7 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE SMS MARKETING CAMPAIGNS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
The mobile industry is well established in the world by now. With billions of people having access to a mobile phone across the world, it is clear that marketing through the short message service (SMS) is now more important than ever. This is especially so since SMS marketing does not necessarily need an internet connection on the part of the receiver. A lack of reliance on the internet means that an SMS marketing campaign is likely to reach a larger audience as individual mobile phone ownership generally exceeds individual access to the internet.
In addition, information sent via an SMS marketing campaign is received instantaneously so long as the mobile device is switched on and has network connectivity. This is unlike internet-based services which require the user to be connected to an internet connection and be online on the specific online platform with the marketing message or advertisement in order to be able to see it. As such, knowing the best SMS marketing strategies can be an important tool that gives you an edge over your competitors in the highly competitive world of marketing.
This article explores the tips one can apply in order to have more effective SMS marketing campaigns. If applied in conjunction with other forms of marketing, these tips will enable the marketing campaign to flourish and stay competitive without using the vast amount of resources often involved in traditional advertising.
The following are the ways in which you can make your marketing campaign more effective and robust.
1. Get Consent And Be Transparent
In the world of click baits and hidden page redirects, marketers are finding more and more ways to lure unsuspecting people into seeing their marketing campaigns. This can often be annoying to the users and may backfire on the marketer as such aggressive and hard-to-avoid methods from the user’s perspective may annoy the user and cast a bad light on the company being advertised.
For this reason, it is important to ensure that each target customer of your SMS marketing campaign has approved to be a recipient of your messages. If it is a campaign directed at users who did not give prior permission before being sent the messages, make sure that the method of opting out of the campaign is clear and straightforward and not convoluted in such a way that the user finds it difficult to unsubscribe.
In addition to getting consent, ensure that the customers know when to expect the messages and how often the messages will be sent. Have a straightforward way for customers to join or unsubscribe from your SMS list via such avenues as USSD codes.
2. Establish A Rapport With Your Customers
To ensure a successful SMS marketing campaign, build and maintain a good relationship with your customer base. One method to do this is by regularly coming up with promotions and informing your customers about them. Notify them of any new products in advance and if possible design coupons and discount plans for your recipients. These will act as rewards for joining your SMS list and will keep them engaged to future marketing campaigns to your advantage.
If possible, create personalized messages for each customer such as by referring them by name in the messages sent to them. This will not only make them feel valued and special but also give them a sense of belonging as they will be more likely to associate themselves with your company and its products.
3. Tailor The SMS Campaign According To The Target Recipient
One of the best ways of standing out among the sea of advertisers targeting your customers is by tailoring your message according to the target recipient. For your customers to feel the connection to your company and marketing campaign, it is crucial to take into account their age group, location and specific needs.
A campaign targeting teenagers cannot be the same as the one targeting senior citizens such as retirees. Young people are more likely to be receptive to campaigns created in informal language and will not mind a little bit of popular slang incorporated into the messages. Similarly, a merchant who sells a wide variety of products should ensure that the SMS messages target the consumers according to what they are most likely to buy.
Messages targeting a predominantly rural population could, for example, market products such as farm equipment and trucks while those targeting a more urban population could market products such as skateboards and fashion products. The important thing is that your messages should be tailored around the consumer instead of being generic advertisements that may only resonate with a few recipients.
4. Keep It Simple
Considering the brief nature of the SMS, it is crucial to ensure that all your messages are short, clear, and straight to the point. Make sure that the messages in the campaign are brief and are presented in simple language that is easily understood by the average consumer. Make use of well-known SMS shortcuts and acronyms and avoid using technical language in your SMS marketing campaign.
5. Connect Your SMS Campaign With Other Marketing Strategies
To maximize the effective of your SMS campaign, ensure that you link it to your other advertisement strategies such as affiliate marketing, social media pages and generic advertisement banners. Create a way in which customers are encouraged to subscribe to the SMS list through the other platforms and vice versa.
6. Timeliness
Timing is important when creating an SMS campaign. Be mindful of when you send your messages to your consumers in order to maximize effectiveness. Messages sent during working hours are likely to be ignored as the recipient may be too busy with work to pay attention to them. In fact, the campaign may backfire as the messages may be seen as an interruptive nuisance.
In addition to that, avoid sending too many messages. Ensure that you only pick select times to send your messages and limit the amount you send out each week or month in order to make the consumers eager to read them when they finally arrive. Remember that scarcity creates demand.
7. Engage Your Consumers
If possible, create an SMS campaign that gives room for feedback from the recipients. Engaging one on one with your consumers will make them feel cherished and will encourage them to give you valuable feedback which you can use to improve your service delivery and grow your brand. This also helps identify customer concerns and enables you to address them in a timely manner for the benefit of both the business and the consumer.