GroupMe alternative with Michael from Evant.app

Welcome to the Status Island show. We have here Michael from Event. How are you? >> I'm good. Hello. How's it going? How are you? >> So, first introduce yourself in short what you do and then we'll get into it. >> Yes, I'm Michael. So, Event is a SMS platform for organizations, businesses, and private people of all types of nature to send out texts, voice, and emails. >> Very good. So, the reason why I called you today for the video is because everybody's talking about GroupMe. They stopped supporting SMS text messages, which was very popular in our community. So, first could you tell us, do you have something similar to the GroupMe group SMS? >> So, in short, yes, we do. But originally, Event's main purpose is not for group messaging. It's more so for uh you know, admin texting everybody and if somebody responds, it goes straight to the admin. With that said, we do have such a group messaging feature, um which we're not identical to GroupMe, but it has a lot of this it serves a lot of the same purpose. But, as you know, GroupMe was free. We aren't free. >> And look what happened to GroupMe because it was free. [laughter] >> Exactly. >> They closed down. Okay. So, let let let me ask you. I know a lot of shuls use your system for SMS. Give me an example what the shul would use it for and how how complicated is it to set up for them? >> Yeah, so shuls use our system to send out messages, text and voice for zmanim, z- mazaltovs, or a shiur. Uh they can send it from a kosher phone. They don't need to uh log in. So, folks who don't have internet readily available >> Oh, that's the guy with the kosher phone. Exactly. >> Exactly. Very easily. And even if somebody responds, he can respond to that response through his flip phone. >> Oh, so he'll everything could work when you're sending the message again, the response? >> Most most things, right? Like if he wants to upload users, he still needs to go into the system on his computer and upload a spreadsheet of uh contacts. >> But if somebody wants let's say a new person moved into the area and he wants to join the shul um group. >> Yes, we have a dedicated onboarding where they can say text your Event number, I want to join and you can ask custom question all right, what's your email automatically, you know, ask a few questions and adds them. And you have to save their info, too, and you have a whole a wide array of data. This is also super important. >> Right. So, that's about shoes, sending out the details, share change the time or something for last session. They send that out then everybody is on the same page directly to them. Right, that's another thing that SMS, everybody opens it. Right, it's not like an email that >> So, that's the good part about SMS. You know, emails and all that, you know, you need to have an app or a number. SMS is direct. Well, everybody has it on their text, so they'll open it and if you need them, they'll respond to. >> Right. So, now let me ask you, that was about shoes. Let me ask you for example a shoe store. How can they benefit from this program? >> So, they can send to all their opted-in users, their customers, their clients a new deal they're having. Let's say, you know, this size 11 shoe is now $40 and uh they can get a lot of sales from that or a silver store, for example, a new jewelry piece. It's a lot of good marketing as well. >> So, let's say for example, they want to announce the new season sale, when it's starting, when it's ending. So, a good way to get the >> Good ways to get out and for those folks who don't have text, you can send them a voice call, too. You can have a group dedicated to people who only have voice and send them a ring like a robo call. >> Oh, nice. >> Yeah. >> I hope you're not going to let the scam calls >> Most certainly not, no. Very clean. >> Nice. So, you have besides the text, you also do voice calls. So, all kinds of businesses to get your message across. It's very good for businesses. Very good for marketing. >> Including emails. >> Oh, let's talk about that cuz [laughter] I hope a lot of businesses are paying for constant contact or or whatever whatever programs. If they want to send a large amount of emails, um they're paying nice amount of money for that. Hopefully you have it for free. >> Yes. Our uh email features free for all of our paying customers. You can send out emails. You can even in a way have templates and design it and send out emails very nicely. So, it can take a lot of that use away from these other platforms you're paying $50 a month for. >> Wow, so even if you're going to pay to have the text system, which which is a good system to have, but they're going to instead of that they'll get the email for free. So, they might be a they might be net free. It might be that >> It really might be net free mostly. >> Wow. Okay. Let me ask you another thing. Let's say a business that does appointments, like a shape or marker or some type of businesses, a barber. Um how could they use your SMS system? >> So, for appointment-based systems, they can upload their calendar, their appointment list, and uh set it up so that an hour before each appointment, it's a little message, "Oh, you reminder, you have an appointment coming up." And it'll go automatically. Or uh if they want them to respond after, uh make sure to to confirm you're coming, respond yes. >> Oh, like that they make sure whoever's confirmed. >> Yes, so it's not only a forward messaging, it's also back and forth automated messaging for RSVPs, confirmations, polling. You know, >> It's not only simple sending out messages. >> No, it can be back and forth. For example, a school could use us. Um for all parents out there, text address if your address for this upcoming school year is different, they text address. Okay, what's your new address? They say the new address. And just like that, just like that, you have a list of all who answered instead of a Google form. It's very simple. >> Wow, very nice. >> For getting information, too. >> Let me ask you. I'm thinking, let's say a private person even. Let's say somebody is a popular person, and he has campaigns, events, SMS lists. He wants to let all those contacts know. Now, if somebody's not using your system, it's really a pain in the neck to go you can only send 20 texts at a time, and selecting everyone. Maybe um what do you think of a private person using your system also? >> They can use it, too. They can send all their contacts. They can get people to respond if they want RSVPs. We even have a donation feature built in where you make a free donation page, so you don't have to pay for these big companies, and you have almost all the features as the established players, but it comes with your event platform free. You have a event page which can be used to store forms. So, comes with a lot of different built-in things, too. >> Very nice. Wow. So, with this with this SMS feature they get all the things for free. They get the >> Exactly. >> uh email and donation page is very interesting. >> Voice, payment page, and all that. >> Very nice. Let me ask you only quickly about compliance. I know a lot of people have issues setting up SMS because because there's the government wants to avoid the spam. >> Yes. >> How do you help with that? >> So, we do it for you. It's very difficult, but we make it clean, simple. We don't even charge you for it, and we make sure you're clean compliant, and all your messages get through, which is nearly impossible to do yourself. >> Oh, wow. Okay. I think we covered everything. Any other feature that you think is important or covered the basics? >> I think we covered everything for now. >> has more questions, they should reach out. What's the number? The best contact? >> Best number is 201-443-7723, and we're going to post a link, too. Um you can come ahead go ahead reach out if you want to talk. You can try out the platform for free in terms of a sandbox, not sending message, but look at the platform yourself, and take it from there. We're here to help. >> Wow. So, the number that you said is called Text Wallet. We'll put it on the screen, and um and we're going to also post the link. >> Most certainly. >> Wow. I think this is going to help a lot of businesses get their business going. >> I hope so. >> It will help build communities and grow businesses. Amazing. Thank you so much, Michael. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> How do you say the name of the company? E-vent? Or how do you say it? >> E-vent, E-vent, whatever suits your boat. >> Whatever you want. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you so much.