Make Money Texting and Bill the Cellphone Companies!
Telecom, Tricks of Trade, Make Money View commentsGo to all the cellphone stores in your area, sign up all the demo phones for your very own premium SMS text service, and make $9.99 per demo phone! Find out how.
Every now and then I receive a random text message on my cell phone. Sometimes it’s a horoscope reading, sometimes it’s a random stock pick, sometimes it’s a weather report and other times its just some advertising spam.
I initially thought that it was just an annoyance so I would simply either ignore or delete the message. I bet the majority of people have the same type of reaction in this situation.
However sometimes the messages reoccur and other times they do not.
Either way at the end of the month I recieve my cell phone bill only to find that I have an additional $4.99 charge for a “third-party” service!
I call up my cell phone company and ask them what this charge is for and they tell me that’s it either a subscription or one-time text messaging service. They go on to tell me that I can’t cancel through them or get a refund because these charges are from a third-party company and not my actual cellphone carrier.
They simply tell me to reply to all further text messages with the words: STOP or CANCEL to prevent these text messages from reoccurring. This will cancel the service from here on out, but it will not refund any current or previous charges.
So what does this mean? This means that you will still be charged for the initial text message regardless of whether you cancel the service immediately and that this “third-party” company could be getting anywhere between 99 cents and $9.99 for sending you this single text message.
I checked my previous cell phone bills from past months only to find that there were similar charges those months that I did not even notice!
Initially this made me angry, but once I thought about this ingenious business model, I immediately wanted in!
I bet that at least 70% of the people who receive these type of text messages don’t even notice that they are being charged for these extra services and just pay their bills.
Background
This type of service is known as Reverse SMS billing or a premium SMS service where companies can bill a user through an SMS text. This even goes beyond just charging for text messages. Services like PayPay or GPay allows people to send and transfer money via SMS. People can also charge money to their cell phone account with similar types of services.
Where this money goes
I did some research on this type of third-party text message billing and found that these companies make between half to a third of what they bill, the cell phone company takes one-third and the payment gateway service also gets one-third.
So if they charge 99 cents per month and bill 30,000 people they will be making approximately $10,000 per month.
If they bump this up to $4.99 per month they will be making over $45,000 per month.
So how do YOU set up this type of service?
Companies like Telemedia and TextMarks allow people to set up their own text messaging services for free.
Textmarks is the easiest service to use and allows people to set up a keyword for use on their short code of 41411.
You could set up the keyword, MakeMoney, and when anyone sends an SMS text with the word, MakeMoney, to 41411. They would be signed up for your premium SMS service for either $4.99 or $9.99 per month depending what you want to charge for your service.
Now the difficulty is advertising and getting people to sign up for your keyword. Unless you want to go the spamming route like many companies do.
Bulk SMS messaging
There are services out there like ClickaTell which allows users to send bulk SMS messages to thousands or perhaps millions of cellphone users.
You could also write a web-based application to do bulk PC-to-Phone SMS texting.
To stop the use of spamming some of the premium SMS services requires all potential subscribers to reply with a “Y” indicating that they actually understand the charges and want to subscribe to the service. However, this could potentially be countered and defeated with SMS text spoofing or by writing a web-based application to sign people up for your text service regardless of whether or not they have actually willingly subscribed.
Signing tens-of-thousands of people up for your premium SMS service requires a bit work however it could be highly rewarding and bring in thousands of dollars per month. However there is an easier way to make a couple hundred per month with much less time and work involved.
Bill the Cellphone Companies Back
Go to all the cellphone stores in your area and sign up all the demo phones for your premium SMS text service!
In my immediate area there are 3 Sprint/Nextel Stores, 4 AT&T stores, 4 Verizon stores, 3 T-Mobile Stores, and 1 Helio Store. These 15 cell phone stores had a total of 328 active demo phones that I was able to sign up for my $9.99 a month service.
After the cellphone companies take their cut (~33%) and the premium SMS billing gateways take their cut (~33%). I am left with $3.00 per subscriber, not too bad, but not great. Better than nothing though! So with 328 subscribers at $3.00 per month I am making an easy $984.00 per month. That’s a decent car payment (this may even cover rent for some people)!
The Process:
1) Sign up for a shortcode keyword.
2) Set your keyword for premium billing (either $4.99 or $9.99 per month).
3) Go to your local cellphone store and use all the demo phones to text your keyword to their 41411 short code.
4) Clear out all inboxed and sent text messages from phones.
5) Repeat this process at more cellphone stores.
6) Wait for them to mail you a check for approx $1.50 per subscriber ($4.99) or $3.00 per subscriber ($9.99). The more subscribers you have the more you make!
I am billing the cellphone companies back and they are paying for it! I got my
first check last month.
And things are just getting started…
If I head further into the bay area there are hundreds of cell phone stores with thousands of demo phones so my subscriber list is sure to increase! I can sign up more phones at my leisure.
Also, the cellphone companies get new phones every few months so this would allow me to return to these stores and sign up all their new phones for my premium service. Things are just getting better and better!
So what is your take on these premium SMS scam ideas?
You can make a lot of money via text messages
This seems to be working, but it really sucks that these text message billing companies hold your funds for 60 days before they pay you. I have over 300 subscribers at $4.99 a pop, but I won’t see this money for another two months. But as soon as the payments start rolling in monthly then things will be good.
If they wait 60 days before paying you it will be like the text message payments that you get now will actually reflect the wrok you did two months ago.
Hey, did you get your check yet?
When asked how you are promoting your keyword, what was your reply?
What happened Kevin?
Say that you are running some type of contest or promotion where you are requiring them to sign up for the keyword to enter. You made some sort of anouncement that caused several people to sign up at once.
Thanks Natalie. I didn’t think of that.
Does this really work? I am charge anything on my bill? Please provide detail step by step instuctions.
This really works and no you won’t be charged anything because both TextMarks and Telemedia allow people to set up a charge per text service for free.
You will get like $3 per subscriber or some amount like that. Anyone that signs up for your subscription text messages will be billed $5 per month and you will get $3.
Please provide detail step by step instuctions on how I set my account thru TextMark. Do I go under the create, widget, or monetize tab to set-up my account. Also, can explain in detail about me going to store and using the demo phones. Aren’t most phone under lock and key. Plus aren’t most times a sales agent somewhere near by to prevent me from doing what you are proposing I Do?
Create a keyword on TextMarks, it can be anything. Don’t worry about creating a widget. Then monetize the keyword and setup an account either to charge $5 or $10.
Once your keyword is set up go to the cellphone store and use the demo phones that they have wired to the counters around the store. Each store has about 30-50 demo phones that are completely functional and allow you to make phone calls from, but they are wired to the counter so you can’t steal them, but you can use them.
Text your keyword to 41411 and they will send you a text right back that asks if you are sure you want to be charged $5 or $10 a month and you reply with a Y.
Once the phone is subscribed delete all the text messages from the phone so people won’t see that it is subscribed.
They explain this above as well. I did try this though and it seems to be working.
When creating my keyword on TextMark my options are 1)Respond to a keyword with text from a web page 2)Help coordinate people (alerts, chat, etc.)…which do I use?
Do the sales agent in the phone stores mind us doing this? Is this legal to do? Do we also market this to actual cell phone customers as well…such as placing or passing out business cards/flyers directing to actual cell users to text 41411 into their phones and receive money without being charged back?
The sales agents might not like you doing this from the demo phones, however they do not watch what people are doing. They may ask if you need assistance and you just say “no” and that you are just looking.
Yes, you can market it to actual cell phone customers that is the intended use of this service.
If a person has unlimted texting do we still get paid by them texting 41411 into their phone? How does the system know to credit monies to me based off the 41411? Isn’t this number being used by others as well?
Yes, they will still get charged for this service if they have unlimited texting because its a premium subscription service with a per month fee.
The system knows to credit monies to you because they will be texting your keyword to 41411.
This 41411 number is used by others, but the keyword is unique to you and your service.
I have been trying to figure out how to use text messaging like the 900 numbers were used in the 90s (i.e. polls,info, etc)…any ideas anyone? I have a road side sign business where I was thinking of placing signs around town that read something like “who do you think should be president? or Do you think Clinton should be president text 41411? Or, how to get free gas…text 41411. Or, how make extra cash in 30 days…text 41411. What you all think about it?
Your ideas would work with the textmarks service and you wouldn’t need to bother signing up the demo phones because you’d have actual legit customers subscribing to your monthly service.
When creating my keyword on TextMark my options are 1)Respond to a keyword with text from a web page 2)Help coordinate people (alerts, chat, etc.)…which do I use? Also, what are Respond to keyword with text message, Allow users to post/broadcast messages, and Auto-subscribe users on first request for keyword? Which do I choose?
Does anyone know how the payment works. You wait 60days but then is it monthly after that.?? Why do they need my social or tax ID?>? I woul dappreciate it. Thanks
You wait 60 days for their first payment and then its monthly after that.
They need your social or tax ID to report your earnings to the IRS so that the government can tax this income. I believe that if you live outside the USA this is not required because you would be tax exempt.
When creating my keyword on TextMark my options are 1)Respond to a keyword with text from a web page 2)Help coordinate people (alerts, chat, etc.)…which do I use? Also, what are Respond to keyword with text message, Allow users to post/broadcast messages, and Auto-subscribe users on first request for keyword? Which do I choose?
I see that no one has responded to my last question that has sent three times now. Maybe someone can anwser the following…when I send a text message out to someone or a group of people for them to text 41411 and enter GETFREEGAS…will I be emailed if person (s) has accepted Y or N via email or thru my TextMark account. Is there a way to track who has accepted or declined my subscription so you have an idea of what will be earned after the 60 days? Can everyone send a text 41411 and enter GETFREEGAS for me please?
It won’t email you. The only way to check the subscriber list on your account is to log into your TextMarks account and look at the subscriber list.
It’s been a while since you have posted this forum question and i love it, but i was just wondering how the business is running so far for any of you here? have you had any problems with the law enforcement yet lol? well i guess its all legal so u shouldnt of but u never know…what are some good products to sell? could you list some examples?
Buh? Why would anyone have any problems with law enforcement? This is completely legal, its not like the police have any clue how these types of services work.
You can sell any type of information by text messages. Such as jokes, horoscopes, sports team picks, offers, etc.
Can anybody tell me of any companies that allow premium message billing without verification from the recipient?Thanx I`ve been spending a lot of time surfing for this info and have had no luck.
I have spent hours searching for this as well and I could not find a free service that provides this without verification from the recipient.
There was one company but it was a UK only texting service and didn’t cover the United States.
Has anyone used the ClickaTell service to get subscribers?
What does this mean? Companies that allow premium message billing without verification from the recipient
Can everyone send a text 41411 and enter GETFREEGAS for me please?
How does the TextMark know where to send your checks? Does it take 60 or 90 days initially to receive your first check? After the first check are checks sent monthly?
Textmarks will either mail your check to the address that you provide to them or put the money into your paypal account if you provide that to them.
It takes 60 days for the first check and then they are sent monthly.
I got an email from some Brazilian dipshit at TextMarks named Ariel Poler. Who in the hell is this guy? He acts like textmarks is such a large company. This guy Ariel is the president and he emailed me, so I bet its a one man company if the president is sending out customer service emails.
Has anyone used the ClickaTell service to get subscribers? How can I check to see which method of payment I will receive from TextMark Paypal or by mail?
No what is ClickaTell? Log into your TextMark account and either set the payment method to “PayPal” or “Check by Mail”.
ClickaTell is further up in this blog. It supposely a text blast service. Where do I go in my TextMark account to section a payment method?
This is my third request for assistance…Where do I go in my TextMark account to section a payment method?
Log into your textmarks account and click on the payment section, if this does not work then contact textmarks support.
I am having a hard time getting approved thru TextMark…please assist
What seems to be the problem? Just provide them with a valid email address and cell phone number and you should be good to go.
You can also contact their support and they can activate the account for you.
I have a campaign that is still pending. It has been pending for approx 3 or 4 days now. I would be selling a “how to…” program.
Email textmarks support and ask Ariel Poler why he has not approved your account yet.
Textmarks is a one-man company so Ariel is the only one who can approve your textmarks account.
Thanks Beth. Really…a one man show I didn’t know that.
Beth…please text GETFREEGAS to 41411
Ok, I just sent this text message and signed up for the subscription service.
Dariyun, you’re asking people to sign up for your GETFREEGAS and it’s charging them… Why not market people who aren’t trying to MAKE money from this article… not SPEND money.
Great article by the way!
Yes, I plan on marketing to others. I was just doing a test run.
This ariel guys keeps bugging me, asking me why I haven’t sent out any premium content. Any suggestions anyone?
Ariel is the only fulltime employee at textmarks, he has too much time on his hands IMO. He owes me like $650 that he still has not paid me. Hopefully I will get that soon.
Send out some content. What is your keyword about? Just send out something to your subscribers anything is fine.
that dickhead terminated my textmark. i think he’s trying to keep my 30% of the money… what a fucking joke.
Why did he terminate your textmark? How many subscribers did you have?
I have around 800 subscribers and my account still appears to be active. I just have not been paid yet.
What reason did he give you for the termination?
what the best way to advertise and where should i advertise? everyone help me please.
He terminated my textmark because I was not “sending out any premium content.” And I only have 91 subscribers! How’d u get your subscriber list so high? And do you send out any content? Has he ever emailed you? Man I’m pissed.
Has anyone been paid yet? Still trying to see if this is worth the effort or just a scam by Ariel…
I was paid $687 by Ariel last month via paypal so he does actually pay you for this. Hopefully I will also receive the $892 that he owes me this month.
There seems to be a 90 day delay with the payments, so last month I was actually paid for my December subscription base on this month I should be paid for my January subscription base.
It is worth the effort except its a pain in the ass to deal with Ariel who is critical of all the profitable textmarks and micromanages them like a hawk. He needs to be much less critical of the content being delived, because IMO he provides the billing service and the actual content delivered should be NONE OF HIS BUSINESS.
This is for Beth.
It seems like you have usde this service for some time now. Would you recomend this service? Did you use the “spamming way,” and if you didn’t what would be some good advertising ways to get people to subscribe?
hey you guys i’ve been reading on and am really interested! is it still working for you guys? are you still having problems with that guy paying yall?
Do you have to set up premium content or is this done when customers sign up?
where is the payment section?
so i have a question…i signed up at textmarks but i dont see where is et it up to charge….help please?
You need to click on the section in the textmarks admin which says “Premium Text Message Service” it will allow you to set up a per-text charge or either $4.99 or $9.99 per month charge.
I also do not see this “Premium Text Message Service” option. The admin panel either does not have this, or you need to sign up for a monthly package instead of the free option.
Unless you need to have 1 or more customers already… I don’t see it either.
Please send me information on how to start my own.
how do you monetize the textmark
Old post Yesterday at 04:58 PM Reply #1
Is the option of billing subscribers 4.99 or 9.99 only optional with the pro service? if not how do i monetize my text mark so it can generate income
TextMarks Support
Unread post Yesterday at 09:58 PM Reply #2
We no longer offer premium messages.
T.