Service brands
But what about service brands? How do you leverage Siri right now? Think messages.
Many businesses and brands have SMS access to their businesses, and this is where you can leverage Siri. That is how you can set your status on Facebook or tweet with Siri. And until Apple builds an API, that is the hack you will have to use as a brand.
Example: Laundry Locker
I happen to use a service in San Francisco called Laundry Locker. It's a great service where you can just drop off your laundry in a locker and text the locker number to the company. It picks up your laundry, cleans it, and puts it back in a locker. I can access that locker 24 hours a day so I never have to rush home. It's convenient and reasonably priced, and the service does a great job.
One issue I have with Laundry Locker? It doesn't have a mobile application or mobile site. How did I solve that problem? And what should Laundry Locker be promoting? Siri to the rescue!
Laundry Locker has SMS access via the SMS short code 66746.
I simply enter Laundry Locker as an address book entry in my iPhone, and then say, "Siri, tell Laundry Locker Laundry 445." Siri takes my message, contacts Laundry Locker, and tells them my laundry is in locker 445 and ready to be picked up.
All I am doing is hacking the system that is available, and Laundry Locker can advertise that today. However, it would be even more useful to extend this system to work more with natural language. I could specify specific laundry detergent or even use Laundry Locker's corner store to add anything from batteries to tampons to my order (i.e., "Siri, tell Laundry Locker that my laundry is in locker 445, and add some AA batteries, some collar stays, and a lint roller.").
