SMS Marketing

SMS marketing is gaining momentum.

SMS Marketing

Especially when 90% of marketing emails are no longer opened, and 97% of SMS text messages are opened.

Of the 97% of text messages opened, more than 80% are opened within the hour.

Add the fact that in 2010, 6.1 trillion SMS messages were sent worldwide and you have a powerful marketing tool on hand.

From small corner shops to huge multi nationals, harnessing the power of SMS marketing is the future for promoting businesses big and small.

Start Your SMS Marketing Campaign Today With MobilityPass

How to start SMS marketing:

Start gathering mobile numbers from your customer – begin now to capitalize on the holiday season.

If you have a website, entice your visitors to opt in (enter their name and mobile number or mobile number and email address) by giving them an incentive to do so. It could be a special report on your particular industry, a discount coupon or a free ´how to´video in your market.

Let´s say you have a local hardware shop – you could have a ´how to´video on how to use a certain popular or latest tool or accomplish certain DIY tasks. You create an opt-in box with a service such as Aweber to capture all the information. Aweber will then send the link automatically to your customer after they have opted in to view your video.

Or you could just have a book for when people come into your store. You could have a free gift, a discount coupon or similar to get people to leave their mobile numbers.

Another example would be if you run a coffee shop. Entice your customers with a lucky draw, a free home made biscuit with coffee or a discount to get them to give you their names and mobile number.

With a list on your hands, you can send out periodic SMS text messages alerting them to special offers and promotions, knowing that there is a 97% chance they will open up your text messages.

What NOT to do with SMS marketing:

• Do not spam
• Do not send text messages out ten times a day (unless you have a really good reason to)
• Do not send text messages for the sake of sending text messages. Have something useful or beneficial to give to your customers.
• Do not send messages at unsociable hours such as 3:00am in the morning!

Now you need to have a service to run your SMS promotional campaigns. There are quite a few on the market, but the one that seems to be the most flexible is one from MobilityPass.

The MobilityPass SMS Marketing site:

• For a purchase that costs less than $5.00, you can have access to their membership site - a ¨command center¨ for all things telecommunication.
• Add funds into your account to cover the cost of the SMS as your usage will be deducted live. (Daily reports are available for cost control)
• The SMS interface is easy to use: out in your number, add in your customers´numbers, type out your message and hit send.
• Check out the SMS text message rates here

Features of the SMS Marketing Service:

• Two way SMS text messages – the recipient can reply to your mobile number or to another number designated by you. (Recipients could text back to place an order, book a table, ask for an appointment etc…)
• Schedule when you want to send your messages. (Set it and forget it)
• Bulk sending – up to tens of thousands. (Contact MobilityPass for more)
• Anonymous SMS – send anonymously if you do not want the recipient to know who you are. (Great for teasers)
• Copy messages you have sent to your own mobile.
• Get confirmation that the recipient has received your text message.
• Send SMS messages from any mobile device : desktop, netbook, iPhone, Android, iPad…
• Send international SMS messages to over 200 countries.

What else?

Once you are inside the membership area, you can use your funds for any of their other services. You may want to use VoIP for free and low cost calls, connect to WiFi if you are out and about, use their 3G broadband SIM card or global mobile SIM card for when you travel. There is of course SMS, but also webmail, DID numbers, fax, VPN for secure connections and more.

Seems like a lot, but the many tools there will help your business save money and reduce telecommunication costs.

The membership advantages:

• Secure and encrypted for added protection.
• Pay as you go.
• No contract, no minimums.
• Live usage deduction.
• Daily cost reports
• Funds are good for two years.
• Support and help desk.

But start with SMS marketing. It does not require much effort, and you could be looking at increased revenue for your business very soon.