Bulk SMS Marketing
Bulk SMS marketing is an effective and affordable way to reach a large audience and promote your business, products, or services. Here are some key benefits of using bulk SMS marketing:
Who can use Mobile/SMS Marketing?
- Retail Chains Marketing
- Schools
- Clubs and Restaurants
- Saccos
- Research Firms
- Hospitals
- Banks and Other Financial Institutions
- Insurance Companies
- Debt collections agencies
- ETC
Mobile Coupons
The mobile phone is quickly becoming the go-to medium for discount couponing.
Advertisers are always seeking the young and affluent and mobile coupons target that market of early adopters. College graduates are 51% more likely to get their coupons from their mobile phone.
Retail Operations
Mobile marketing is a versatile tool that can be utilized across various retail operations, all with the ultimate goal of boosting customer traffic, increasing patronage, and generating revenue. When it comes to communication, SMS messaging stands out as a unique and unparalleled form of engagement. With its unparalleled immediacy, SMS messaging has no equal in the history of marketing.
How Does Mobile Marketing Work?
Mobile marketing / coupon campaigns typically begin with the brands creating a database of opt-in users. For example, a fast food restaurant might hang signage near the waiting lines. Customers can then send a text message to a short code (e.g., text SUBWAY to 1235) and immediately receive a text message that provides some value, such as a discount coupon, or entry into a sweepstakes of sorts.
Once a brand has built up its database of opt ins, they can then begin to send out their promotions, typically once or twice per week. The frequency of messaging depends on the nature of the brand, and the expiration date of the coupons.
A consumer may opt-out of any mobile-marketing campaign simply by replying “STOP” to the text message received. According to Anthony Wayne of the Text Message Blog, the opt-out rate for mobile coupons is only 3%.
Also attractive to consumers is the ease of use in joining an SMS program. There’s no form to fill out, no website to visit. All that’s needed is to use that little device that everyone has, their cell phone, and send a quick text message.
Once someone opts into your program, their cell phone becomes your billboard, as your brand and promotions are steadily displayed on their phone. Your business has just bought the most expensive advertising space; a direct touch-point to your market, enticing new and repeat customers with your promotions.
SMS is not for all businesses, but when it does apply, the response rates dwarf those of traditional advertising. No matter what size business you are, you can become a mobile marketer within hours and start using a shared short code. So what do you have to lose? Try it out and see what works.
Benefits of SMS Marketing
Deliverability
As 94% of all text messages are read, your marketing message will be seen by virtually all of the subscribers in your campaign.
Qualified Recipients
Since your subscribers have opted-in to receiving your offers and promotional messages, you know they have an active interest in your business, and your products.
Flexibility
With text messages sent and received within minutes of starting your campaign, you can use mobile marketing for ad-hoc purposes, such as driving traffic to your store on slow nights (“Make a purchase within x hours, and receive a xx % discount!”), or clearing out overstock items before end of month. This is the new “Blue Light Special”!
Range of Use
Mobile marketing can be used for a wide range of purposes: announcing new product, one-day specials, new store openings, special events…etc. Subscribers can be treated as an exclusive group for offers and information that only they have access to, increasing loyalty, purchases, and speed of communications.