Best Benefit Ever: Text Discounts for Information, Referral Providers

What’s the benefit? Information and referral (I & R) professionals require fast, dependable ways to communicate with people who are in need of support services. Alliance of Information and Referral Services  (opens in a new tab) (AIRS) members can now conduct business more efficiently with the help of discounted two-way text services  (opens in a new tab). The benefit, offered through Educational Message Services  (opens in a new tab), gives members the option to use short text codes instead of full telephone numbers.

Why it works for members: Short text codes help I&R professionals better connect with people who are more likely to text than to pick up a phone. They also have fewer digits to remember (e.g., ABC123) and form an instant association with the organization. “Over the past few years AIRS has been encouraging members to provide I&R through additional channels (such as chat, email, and text) to meet changing communication preferences and new demographics,” AIRS President Joan Phelps told members in a newsletter  (opens in a new tab).

Other perks: AIRS offers three levels of membership  (opens in a new tab), with benefits ranging from special member rates on telephone interpretation; access to the AIRS Networker, a members-only social-networking site; and discounts for online printing.

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