Although text messaging (SMS) has been around for a while, some business owners are still wary about trying it out. This might be because there are certain myths and misunderstandings about SMS marketing.
Such preconceived notions like it being irrelevant or annoying to consumers have been thoroughly disproven. In fact, by 2020, 61 percent of Australian firms planned to boost their spending on SMS marketing because of the epidemic. However, we’re here to demystify SMS marketing for individuals who are still confused about its purpose and best practices.
How SMS marketing works
Sending abandoned-cart notifications, soliciting client feedback, advertising deals and promotions, and confirming appointments are just some of the many uses for SMS (or text) marketing.
Many companies may benefit from text message marketing. Especially those that depend on developing close relationships with their clientele or on providing urgent updates. The average time it takes for a recipient to read a received SMS is three minutes. Making it one of the fastest open rates in the world. Consequently, SMS marketing is the most immediate and reliable method of maintaining contact and making sure messages are seen.
Just how does it function, then? There’s no need to worry about spending your time texting away on your phone. SMS marketing solutions, like Guni SMS Gateway, enable you to design, customise, automate and schedule bulk SMS messages, all from the one platform.
The marketing industry’s SMS options boil down to three main channels:
- You may send short, ad-hoc SMS messages to one or more contacts as a one-off. These may be delivered to any phone number you provide, not just those in our address books. The contacts, however, must have agreed to receive such communications in order to be included on your list.
- There are options for personalization wildcards and scheduled bulk sending to subscriber lists.
- On the other hand, you may set up automations to send out messages to contacts at certain intervals or in response to specific actions (just like email).
Our SMS advertising platform can do all three. In order to find out more about it, you can either join up for an account (it’s free!) or watch any video tutorial on SMS creation (also free).
The logic for the “From” prefix
What happens after you’ve sent those messages? The recipient’s experience with the four possible variations on the ‘From’ number will vary. They also provide marketers with a variety of unique tools.
In other words, you may…
Make use of the system’s default phone number. Which is the same for all users of Guni SMS Gateway who have chosen the default configuration. Clicking this button will allow you to see and reply to all responses in your account. Further, the process of unsubscribing from our mailing list will be fully automated.
You may use your own cellphone number by setting it as the ‘From’ number. But doing so will need you to manually manage all replies and unsubscribe requests, which might take up a lot of time.
Insert text into the ‘From’ area rather than a number. For example, you might use your company’s name. Excellent for spreading awareness of your business, but it will prevent your readers from responding to your emails. It’s also possible that your message won’t be sent in whole since certain cell phone companies frown against the use of certain “from” numbers in text messages.
Make use of a personal “From” number rather than the system-wide default if you’d want to avoid sharing your contact information. All the same advantages are yours, plus you may use this number in your other forms of advertising.
Check out our help post on “From” numbers if you’d want to learn more.
How to Organize It
As far as SMS marketing platforms go, Guni SMS Gateway is among the easier ones to set up. All you have to do is follow these simple instructions, which are already programmed into your account:
Join or log in.
Invest in SMS credit. To give you an idea, one SMS credit is equivalent to one SMS message (provided that it is 160 characters or less in length). Whenever your balance drops below zero, you may replenish it easily.
Create or import lists of contacts that include mobile phone numbers. The same rules that apply to email also apply to texting. You need the recipient’s phone number and permission to send them a message. Web signup forms, QR codes, YouTube, and plain old text may all be used to expand your network of potential customers and business partners.
Create your notes on paper. Whether you’re sending a one-off or a group text, it’s important to keep messages brief. Express yourself with emojis, make them unique using wildcards, and always give recipients the chance to unsubscribe.
You may then opt to deliver the messages immediately, schedule them at a later time, or incorporate them into automation processes.
Best practises for SMS advertising
When you are ready to start using SMS as part of your marketing plan, there are certain guidelines to follow. They will make sure you get the most out of your money and are in line with Australian anti-spam laws.
Ensure that your contacts have agreed to receive SMS messages – Permission is an essential aspect of compliance, whether it be verbal or assumed.
Give your full name and affiliation – Use the ‘From’ box or the message itself to identify yourself as the company sending the email.
Make sure there is always a means for consumers to unsubscribe in every communication. To do this using Guni SMS Gateway, just use the automatic unsubscribe features while writing your mails.
Be mindful of the time – No one appreciates a promotional text message at 4 a.m. The timing of your communications is important. So give some thought to time zones and when your intended readers are likely to be available.
Feel free to experiment with different approaches to SMS advertising. Consider what your consumers and clients want to hear from you. And as always, monitor your progress and tweak your strategies accordingly.
Seeking info about Australia’s top-rated SMS advertising platforms? Schedule your no-cost trial now.
