Lots of folks think that SMS marketing is old news. This is really surprising to me considering that more and more people are using mobile devices! SMS can really work for you, but it’s all about knowing your audience well and offering them things they really want.
Think about it – everybody has a mobile phone. Most people carry them with them constantly. While we check our email whenever we’ve got a computer handy, the phone is always on and always taking calls.
It’s reported that 95% of text messages are opened in the 4 minutes after they’re received. Compare that to PC e-mail’s 20%! Text messaging also has drastically less spam because of tighter government regulations.
SMS allows you to get up-close and personal with your target market. Most of us only get texts from friends and family. If you have a good relationship with your subscribers, you’re included in this group.
What You Can Do With SMS Marketing
Most people use SMS marketing to make offers to their subscribers. These are either coupons that they get by sending a keyword to a shortcode, or they’re links to special deals on the company’s website. However, there are lots of other ways you can use SMS and here are just a few:
Notices of webinars and teleseminars.
– Reminders for appointments or limited time offers that are ending soon.
– High-end sales follow-ups.
– Notifications of special events.
– Billing reminders.
…And a whole lot more. The potential for using SMS marketing is virtually limitless.
Getting Subscribers
The first and most challenging part is getting subscribers. The way it works is that you do an SMS marketing campaign and people opt-in to receive special deals. You should never send texts to people who haven’t opted in. It’s spamming and it can get you into trouble.
And NEVER buy a list. This is one of the worst ideas that has ever come about in the Internet marketing world. You can buy a list of 40,000 and get 0 results.
When people sign up for your SMS list, it’s just like when they sign up for your email list. They want you to send them promotions. They’re already sold on your products and services and they’re waiting for your texts!
You can have a sign up form on your website, do it offline in your store or place of business, advertise it to your email list, tell everybody on your social media sites, etc.
How SMS Marketing Works
Text messages have to be really short. In a way, this is much easier for you. You don’t have to hire a copywriter to create a 160-character message! Tell them about your deal and call them to action. That’s all it takes.
The old way, which is still used today, is to send out shortcodes and keywords. A shortcode is a short phone number. If they want the deal, they send a text message to the shortcode with nothing but the keyword. Then, they get the coupon or whatever else you’re offering them.
Nowadays, lots of people include a link that directs them to their mobile site. This is for smartphones and other devices that can view websites. This gives you a lot more flexibility and it’s easier to integrate with your PC marketing.
You can now also send MMS – multimedia messaging service – messages to smartphones, which have larger viewing screens and the capability to play movies or audio.
Getting Started
It all starts with finding a mobile marketing service provider. They handle sending the texts for you. Services are priced according to packages usually, so decide how much you need. Check out their delivery rates and test out their service before you buy. You should also make sure they offer support in case you have any problems.
SMS marketing is a more intimate way to build a relationship with your market. The key to making it work is to really know them well and understand what they want. Offer them good deals – the exact deals they’re looking for – and you’ll see your conversion rates climb.
Tony
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