Effective SMS Marketing Tips

Many small businesses today usually do not prioritize Short Message Service marketing. This is so because of the strict anti-spam laws that aid marketing strategy. Many companies and businesses in the United States of America are bound by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and will always fine anyone using an unsolicited text message. You will be fined around $500-$1500 which is a lot if you are just starting your business. The fine can even go up if you have been using bulk marketing techniques.

Although text spam is normally a serious offense, you can still avoid all the violations and still make profits using SMS marketing. The percentage of SMS open rate is usually higher compared to email open rate. 90% of SMS recipients normally respond to their text messages the second it hits their inbox. This is one potential area that small business owners should invest in. The return rate is too good to let go.

Why SMS marketing?

1. Know the rules of SMS marketing.

Before you even think of starting your SMS marketing strategy, you should be aware of the rules that govern the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulations. The major rule that everyone should adhere to is that you are only allowed to send marketing messages to people or recipients who have accepted to receive those messages. Email marketers normally send messages to people who signed up for their accounts or downloaded something. This cannot happen when it comes to SMS marketing. The right way to do it is usually to ask your potential customers to either subscribe to your text message services or to ask them to click on the checkbox which will allow you to send them messages. Most of the leads will convert quickly and they are more valuable and of good quality.

2. Make sure your message is less than 160 characters.

Most mobile networks will typically break down lengthy SMS that has more than 160 characters. It is recommended that when sending messages, you should restrict them to 160 characters. This is because most messages are usually restitched before they are sent to the intended clients. Other networks will refuse to break your message while others will refuse to send lengthy texts. This means that your recipients will not get the information that you were trying to convey to them via SMS. Always ensure that your SMS messages are short and to the point. Long messages will be boring and may fail to engage your recipients.

3. Timing is very important in SMS marketing.

When it comes to SMS marketing, timing is everything. The essence of the platform is that your clients or customers should be able to open and read the message immediately when they receive it. If you do not have a visual medium, it will be hard for you to create a brand recall using this channel. The main goal of marketing should be to reach many customers or recipients immediately when they intend to make a purchase. So always be strategic when sending your SMS marketing messages. A pizza joint may send offer messages to customers during lunch hours whereas a barbershop will consider the frequency of customers.

4. Include a Call to Action (CTA)

When you want to be successful in SMS marketing, you should always include your company URL or phone numbers as a call to action. This means that if you have customers who are willing to buy your product or services, they should know what to do next and how. In SMS marketing there is not time to include fancy buttons, icons, or anchor links to your messages. The easiest and fastest way to reach your customers is to include your business phone number or URL after the message. It is always recommended that you let your customers act according to how they feel, and they will reach out to your company.

5. Let your shortcodes be known to everyone.

It does not matter how good your advert or promotional message is, when it comes to SMS marketing, numbers will never lie. The more customers on your list will determine the success of the campaign. The best way to promote your SMS marketing shortcodes is to advertise using other platforms. You can use emails, stickers, or even fliers inside your store or business. When you decide to invest in shortcodes, it is vital that you opt in the right and most effective ways that will result in customers coming back to your business.