I just did a google search on “text to vote”. Some of the results that came up are listed below. What I want you to notice is the power of mobile voting/polling. It is an interactive way for a company or an event to get people’s opinions about what is happening either in the current moment or something that has already passed.

The good news is that mobile polling and voting used to be limited to specific carriers (i.e. the American Idol and Dancing with the Stars examples). Now, there are mobile platforms out there that enable even small companies or event management companies to set up their own mobile polling and voting systems. It is a great way to interact with you clients and consumers. The thing that would be of most concern to someone wanting to start up their own mobile voting campaign during an event is, “how hard would it be to set up?”

Good companies that provide this service allow you to set up the questions and mobile text numbers via a web-enabled platform. This means that you can just go online and set up a mobile question in less than five minutes. Additionally, you will want to take a look at the cost for each time a person texts in to vote. What you really want to stay away from is a situation where the third party text company charges voters to vote (ie. the example for DJ Metro below). No one will want to give you their opinion if they have to pay for it.

Lastly, you will want to think about charges to set up the software or have access to the platform. These sometimes can get expensive.

Here are the three things to look for again:

1.) Cost of set-up/platform access

2.) Cost to send and receive text messages (anything over 7 cents is a rip-off)

3.) Difficulty level of setting up a mobile voting question (this should take under 10 minutes, anything more is too complicated of a system)

Also, remember to check out the text to vote examples below:

Frequently Asked Questions - American Idol

Additionally, if you text vote using AT&T Mobility Text Messaging, … For American Idol, only AT&T Mobility customers can vote by text message using their …
www.americanidol.com/faq/

Dancing With The Stars - About Text Voting - ABC.com

AT&T subscribers may text the word VOTE to the text messaging 4 digit short … If you are sending your text vote from a wireless phone with an area code …
abc.go.com/primetime/…/index?pn=textvotingfaq

Text Your Vote to Help Determine ELLEgirl Nationwide Model Search …

NEW YORK, March 6 /PRNewswire/ — All of the submissions are in, and all of the finalists have been chosen. Now you can help ELLEgirl, Clairol, …
www.reuters.com/…/idUS108158+06-Mar-2009+PRN20090306

DJ METRO (Text 73997 and Vote 85) best midwest!! on MySpace Music …

Download DJ METRO (Text 73997 and Vote 85) best midwest!! Hip Hop / / music singles, watch music videos, listen to free streaming mp3s, & read DJ METRO …
www.myspace.com/djmetro18 -

Nashville Star TV Show | Online Contestant Voting, Rules & How to …

Inside Buy More is a social networking game for fans of the TV show Chuck. …. Unlimited Text Voting! Vote for your favorite Stars as much as you want each …
www.nbc.com/Nashville_Star/vote/register.shtml -