SMS Marketing

Intro

SMS marketing is the art of using a system to send out text messages to a database of contacts. This works really well when you are targeting Gen Y, they are happy to receive text messages and reminders about your product or service as long as they have opted in.

Sending messages to someone’s personal mobile phone may appear to be a bit too “in your face” but if they have said it is OK to receive SMS notifications then it is ok to send them. Never send unsolicited SMS campaigns out, it is not the best way to market your business if you annoy the person at the first hurdle.

You just need to ensure that you message is concise (140 Characters) and that it is easy to understand what the recipient has to do next.

Definition

Text message marketing is the practice of taking the marketing message directly to the personal pocket of the prospect. It can appear to be very intrusive, so marketers must tread carefully. – Source Wikipedia

Benefits

SMS Marketing can open up new doors for you as SMS’s can be forwarded – so it is another tool to make your business have a viral campaign (much smaller than video but there is still potential).

It can remind people about an event or an appointment they have – so it can be seen as a useful tool.

Pros

  • It is direct and instant
  • It is relatively cheap
  • It works for certain target markets
  • You can track the results using the system

Cons

  • SMS systems cost money to set up
  • You have to remember to send the SMS campaign
  • You have to analyse the results

How to Implement this into your Business

  • Choose an SMS marketing provider and talk to them about the best campaign for your business
  • Set up the campaign based on what you are offering or doing as a company
  • Plan your SMS campaigns and assign the task of sending them to one person in your business
  • Track the results to see if the campaign was successful
  • You should always ask “where did you hear about us” so add SMS to your list of places where you advertise so when the answers come in you have a space to log the customer under that category