Mobile marketing is a popular strategy among businesses today, though it’s still relatively new in the fast-paced digital world. SMS, despite being around for several years, has only recently been acknowledged by marketers as a potent platform. Given that most people use and trust SMS for daily communication, it boasts an impressive 97% open rate, making it highly effective for marketing. If you’re thinking about using SMS for your marketing efforts, here are a few things you should consider.
First, secure an easy-to-remember business number. The aim of SMS marketing is to encourage recipients to engage with your business, and having a dedicated, memorable, toll-free number can improve this likelihood. Services like Kall8 offer toll-free, 800 numbers that not only support your marketing campaigns but also allow you to track their performance online.
Next, prioritize customer privacy and gain their consent. SMS marketing can backfire if customers feel bombarded by unwanted messages. Therefore, make sure that customer privacy and consent are central to your campaign strategy. Provide a simple way for recipients to opt-out if they’re not interested, or to opt-in for more messages if they are.
Personalization is key. Think about the times you received a generic advertisement and how uninteresting it felt. Today’s customers don’t want generic, irrelevant marketing material. Before launching an SMS campaign, thoroughly research your audience to understand their interests and preferences. Segment your customer data to ensure each person receives a personalized message that resonates with them.
Finally, timing can make or break an SMS marketing campaign. Inconsistent messages or those sent at inconvenient times may not get opened and could lead recipients to unsubscribe. It’s important to consider when your audience is most likely to check and read SMS messages. For instance, if your main audience comprises 9-to-5 workers, sending SMS outside of business hours might achieve better results than during their workday.
SMS is widely used today and is becoming a popular marketing channel across various industries. However, it’s crucial to follow best practices when launching an SMS marketing campaign to ensure its success.