers
Unique mobile numbers only
All entries

Export Competition Program Data Creating an SMS Instant Winner game

You can export data into a .csv file that shows the results of the program. See below for examples of data included in the files.

Refer to the View SMS Reporting article for steps on how you can export data from your SMS programs.

Example of an Instant Winner exported file

This competition is an entry collector. It accepts all entries into the program and enters them into the drawing.

When a mobile contact sends an SMS text with the correct answer, it is counted as an entry. This type of program will continue to run and collect entries until the end date-time set for the program to end. This competition type allows you to set a unique reply when the end-date has been reached and attempts are made to enter the competition. At the conclusion of the program (end date), the winner can be determined/selected by using the SMS Campaign Manager for the final prize draw or alternately entries can be exported as a CSV file and the winner(s) can be selected per the contest rules.

Open the Competition program. See Opening the SMS program template for details.
Click the Show Advanced Options link at the top of the template.
Complete the Basic Details section.
Complete the Message Details section according to the type of competition you are creating.
Enter information in the Action Settings section.
Click Save.

Note: If you want to cancel edits made to the template, click the Cancel button.

Enter the basic program settings for the program:

Name: Name your program.

Campaign: Assign the program to a parent campaign.

External Campaign Reference: Not applicable.

Program Duration: Choose the Defined Start and End Dates option.

Start Time & Date: Choose when you want to start the competition.

End Time & Date: Choose when you want to end the competition.

Text to Code: Select the short or long code that you want to use in this competition. In the US, only short code is allowed. You may use an alphanumeric Sender ID for MT SMS; however do not use it for an MO reply.

Time Slot: Select Yes to choose the hours when the game is available.

Secondary Keywords: If you want to use secondary keywords, type them in the Secondary Keyword box.

Keyword(s): Assign keywords to your program. Note that if you use a shared code, a desired keyword may not be available if it is allocated to another organization.

Additional Keywords: Select Yes to specify each correct answer as an additional keyword.

Complete the following fields:

Note: If you send a message using more than 160 characters and the carrier supports concatenated SMS, then the longer text will be sent as a concatenated message.

Originator: This field shows when a non-US code is selected. Used only for countries that support Sender ID. Select a the MT sender. IBM provisions this for you. To request a custom originator ID, see How do I request a custom originator ID?

Send Response: Choose YES to send a reply message. The system will show the Number of Reply Messages and Additional Reply boxes.

Game Type: Select Instant Winner.

Question: Enter the question that you want to ask the mobile users. The purpose of this field is to remind you of the question listed in the call to action. This question will not be sent as a separate message to mobile users, but rather placed in the call to action with the short code and keyword.

Answer: Specify the correct answer to the question. This will be used as validation against the text string following the keyword in each MO. Do not include white spaces between words. Use a comma to separate multiple answers. End-user entries are not case-sensitive for comparison purposes.

Prize: Enter information about the competition, including the number of winners, whether recurring winners are allowed, and the prize. This information is for internal tracking purpose and will not be sent to the mobile user.

Number of Reply Messages/Additional Reply: Specify how many reply messages will go out to the end-user after each entry. Additional replies are sent for correct and incorrect answers. If you select more than '1', the system will add Additional Reply N fields (where N is 1-7) to the template. For example, if you select to send 2 replies, then the SMS Campaign Manager allows you to define the second MT message in the Additional Reply 1 field.

Correct Reply: Response that will go out to all entries with the correct answer.

Wrong Reply: Response that will go out to all entries with the incorrect answer.

Number of Winners: Enter the desired number of instant winners for the competition.

Odds: Select the odds of winning from the list.

Recurring Winners: Choose Yes or No. If the Recurring Winners is set to 'No' and an end-user sends additional entries after becoming an Instant Winner, the end-user will get a Correct Reply message; however, the end-user will not win a second time.