Are you considering SMS solutions as part of your marketing strategy?
If you haven’t considered SMS marketing for your business, you should. Cellphone ownership has skyrocketed to the point where 91 percent of Americans own a cell phone. The overwhelming majority of those phones are capable of text messaging.
SMS marketing is a great way to grab attention and increase sales. Plus, it makes it easier to keep in touch with your customers and inform them about your latest offers.
Choosing the right SMS solutions provider can be daunting, so do your research. Here are some tips to help you out:
Why Should You Work with an SMS Provider?
It’s pretty clear that there are many benefits of SMS marketing.
This advertising method yields immediate results and has an open rate of 98 percent. That means that your marketing messages are not ignored.
Plus, 32 percent of SMS recipients respond to offers, which can mean a big conversion rate for your business.
When combined with email marketing, SMS can improve email open rates by a whopping 20 percent.
Make Sure SMS Fits with Your Marketing Efforts
When you do decide to work with an SMS company, you’ll want to have a detailed plan as to how it fits with your marketing strategy.
Will you send coupons? How often will you plan to do so?
Will you send out birthday messages to subscribers?
You can send out messages with up-to-date information. For example, you can notify customers that your business is closed due to bad weather.
There are countless ways to use SMS marketing for your organization. Before you make the investment, it’s good to have an idea as to how you’ll implement it in your business.
What to Look for in an SMS Solutions Company
Partnering with a SMS provider doesn’t have to be a headache. You just have to know what to look for. The criteria below will help you make an informed decision.
Experience
Partner with a SMS provider that has experience and a track record of success, especially in your industry.
Ease of Use
How simple is it to send a bulk message to your list? Is it easy to segment your list and add subscribers?
The SMS system you invest in should be accessible and simple to use. The last thing you want is to spend hours trying to figure out how it works.
Services Grow with Your Business
Are you a small business that sees nothing but growth? Then be sure to partner with a SMS company that can grow with your business.
Customer Support
The true measure of a company is how it responds when things don’t go as planned. If there’s an issue, what kind of support is available?
A good way to tell if the support is world-class is to check customer reviews. Companies may have reviews on their site, social media pages, or elsewhere on the Internet.
Systems Integration
SMS providers will vary in their systems integrations. They may be able to integrate with your email systems and CRM.
Reporting
While most of your campaigns will be home runs, there will be a few that miss the mark. Detailed reporting will allow you to analyze why the campaign didn’t work.
Once you know these things, you can take the right steps to improve your campaign.
Questions to Ask When Hiring a SMS Provider
When you’re getting ready to decide which company to go with, it’s recommended to contact several providers. Call or contact them via email, and note how quickly they respond and how knowledgeable they are.
You should have a positive first impression based on this first interaction. Anything less than that is a sign to move on.
Make a list of questions to ask each company. It could include the following:
What Are the costs?
First, try to figure out if the provider fits within your budget. Payment arrangements vary between companies.
Some providers will charge a one-time, lifetime fee. Others will charge a certain amount for messaging credits, and some will require a monthly contract.
You’ll also want to know about any hidden charges, such as inbound messaging costs. Ask if there are time limits on messaging credits.
Are there minimum messaging requirements?
There are some providers who will require a minimum amount of messages to be sent each month. You want to be sure that you can meet their requirements.
What Are Your Key Features?
This question is a must. You’ll want to know exactly how you can use the company’s features. Most providers will have basic SMS messaging.
There are also providers that take their services a step further. They will allow you to launch contests and polls, create an SMS punch card, and more.
How Good Is Your network?
You want your SMS messages to have an immediate impact. Look for a company that has a reliable network to get those messages sent out immediately.
UltraSMSScript allows you to host the platform yourself, so you don’t have to rely on another network. You have total control over your SMS marketing.
Is Your API Easy to Use?
Every company has its own marketing needs. An SMS solutions provider should allow customers to automate their SMS system through an API.
How Can I Manage My Account?
Does the SMS service offer a simple, user-friendly dashboard?
You should be able to easily access details like open rates, clicks, unsubscribes, and keyword success.
What Kind of Support Do You Offer?
No matter what company you work with, make sure they have top-notch service.
SMS Marketing Will Help Your Business
Investing in SMS solutions can boost your marketing efforts. Plus, there’s a high ROI when you use SMS marketing, especially when combined with other marketing tactics.
UltraSMSScript offers self-hosted messaging that supports messaging in over 30 countries. The best part is that you only pay one time for the software. There are no hidden fees or monthly contracts.
Take a free demo today!
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