Attention-Grabbing Study Aid (You've Got Text)

It's always been hard to encourage our teenage children to study for exams, but since the advent of the mobile phone and its attraction as an always-on and always-demanding diversion, that challenge just got harder.

How can you expect your child to open a book and study when there's texts to read and answer? What sort of a heartless parent are you?

If You Can't Beat Them.....

Our Kickstart Your Business feature SMStutor (a text-based service created by Frank McNamara) is a classic case of 'If you can't beat them, join them' problem-solving. Frank, a well known pianist and composer, is also the father of two teenage children and it was in that role he discovered his budding entrepreneurial skills.

Seeing how difficult it was to get the two Leaving Cert students to open a book because they seemed more fixated on their phones, he developed SMS Tutor, a learning system delivered by text to mobile phones.

Meet The Parents

Whilst Gerard admired the way in which Frank had neatly handled the challenge of serving two customers (student and parent) in one neat solution, he suggested that his promotional material might better demonstrate his understanding of the particular challenges faced by a parent worried about their child's study habits.

In the mid-term, this simple addition might ensure that SMSTutor establishes a strong position in the market and a loyal following, and doesn't lose out to others who might easily mimic Frank's innovation.

Over To You

What other ways can Frank embed his new service as an essential study-aid? Listen back to the show on Kickstart Your Business and let us know what you think.

We'd love to hear from you.

Kickstart Your Business is broadcast live on The Right Hook on Newstalk106 in Ireland every Thursday at 6.20pm and is available on Playback immediately afterwards.