What is a SMS marketing?
SMS marketing is a form of mobile marketing that uses text messaging to communicate with customers. Businesses can use SMS to send promotions, discounts, updates, and other types of information to people who have opted-in to receive text messages from the company. This can be an effective way to reach customers quickly and directly, as most people keep their mobile phones with them at all times.
Does SMS marketing actually work?
SMS marketing can be an effective form of mobile marketing, as it allows businesses to reach customers directly and in real-time. However, the effectiveness of SMS marketing depends on several factors, including the quality of the message, the target audience, and the frequency of the messages.
Research has shown that SMS open rates are as high as 98%, and SMS campaigns have a response rate of 45%. This is much higher compared to email campaigns which have open rate of 20-25% and response rate of 5-10%.
However, it is important to note that SMS marketing is considered to be a permission-based marketing and thus, it is important for businesses to obtain consent from customers before sending text messages. Additionally, businesses must comply with regulations such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States.
Overall, SMS marketing can be an effective way to engage with customers, but it should be used in conjunction with other marketing channels and with the consent of the customer.
What is an SMS marketing platform?
An SMS marketing platform is a software or service that businesses can use to create, manage, and send text messages to customers. These platforms typically offer a variety of features, such as the ability to create and manage contact lists, schedule text messages, track the success of campaigns, and more. Some of the common features that an SMS marketing platform might offer include:
List Management: ability to create, import, and manage contact lists, including the ability to segment lists by different criteria.
Message Creation: ability to create and send text messages, including the ability to personalize messages with recipient’s name or other information.
Campaign Management: ability to schedule and track the success of text message campaigns, including open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
Automation: ability to set up automated text message campaigns, such as welcome messages, abandoned cart reminders, or appointment reminders.
Reporting: ability to generate reports on the performance of SMS campaigns, such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
SMS marketing platforms are designed to make it easy for businesses of all sizes to create and manage text message campaigns. Some popular SMS marketing platforms include Twilio, Sendinblue, Mobilise and EZ Texting.
How To Embark On A Successful Sms Marketing campaign
Here are a few strategies for marketing through SMS:
Build a contact list: To start sending SMS messages, you’ll need a list of contacts. You can build this list by asking customers to opt-in to receive text messages from your business. This can be done in-store, on your website, or through other marketing channels.
Personalize your messages: Personalization can help increase the effectiveness of your SMS campaigns. You can include the recipient’s name or other information in the message to make it feel more personalized.
Segment your audience: Segmenting your audience by demographics or interests can help you create more targeted messages. This can help increase the relevance of your messages and improve their effectiveness.
Timing is important: Timing is important when sending SMS messages. You should consider the time of day, day of the week, and other factors when scheduling your messages.
Make it valuable: Make sure the message is valuable for the customer. Sending promotions, discounts, or exclusive content can be an effective way to engage with customers via SMS.
Track and measure: Track the success of your SMS campaigns by measuring open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use this data to improve future campaigns.
Follow regulations: Make sure to comply with regulations such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States. This includes obtaining consent from customers before sending text messages, and including opt-out instructions in every message.
Use it in conjunction with other marketing channels: SMS marketing is most effective when used in conjunction with other marketing channels. For example, you can use SMS to follow up with customers after they’ve received an email or seen an ad.
Advantages of SMS Marketing
SMS marketing has several advantages, including:
High open rates: SMS has a high open rate, with 98% of text messages being opened and read within the first 3 minutes of being received. This makes it a highly effective way to reach customers in real-time.
Personalization: SMS allows for personalization of messages, which can help increase the relevance and effectiveness of the message.
Opt-in: SMS is considered to be permission-based marketing, as customers opt-in to receive text messages from a business. This can help increase the effectiveness of the messages and reduce the chances of the messages being perceived as spam.
Cost-effective: SMS is a relatively low-cost marketing channel compared to other forms of mobile marketing.
Measurable: SMS campaigns can be easily tracked and measured, allowing businesses to see how well their campaigns are performing and make adjustments as needed.
Time-saving: SMS can save time for businesses, as they can send messages to a large number of people at once instead of communicating with them one-by-one.
Easy to implement: SMS marketing platforms make it easy for businesses of all sizes to create and manage text message campaigns.
Versatile: SMS can be used for a wide range of purposes, including promotions, discounts, updates, appointment reminders, and more.
