FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SMS COMBOTEXT SYSTEM

THE BASICS

01. WHAT IS THE "COMBOTEXT SYSTEM"?
ComboText is a 2-in-1 SMS Text Message delivery system that is designed for entrepreneurs seeking to start their own mobile advertising business and offer a unique mobile advertising service to businesses and professionals who want to add enhanced "mobility" to their marketing. Combo-Text will enable you to offer a highly specialized and unique mobile advertising service with NO Telco charges and NO per message fees whatsoever. 

02. WHAT IS A SHORT CODE?

A Short Code is an abbreviated phone number - which in our case, is a short, six-digit mobile number - that requires no area code and works anywhere in the U.S. You've probably seen TV and print ads asking people to "Just text OUR KEYWORD to 368674 to join and receive..." This six-digit number is known as a Short Code. They are widely used to send request text messages as well as a subscription tool that enables consumers to opt-in and subscribe to a mobile campaign right from their phone.

03. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "DESIGNATED" SHORT CODE NUMBER?
Your designated short code number depends on the Domain Name that you use for your mobile service. If your Domain Name is a DOTCOM, your designated short code number would be 368266 (which if you look at a cellphone keypad, spells d-o-t-c-o-m). If your Domain Name is a DOTNET, your  short code is 368638. And if your Domain Name is a DOTORG, your designated short code is 368674.

04. DOES MY DESIGNATED SHORT CODE WORK OUTSIDE THE U.S.?
No. The short codes that we use work only within the Continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

05. DO PEOPLE GET CHARGED WHEN THEY CALL THE SHORT CODE NUMBER?
No. The short codes that we use do NOT charge for any call. However, the caller must have a current text messaging or data plan from his/her mobile carrier in order to request an instant message or to subscribe to receive message updates. Standard charges from carrier may apply.

06. WHAT IS A "PROVIDER" OR "PUBLISHER"?
The term "Publisher" (also know as the Provider of the Mobile Advertising Service) refers to YOU - the individual or the business entity that owns and offers the mobile advertising service. Since you are the owner of your own mobile advertising service, you are primarily responsible for the "CONTENT" that is being offered through your service. Hence, this technically makes you the Content Provider, or what is referred to as the Publisher.

07. WHAT IS AN "ADVERTISER"?
An Advertiser is any brand or business, local or national, that sends their advertising messages via SMS text message through your service.  If you order our ComboText System and offer mobile advertising service to others, then Advertisers are your Clients. Advertisers pay you in order to use your service, which enables them to send advertising messages to their customers.
• EACH Advertiser is assigned its own unique KEYWORD.
• EACH Advertiser can have UNLIMITED consumers request their messages.
• EACH Advertiser can send UNLIMITED messages via SMS Text Message, using your service.

08. WHAT IS A "MOBILE SUBSCRIBER"?
A Mobile Subscriber — also referred to as "Consumer" or "Recipient" — is a person who has opted-in or subscribed to receive automatic updates from a specific Advertiser. Each individual Advertiser can have an UNLIMITED number of subscribers to whom they can send their messages.

09. WHAT IS AN "OPT-IN CODE"?
The OPT-IN CODE is the same as your DOMAIN NAME - the name of your Website under which you offer mobile advertising service. As a Publisher offering Mobile Advertising service, you will need to have your own domain name which will also serve as your official Mobile Opt-in Code. Your Opt-in Code is the FIRST word that consumers type when requesting an instant message or when subscribing to receive automatic message updates from a specific Advertiser.

10. WHAT IS A "KEYWORD"?
A KEYWORD is the word or name that an Advertiser chooses to specifically and uniquely identify itself to the general public. Each of your Advertising Clients will have their own unique Keyword. Their keyword is the SECOND word that consumers type when requesting an instant message or when subscribing to receive automatic updates from a specific Advertiser.

11. CAN I USE THE SAME DOMAIN NAME FOR COMBOTEXT AND ANY OTHER SYSTEMS?
No. If you intend to offer another mobile advertising service in addition to offering Combo-Text service, you will need to allocate TWO Domain Names, one for each service. Most Publishers who do this use the same domain name, but with different extensions. For example, you can use MYDOMAIN.COM for your Combo-Text service and use MYDOMAIN.NET for your AdPix advertising showcase.

12. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE "BASIC" AND THE "PROPLUS" SYSTEMS?
All mobile and messaging functionalities are the SAME. However, with the Basic System, you only get 100 Advertiser Keywords. With the PROPlus System, you get One (1,000) Thousand Advertiser Keywords plus the "txtNpix" feature which enables your advertisers to add pictures to their text messages. So, for just $100. more for set-up and $19./month extra, you get TEN TIMES MORE Keywords plus the "txtNpix" feature when you order the PROPlus system. 

GETTING THE MESSAGES (Request Process)

01. HOW DO CONSUMERS SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE AUTOMATIC UPDATES?
To subscribe, consumers are required to text TWO words: the DOMAIN NAME that identifies the owner of the service and the KEYWORD that identifies the specific Advertiser from whom they wish to receive promotional text messages. Example: If the domain name is PROMOBUX and the advertiser's keyword is PIZZA, then the consumer must text the words PROMOBUX PIZZA to the short code number 368266.

02. AFTER THE CONSUMER SENDS A REQUEST, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The System automatically sends a reply, offering the consumer TWO options for receiving the message.
PRESS 1 - will enable the consumer to subscribe to receive automatic promotional updates whereby the consumer is sent all FUTURE promotional offers from the specified advertiser.
PRESS 2 - will automatically and instantly send the consumer ONLY the most current promotion offer of the advertiser. This is a one-time-only request and the consumer will NOT receive any future updates.

03. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CONSUMER SELECTS OPTION #1 TO SUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES?
If the consumer selects Option #1, the consumer would receive another text message requesting them to verify their intention to subscribe. To do this, the consumer must reply with the word "YES" to confirm their subscription. After that, the consumer is officially subscribed. The entire process may take one to two minutes to complete.

04. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CONSUMER SELECTS OPTION #2 TO RECEIVE THE CURRENT PROMO?
If the consumer selects Option #2, the system will automatically and instantly send the consumer the most current promotional offer of the advertiser. This is a one-time-only request and the consumer will not receive any future updates. If the consumer wants to receive promotional updates later on, he/she must make another "Instant Request", or they can subscribe in order to receive updates automatically.

05. HOW DOES SOMEONE UNSUBSCRIBE?
There are two ways to unsubscribe: (A) Send a text message that says "STOP" along with the Domain Name and Keyword, or (B) After receiving a message from an advertiser, reply to the text message with the word "STOP" to automatically unsubscribe.

06. WHAT IS "txtNpix" AND HOW DO PEOPLE RECEIVE THE PICTURE?
txtNpix is a standard supported feature that enables your advertisers to include to their SMS text message a link to a supported image. People who have smartphones can simply click on the link to view the accompanying image. Instead of just sending a simple text message, advertisers can now include an image which can enhance their marketing message and attract more customers.

07. IS "txtNpix" THE SAME AS MMS?
No. With MMS, the picture is an integral part of the text message, making MMS more expensive to deliver and possibly cause the recipient extra fees. txtNpix sends the picture separately through the Mobile Web, making it easily available to people with smartphones.

08. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE MOBILE CUSTOMER HAS AN ORDINARY CELL PHONE?
If the recipient of the text message does not have smartphone, they will still be able to receive the text message in full. However, their phone will not be able to click to view the accompanying image. This is why, even with the txtNpix feature, advertisers must still write their text message in a manner that is sufficiently comprehensive and effectively deliver their marketing message.

09. WILL PEOPLE RECEIVE THE IMAGE WHETHER THEY CHOSE OPTION #1 OR #2?
Yes. People will receive the advertiser's text plus image whether they simply request to receive the most current promotional offer of the advertiser (option#1), or subscribe to receive updates (option #2).

10. IS THERE A DEMO THAT I CAN TRY?
Yes. From your cell phone, you can text the words PROMOBUX PIZZA and send to 368266 (DOTCOM). If you text to this demo service, you will get an idea of how the 2-in-1 SMS request process works. (Please note that this demo uses our new txtNpix feature. So, if you are using a smartphone, you will also receive the accompanying image.)

PRIVATE-LABEL COMBOTEXT WEBSITE

01. WHAT DO I NEED IN ORDER TO START MY MOBILE COMBOTEXT SERVICE?
The key to getting started is to pick the DOMAIN NAME that you want to use. This domain name will be used as your official Opt-in Code, as your Marketing Website, and as your Mobile ComboText Website.

02. WHAT DOES MY "WEBSITE" DO?
Your Website ... (1) Contains all the mobile system communications files needed to make your domain name function as a mobile advertising delivery system; (2) Your website contains a Keyword Search & Registration Form which will enable potential Advertisers to check the availability of a keyword they wish to use; (3) Your website will be ecommerce-enabled and will connect to your PayPal account, so your advertisers can order and pay for your service; (4) Your website also has an Admin Back Office where you can login to manage activities relevant to your service; and (5) Your website will also have a Client Back Office where all your advertisers can login and send their advertising messages. 

03. CAN I SEE A SAMPLE WEBSITE LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE GIVING ME?
Yes. Go to TEXTCOMBO.COM. This will give you an idea of how your own website will appear. The design of your own website will be based on this template and cannot be modified. If you want to create a certain look or require a website with a different billing structure, we encourage you to design your own marketing website. 

IMPORTANT: The design of your marketing website is by itself just a collateral element of our overall service. The most important and most valuable aspects of our service are NOT VISIBLE TO YOU. This includes all the Mobile Communications functionalities that: (a) make your Domain Name work with your Short Code number, (b) provide your Advertisers a back office to enable them to edit/modify/send their advertising messages, and (c) enable your website to deliver ads via SMS Text Message.

04. CAN I SELECT ANY DOMAIN NAME I WANT FOR MY WEBSITE?
Yes. However, since your Domain name will also be used as your Opt-in Code, you should consider the following: (a) Keep your domain name short, preferably 15 characters or less. This will make it easier to remember and easier to type on a phone keypad; (b) Your domain name can only be a DotCom, DotNet, or DotOrg - because these three are the only ones that will work with the short codes we use.

05. I DO NOT HAVE A DOMAIN NAME; WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
You can go to www.centralops.net to check whether the domain name you want to use is available. After that, go to our Domain Set-Up Form (at the Web address shown on the email you'll receive after you order your ComboText System) and complete the form accordingly. You have the option to register the domain name - on your own - using any registry service you want. Or, we can register your domain name for you at no extra charge. However, we strongly recommend that you first check and make sure the domain name you want to use is available.

06. SHOULD I REGISTER MY OWN DOMAIN NAME OR SHOULD I LET BRANDEL DO IT FOR ME?
Registering your own domain name offers a lot of advantages, including the ability to choose your own registrar and control the records of your domain name for email and other purposes. Plus, if you wish to transfer or sell the domain name later on, you have full access to do whatever you want.

07. I ALREADY REGISTERED MY OWN DOMAIN NAME; WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
If you already own a domain name, simply go to our Domain Set-Up Form (at the Web address shown on the email that you'll receive after you order your ComboText System) and complete the form accordingly. After completing the form, you will be instructed to point the DNS properties of your domain to our servers where we will host your mobile advertising website for you.

08. WHAT IF I AM ALREADY USING MY DOMAIN NAME AND IT HAS CONTENT?
If that's the case, keep your current website where it is and just register a NEW domain name which we can use EXCLUSIVELY for your Mobile ComboText website. Once you allot a domain name for your Mobile ComboText website, it will have to be hosted at our server and you will NOT have any backdoor access to the website. You will not be able to add or make changes to the content of the website. 

09. WHAT IF I WOULD LIKE TO DESIGN MY OWN WEBSITE?
In that case, we recommend you use TWO domain names: (a) Use domain#1 for your ComboText System, which we will host and utilize for all mobile communications functions; and (b) Use domain#2 as your main marketing website, which you can host on your own, and design any way you want. 

10. CAN I CUSTOMIZE THE MAIN GRAPHICS OF MY WEBSITE?
Yes. From your admin back-office, you will be able to upload your own custom banner which appears on the very top of the main page of your website. This is the only image that you can customize and update any time you want. If you do not have a custom banner, we have stock designs that you can use.

11. CAN BRANDEL MAKE MY WEBSITE JUST BLANK OR POINT TO MY SELF-DESIGNED WEBSITE?
Yes, we can. This situation usually comes up when a Publisher wishes to design and host their own marketing website. We can have the website we are hosting to display a blank screen, or we can have it point to another URL, which can be the marketing website that you design and host on your own.

12. CAN I HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS USING MY DOMAIN NAME THAT YOU'RE HOSTING?
We will NOT program any custom email address involving the domain name that we are hosting and using for your ComboText System. It would be better for you to use another domain name or email service as your email address for your marketing or customer-contact needs. 

PAYPAL ACCOUNT

01. WHY DO YOU REQUIRE A PAYPAL EMAIL FROM ME?
As an added OPTIONAL feature, we've included an "order page" to the basic Website that we create and host for you. This order page has an order button that will automatically connect an advertiser to your PayPal account, giving them the ability to order your service and pay with a major credit card - Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover - or pay with their PayPal account.

02. CAN I CHANGE THE AMOUNT I WANT PAYPAL TO CHARGE MY ADVERTISERS?
Yes. In your Admin Back Office, you will find a form that will enable you to make changes to the amount you want to charge your advertisers. You can charge both by-the-MONTH and by-the-YEAR, which gives your advertising clients the opportunity to choose which way they prefer to pay for your service.

03. HOW MUCH SHOULD I CHARGE?
As the owner of your own Mobile service, you can charge your advertisers any rate you want. However, based on our observation of competitive industry pricing, we recommend $59 Per MONTH or $599 Per YEAR. This pricing is extremely competitive considering that you're offering your advertisers a 2-in-1 SMS delivery of UNLIMITED messages to UNLIMITED consumers with NO per-message fee whatsoever. 

04. I DO NOT HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT; WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Setting up a PayPal account is EASY and FREE. Click here: (www.paypal.com) to sign up.

05. I ALREADY HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT; WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
If you already have a PayPal account, simply login to your website's ADMIN Back Office and click on "Update/Modify Account Information" from the main menu. From there, you can enter your PayPal account email address as well as the prices you wish to charge for your service.

06. I ONLY HAVE A REGULAR MERCHANT ACCOUNT: WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
In this case, you have TWO options: (1) Get a PayPal account and you can program your website's order button accordingly. (2) Design your own marketing website and use your merchant account to bill your advertisers. Please note that if you plan to take this route, you must have adequate knowledge of HTML and whatever other programming your merchant account requires. We do NOT provide any support or coaching on this matter as this is beyond the scope of our service.
DISTRIBUTORS / DISTRIBUTOR CODES

01. HOW DO I SET UP DISTRIBUTORS TO MARKET MY PRODUCT?
You can set up an unlimited number of distributors and affiliates to promote your service. Simply assign each distributor a CODE name or a number (or any combination of numbers and letters) by which you can easily identify each of your distributors. In order to get credited for their sale, your distributor must promote their unique Web address which will  look something like this: www.yourdomainname.com/?mpx=ZZZZZ  (where ZZZZZ represents the Distributor Code.)

02. HOW DO I KNOW WHICH DISTRIBUTOR MADE THE SALE ?
If an Advertiser uses the PayPal button to order your service, the Distributor Code is also sent to PayPal. This information will form part of the ITEM NAME that PayPal sends you after the order is placed, so you can identify which distributor brought in the order. Give it a try. Order a keyword by clicking the button that connects to Paypal. When the PayPal screen shows up, look under the "Item#" and you will see something like (MX=????) - reflecting the Distributor Code you used.

03. WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ADVERTISER DOES NOT ENTER A DISTRIBUTOR CODE?
If an Advertiser fails to enter a Distributor Code, the system will automatically display your Domain Name or the Number "111" as the distributor. So, when you receive an order notice from PayPal with your Domain Name or 111 as the a distributor, you'll know what happened. Chances are, this is an in-house sale that was not generated by a distributor, also making the sale non-commissionable.


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