Podium, the leading customer messaging platform for local businesses, announced that Podium Starter is now available to local businesses in the United States. Created as a response to wanting to assist local businesses’ recovery from COVID-19, the free suite of tools is designed to enable local businesses to adapt to the new normal by being able to quickly and easily get a start on texting their customers.
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Podium Starter combines the fundamental benefits of its best-in-class suite of messaging tools into a free, basic starter pack for the first time. Designed specifically for local businesses, companies can set up Podium Starter and begin messaging customers in under five minutes through a simple self-service portal. After that, businesses will instantly have the tools to start customer messaging, contact-free mobile payments and webchat using texting and messaging channels that customers use and trust.
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“The need for local business isn’t going anywhere, and we understand the immense challenge that these entrepreneurs are facing right now,” said Eric Rea, co-founder and CEO at Podium. “By offering a free introductory version for the first time, we’re aiming to make it possible for every local business to message their customers at a time when they need it most. We’ve already seen some success with our trial run through our text-to-takeout restaurant program in Utah, and we’re excited to see businesses across the country take advantage of our latest offering.”
Podium Starter’s essential tools can help local businesses get a start on building and maintaining contact with their customers and operating via text, including:
- Staying open despite low foot traffic – Companies can utilize text to do business — sending pictures, answering questions, coordinating and more — without opening their doors.
- Accepting safe, no-contact payments – Customers can pay without handing a card over, touching a credit card reader or using a pen to sign a receipt.
- Enabling texts right away – Podium Starter is easy to use and free, and businesses can begin texting customers within minutes of signing up.
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