‘Message Guru’ reaches consumers via e-mail

With broadband connection becoming more affordable, Internet uptake is expected to rise. In keeping with this development, there’s a new service that’s sure to help Philippine businesses reach the growing number of tech-savvy customers online.

Developed by local IT company Asiagate Networks Inc., Message Guru aims to take advantage of the widespread availability and affordability of broadband Internet and entice more Filipinos to transact online.

In 2004, the number of Internet users in the Philippines went up to 11.8 million compared to 3.2 million in 2002.

Moreover, as IT research firm International Data Corp. (IDC) found in a recent study, Internet users in the Philippines are estimated to maintain a healthy 22 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the forecast period of 2005-2009.

"With the high costs of traditional advertising, e-mail marketing presents itself as a cost-effective, vital and a more direct and focused alternative in communicating with consumers," says Asiagate chief operating officer Liza de los Reyes.

And with 99.6 percent of the total businesses in the Philippines classified as small and medium-scale enterprises, Message Guru may, indeed, prove to be one of the most viable marketing tools in these times.

Built on an application service provider (ASP) model, Message Guru is the first locally developed application that allows various types of organizations to build their customer databases for the delivery of e-mail marketing campaigns.

Message Guru gives individuals or enterprises access – via an Internet-connected PC browser – to the service that would otherwise have to be located in their own personal or enterprise computers. Only a minimal monthly subscrip-tion fee is charged.

Message Guru also offers SMS and MMS marketing, providing a single platform for three communications technologies.

The service can be used as a communications tool for promotions, new product and service announcements, invita-tions, surveys and more.

Delightfully user-friendly, Mes-sage Guru allows the user to build his database online, create e-mail campaigns, and view campaign performance results. Automatic delivery of pre-scheduled campaigns, forwarding and opt-out functions are built in.

For database building, the type of information the user wants to collect can be as unique as the user wants it to be with the aid of Message Guru.

"We developed Message Guru to give the user unparalleled flexibility," De los Reyes says. "The service allows the user to build his unique profile for his customer base, extending the richness of information beyond contact lists."

De los Reyes says that it is possible to store data unique to a particular enterprise.

"For example, companies in the hospitality industry may want to note a customer’s favorite restaurant or room and keep it in their database," she adds.

From building customer data, Message Guru allows the user to create highly visual and branded e-mail newsletters through intuitive screens.

"About an hour of training at most is required to get used to the interface. More computer-savvy users can skip it altogether," De los Reyes says.

Professionally designed templates are also available. They allow the user to fast-track the development of his own material. Message Guru makes it easy for him to insert his own content – from simple text to logos, images, and even Flash animations.

Message Guru also provides useful features such as real-time online reports which show the performance of a particular campaign, indicating metrics such as send and open, forwarding and opt-out rates. The messages are, of course, sent through the high-capacity network of Asiagate.

For inquiries, call 752-4969/71/72 or log on to www.message-guru.com.ph.