Key Takeaways
- SMS has grown from its roots as an acronym for “Short Messaging Service” to become one of the fastest-growing digital communication channels, surpassing email.
- SMS messages are free and don’t require much time to send, so you can leverage this great technology without having to spend a lot or invest in new hardware.
- To get started, you need to create an account with a provider like Twilio and then set up accounts on the networks where you want to send messages (like Facebook Messenger).
SMS marketing is a great way to grow your business because it’s free to start and easy to maintain. With the right strategy, SMS marketing can help you reach your target audience than other types of media like email, direct mail, or social media. This article will provide tips for getting started with SMS marketing and how it can benefit your business!
What is SMS Marketing?
SMS Marketing is a short form of marketing that uses text messages to send promotional information, coupons, and more. SMS has grown from its roots as an acronym for “Short Messaging Service” to become one of the fastest-growing digital communication channels, surpassing email.
SMS can be used by any company or organization looking for ways to connect with customers on a personal level. You can also delve into global SMS capabilities to expand your target market and reach customers and clients from all over the globe. Keep in mind that customers love getting personalized texts about new products they may have been interested in. The great part is that text messaging is not only fast, but it’s also free!
How to Use SMS Marketing for Your Business
To use SMS marketing to reach your customers, you need a few simple steps.
First, SMS should be built into the way you do business. You’ll want to focus on easy access and response times so that SMS isn’t an additional task, but rather it becomes part of everyday operations at your company or organization. And since SMS is already about brevity, you won’t have any trouble fitting this service in with what’s already going on.
If SMS looks like a good fit for your business, start by implementing single opt-in methods only. Once people sign up via SMS from their phone number, they automatically opt-in without agreeing again via text message. SMS marketing tools are also a perfect fit for CRM and lead generation software because SMS is the preferred method of communication among customers.
Next, you’ll want to create mobile content that’s relevant to your audience. You know what they like based on their SMS input! Customers who opt-in through SMS will have more interest in reading about special offers or new product releases if those messages come as texts from companies instead of email blasts.
Finally, it’s crucial that people feel comfortable opting into any future SMS offerings by changing their minds at any time. This means providing an easy way out via text message, so there isn’t a negative association with deciding not to be contacted via SMS again.
Benefits of Using Text Messaging
One of the primary benefits of SMS Marketing is that it’s cost-effective. SMS messages are free and don’t require much time to send, so you can leverage this great technology without having to spend a lot or invest in new hardware.
SMS marketing also offers one-to-one communication. You know exactly who your message is going out to and when they’re opening the text because delivers notifications right on their phone. There’s no need for tracking numbers or email addresses.
And perhaps most importantly, SMS doesn’t use up valuable data as emails do. With SMS messages, customers won’t worry about exceeding their monthly limit while using the Internet. Marketers report as high as 98% open rates, which means more potential conversions into clients via SMS.
Do You Need SMS Marketing for Your Business?
With the constant email traffic your potential customers receive, it can be challenging to stand out from the crowd. “SMS marketing makes it easier for small businesses to expand their reach and connect with their customers.” It’s easy to use, inexpensive, timely, and personal. This is perfect for any company or organization looking to reach its audience on a new level.
Common Mistakes Made When Starting a Campaign
Some of the most common mistakes made when starting SMS Marketing campaigns are not implementing single opt-in methods, sending irrelevant content to customers, and forgetting that SMS is personal.
Tips for Success and What You Should Avoid Doing
If you’re just getting started with SMS marketing for your business or organization, these tips will help guide you on the right path.
One tip to start with is to make sure you’re not sending spam messages, as they’re illegal in most places. It should also go without saying that you shouldn’t send harassing or malicious SMS messages either. It’s also important to keep SMS messages short and sweet. That way, you don’t lose the reader’s attention or risk them not reading it at all.
Keep SMS marketing as simple as possible so readers understand what’s being promised in your SMS message. For example: “Want $25 off today? Text JOIN now!” This is much clearer than a cryptic text like “JOIN for MASSIVE savings!”.
If these tips are followed strictly, people won’t be able to resist texting back an inquiry because of the offer of something valuable–a deal on their favorite product or service. Remember that SMS messaging should only include information about products/services relevant to those texts’ recipients.
Sending out SMS messages too frequently will lead people to unsubscribe from your list because it starts feeling like this is all you do. You’ll want a healthy balance of promotional SMS messages (“Buy our latest product!”) and updates about what’s going on at your company/organization (e.g., “We’ve updated our website”). This way, people don’t feel bombarded by one type of message.
The Bottom Line
SMS marketing is a cost-effective form of digital marketing that can help drive more sales for your business. To get started, you need to create an account with a provider like Twilio and then set up accounts on the networks where you want to send messages (like Facebook Messenger). Consider using these tips when starting so your campaign has the best chance at success.
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