Short Message Service or SMS is the king of mobile messaging. In 2011, eight trillion SMS messages were sent by almost six billion mobile phone subscribers around the world. This is despite the fact that more and more people are now using mobile electronic mail or email, instant messaging or IM, and multi-media messaging service or MMS to communicate.
It is estimated that in 2016, SMS messages will be used as automatic alerts in bank transactions, product verifications, and other operational activities.
In mobile advertising, the United States and Asia continue to lead in reaching out to customers via SMS messaging. More and more businesses are now spending millions on their SMS marketing campaigns, in addition to their advertisements on TV and online.
Bulk SMS Service
The secret in availing of the best Bulk SMS service provider is simple: research first. Research should be done before picking the right Bulk SMS provider. Decision-making should be based on the results of the research and not on mere media hype.
There are providers that offer free trials, to make sure that the Bulk SMS service meets the demands of the marketing campaign.
One of the greatest features that some Bulk SMS service providers offer is the personalization of messages. This feature lets recipients read promotional messages with their own name in the first part of the message. Another feature is the scheduling of message sending. This allows companies to set the date of the blasting of a certain message.
SMS Marketing: Spamming?
The database of contact numbers, that will receive the marketing message, may be produced via promotional activities.
When customers are aware that they have entered their numbers for an SMS marketing campaign, they do not get annoyed when they start receiving promotional SMS messages. They may use the messages to be updated with the latest promos and products of the company.
On the other hand, customers become irritated when they read SMS marketing messages from companies that they have not interacted with lately. They begin to wonder who “sold” their mobile phone number. They are upset and are more likely to find the process on how to unsubscribe from the campaign.
Not all customers welcome SMS marketing messages positively, whether they were the ones who registered their number or not. Some customers directly look for the process in unsubscribing. Basically, it is their right to do so. Customers should be given the option to stop receiving SMS marketing messages from a company.
Customers have different behaviors in dealing with marketing emails and marketing SMS. Customers like to read promotional SMS once in every blue moon. They hate daily promo notifications, unlike with marketing emails that are usually categorized as “spam” in their inbox.
When conducting SMS marketing campaigns, promotional strategies can also be done to gather more mobile phone numbers. Customers who have been subscribed to the campaign may be offered incentives and souvenir items. Some companies give customers who voluntarily join the campaign freebies. Such move won’t hurt the financial stability of the company. Rather, it boosts customer experience. Through cross-promotion, SMS marketing can also encourage customers to visit corporate websites.
Running an SMS Marketing Campaign