SMS Text Marketing

A major trend in marketing today seems to be SMS text marketing as it is an extremely useful and effective form of marketing. Research demonstrates that approximately 200,000 text messages are sent every minute. 97 percent of those messages are opened, and 83 percent are opened within the first hour of receipt.

SMS text marketing is tremendously effective as part of a comprehensive marketing plan when used correctly. For example, this solution can greatly enhance local marketing. Since customers more often expect companies to know both what they like and what they are thinking, pairing a local promotion with an event, like a weather event or a sporting event, can make the promotion far more significant to the customer.

Promoters may also find SMS text marketing effective for local conferences, trade shows or sporting events. Changes to the schedule, for instance, can be sent out via text message, as can speaker announcements of logistical information. SMS text marketing can also engage customers by inviting them to participate in a poll or in a fun activity, like a quick scavenger hunt.

In addition, marketers can support other channels by using SMS text marketing. For instance, a Facebook (News - Alert)-only promotion can be mentioned to customers via text message. With social media networks, email, QR codes and offline channels, customers can be persuaded to opt into a mobile database. To build a database for SMS text marketing, companies should offer exclusive incentives, promotions or content. SMS text marketing can complement marketing across multiple channels when used consistently.

In addition, SMS text marketing can be used to deliver value to customers related to their transactions. For instance, companies can send text messages regarding shipping details, appointment reminders, payment notifications and service outage notifications. As NFC grows in popularity, companies can use SMS text marketing messages to immediately deliver transaction information to customers, like receipts.

The key to SMS text marketing, according to Jeff Lee of Distributive Networks, is to remember that it’s more important to give than to receive. When companies obtain a customer’s mobile number, then they should make it worth the customer’s while to remain on an SMS text marketing list. “I like to think of it as the certified mail of digital communications,” said Lee. “When you want to be sure people see something, send it by text.”