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SMS marketing has become a must-have for businesses of all sizes. While some argue that it’s not as effective as other forms of advertising, others say SMS marketing can be a powerful tool for increasing brand awareness and driving sales.

Here are the advantages of SMS marketing.

1. It’s Affordable

SMS marketing is often less expensive than other forms of digital advertising, such as display ads and Google AdWords. Compared to direct mail or email, it’s also more targeted. Direct mail can be expensive because you have to send out thousands of pieces of paper and then try to get them picked up by people who want your product or service.

2. Can Be Delivered 24/7

Another advantage of SMS marketing is that it can be delivered at any time of the day or night so long as there is an internet connection in an area where someone with a cell phone wants to receive one (or more) messages from your company’s service!

3. It’s Easy to Use

In terms of technology, SMS is very straightforward. You don’t need much software or hardware to get started with it, so it’s easy for anyone to jump into the game without any prior experience. This makes it appealing for new and established businesses looking for a low-cost marketing solution that doesn’t require a lot of setup time or ongoing costs (such as paying monthly fees).

4. It’s Targeted

With text messages, you can target specific demographics based on location, age, gender, and interests — which allows you to reach an audience that more closely represents your target demographic than other mediums such as email or social media channels do (which are generally less targeted).

5. It’s Personal

The biggest advantage of SMS marketing is that it allows you to reach out directly to your customers in a more personal way than email or social media. This can help you build relationships with your customers and make them feel like part of your team rather than just another number on the list. It also helps you gain new insights into their thoughts and how they feel about your products and services.

6. It’s Convenient

SMS marketing can be especially convenient for small businesses that want to keep their advertising costs low without sacrificing quality results. Unlike some other forms of advertising, it doesn’t require any special equipment or monthly fees — which means … Read the rest

Getting back into action with ADR

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Our spinal columns are quite literally at the center of everything we do, informing our every step, twist, or motion. Even our ability to stand upright and motionless is entirely dependent on our spine. Research indicates that over 80% of Americans will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, and around 5% will go on to develop chronic pain. While there are a range of different approaches to regaining spinal health, for severe pain and mobility issues, surgical intervention may be necessary. Artificial disc replacement surgery has emerged as a superior surgical option. The turn of the millennium in the US marked the first year in which artificial disc replacement surgery, or ADR, was performed. although the procedure can be traced back a further ten years in Europe. Here’s how and when it can cure the pain of a bad back.

If your spinal pain is chronic and is assessed by a specialist as being related to a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease, you may be a candidate for ADR, also known as TDR, or total disc replacement. It’s an operation in which the damaged disc, or in some cases discs, are replaced with an artificial motion device. ADR is an alternative to spinal fusion procedures, and one that may offer improved long-term pain relief solutions. A medical study found that twice as many patients were pain free five years post-surgery having undergone a total disc replacement as compared to those who had a spinal fusion. Of course, individual circumstances always have a great bearing on the success of any treatment and it’s impossible to unequivocally say that one option is better than the other for all patients. The goal of any spinal surgery is to address any restriction of mobility, and lessen the associated pain or tingling sensations.

It also isn’t one size fits all when it comes to the type of replacement disc a surgeon will recommend. There’s a large range of cervical and lumbar discs, most made from artificial materials, that provide for a range of different placement options. A spine specialist will use a patient’s imaging studies along with clinical insights into the efficacy of certain discs, to choose the most appropriate disc. As research into the area is ongoing, newer disc options are constantly in development and trial at highly regarded institutions such as the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center of Excellence. Spinal neurosurgeon Dr. Todd H. Lanman, who … Read the rest