It’s seems like the buzz surrounding mobile is never going to die, perhaps because it’s the new kid on the block, or because of the seemingly boundless opportunities it provides marketers. But whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that the mobile space is the next step in the digital marketing evolution and the sooner that advertisers and publishers adapt, the stronger their marketing campaigns will be.However, in 2013, the hype around mobile advertising seems to revolve almost entirely around in-app ads, leaving the text messaging ad capabilities out to dry. But with more people using their phones for everything from surfing the web to texting, a great SMS campaign could really help boost your clicks and conversions and drive revenue from a source that seems to be long forgotten. Maybe SMS marketing has died down due to the fact that it’s been around for some time, however, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be an effective and successful weapon in your advertising arsenal. So, with that said, here are our five tips for creating and running a great SMS campaign.
- Get Permission—If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ve probably noticed that the FTC is going after those who are soliciting advertisements without permission. So before you even get started sending your text content, make sure that the people on your list have agreed to receive your messages and you aren’t spamming people who don’t want your ads. If you fail to do this and just start sending texts to random people, chances are you’re going to find yourself in loads of legal trouble.
- Build Relationships—The best way to keep your customers happy and excited to receive your messages is to build and maintain a relationship with them. With as many emails, texts, and social media notifications that people receive everyday, they’re quick to ignore, delete, and unsubscribe to things that don’t keep them engaged. In order to help facilitate user relations you can send them coupons and special rewards for making purchases, and regularly notify them about sales and new products. If your customers know when to expect texts, as well as what they’ll be receiving, they’re more likely to continue with your service.
- Target Users By Location—As with any mobile marketing, the ability to target users based on geographic location greatly increases sales; after all, you don’t want to be sending your texts to someone in New York if your business is in California. Plus, if you can offer users a product or service that is convenient for them to use or purchase, they’re more likely to seek it out.
- Keep It Short and Sweet—The best way to get your messages ignored, deleted, or unsubscribed from is to make them wordy or require users to complete multiple steps. Think of your messages as you would a landing page—keep the text short and informative, easy to digest, and tell recipients what you want them to do. If you’re offering something like a discount at a nearby restaurant, simply require them to show the text at the point of purchase to receive it. If you’re offering a local service, include a link to the company website or a phone number that goes directly to the company.
- Include Your SMS List Subscribe On Social Platforms—Offer your fans and followers on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and other social sites the opportunity to opt in to your SMS messaging system. Tell them what they will get by doing so and what to expect from your service, and perhaps provide an incentive for them to subscribe to your SMS list.
These are our five top tips for helping you create and establish an SMS marketing regimen that works. Get permission, keep it simple, and offer recipients great, local deals that will interest them.
If you have more tips on how to use SMS marketing to your advantage, please leave them in the comments section below.
