Google has announced that they are “testing a new ad format that conveniently delivers the latest brand offers and updates straight to consumers’ phones via text messages. People can click to subscribe to a Google service that tailors promotional messages to products they’re interested in.”
Google has set up separate text message “subscriptions” for users who are searching for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and general holiday deals. If a Google user subscribes to this service, they are going nto receive text alerts about deals and promotions “from poplar retailers.”
Are you interested in checking out this feature for the holidays? You can text “JOIN” to any of these three numbers:
For Black Friday: 847-904-0608
For Cyber Monday: 847-906-8958
For Holiday deals: 847-904-0596
After sending the text to any of the numbers listed above, you’ll get a confirmation text from Google. At some point later, you’ll begin to receive the promotional alerts.
The promotional texts are going to be based on the ad a user responds to, and not on specific product interests. As an example, you you decide to subscribe to the Black Friday updates, texts will be sent t you that are matched to deals available for that day.
Also, these promotions aren’t linked to any retailer’s Google Merchant Feed. Rather, these text ads are created by participating retailers specifically for the text ad subscriptions. Any texts that you receive that contains a link in it will take you to a retailer’s mobile site.