Bulk SMS: who should use it, when and why?
Bulk SMS is a very useful and effective marketing channel that should be an integral part of any mobile marketing strategy that tends to achieve real success in today’s mobile world.
As we all know, mobile phones are ruling our digital world, so mobile-focused marketing has become a focal point of every strategic marketing planning. Mobile marketing is a huge must for every business that wants to keep a competitive edge over their competitors and maintain advantage within the industry.
SMS marketing is a crucial part of mobile marketing
When we speak about mobile marketing, we must pay special attention to SMS marketing since SMS has proved to be one of the most effective marketing and sales tools. This small portion of information, delivered to your mobile phone, has a phenomenal 98% open rate within 3 minutes! No other marketing tool can offer such an efficiency rate, making SMS marketing the most convenient way to deliver your business message to your customers and prospects.
Although mobile technology has advanced significantly and offers so many new age solutions, some ‘good old things’ will never go out of fashion. To illustrate this, we’ll use some recent mobile marketing stats that say a percentage of smartphone users that text is a whopping 96%! So, despite all the advances in mobile technology, SMS messaging is still very important to users. As a savvy digital marketer, you must not neglect SMS marketing!
Bulk SMS builds quality customer relationships
Bulk SMS will improve your marketing and customer communication. Why? Because it is fast, cost-effective, it builds meaningful conversation and is a permission-based (opt-in), which customers appreciate a lot.
Bulk SMS, also known as Bulk text messaging, Bulk Messaging, Business SMS, SMS software or even Text message marketing, is a service that allows businesses of all sizes to send large quantities of SMS messages to various mobile phones through different mobile networks. To say it simply: Bulk messaging enables you to deliver an SMS to a large number of recipients, at once. If used smartly, Bulk SMS service can even become your perfect business pitch.
Bulk SMS delivery helps businesses build relationships that drive scalable results. This purpose-built service is especially useful in assisting first-time entrepreneurs, and SMEs succeed in reaching the right prospects during the complex purchase process. In the same time, it empowers businesses to create endless opportunities through strategic well-targeted exposure. Bulk SMS enables its users to send mass text messages nationally and internationally. This is the reason why this type of SMS delivery is one of the best solutions for businesses aiming to reach a specific audience, locally or globally.
The most common use of bulk SMS messaging is for:
- Mass SMS advertising
- Sending notifications
- Alerts
- Reminders
- Safety checks (password confirmation)
- Product information
- News
- SMS newsletters
- Entertainment (competitions)
- All sorts of different text messages
Who is using Bulk SMS software?
It is known that this type of messaging is used by:
- Consumer brands
- Enterprises
- Banks
- Media outlets
- Major airlines
- Travel agencies
- Healthcare providers
- Large consumer websites
- Retailers etc.
Why are they using this service?
Because they have a large base of users and clients that need to be reached at once with certain information. Whether it is a reminder, alert or some news, all these businesses need an efficient way to deliver these messages to their audience. But, Bulk messaging is not limited to big companies only.
SMEs can and should use this service as well. Although email marketing is considered one of the most efficient ways to reach people, the fact is that only a small percentage of emails are actually read. The same risk does apply for SMS marketing, but since messages are coming directly to a device people are so attached to, and they don’t require Internet to be opened and read, this risk pays off. And the fact that even 98% of SMSs are opened and read proves that this type of communication is the best if you want to engage consumers and stay on their ‘agenda.’
You should think of mass messaging as your additional business offer that can increase sales and revenue because it empowers you to reach customers when it’s most suitable for them, with the most critical information or service they need from you. You can lead them through the sales funnel to reach macro (purchase) conversions or entice small, micro engagements, depending on the type of business you’re in and your business goals.
Bulk messaging is a perfect platform to be used for organising entertaining mobile marketing campaigns that can not only help you raise additional revenue but also make people remember your brand and stick to it.
Engaging winning games, interesting voting campaigns or Q&A sessions can all be organised using different apps and realised through mass messaging service. Such marketing campaigns will attract new clients to your brick & mortar stores because word of mouth is the most powerful 21st-century marketing tactic. Use bulk SMS to promote your competitions and invite entries.
Who can also use a mass text messaging service to gain competitive advantage and improve customer/user satisfaction?
Private or/and public schools can use mass messaging to send information to parents and teachers. Hotels and restaurants should also consider using bulk SMS concept to send special offers or invitations. Publishers, theatres, cinemas, galleries are all great candidates for using mass text messaging services to announce new books or invite people to premiers and exhibits.
How can your business utilize a bulk SMS gateway?
Here are some examples and ideas on how bulk SMS delivery can be used to add value to your interaction with customers.
- Send reminders – today’s customers are always on the move and need fast and reliable information from businesses and services they interact with. Sending quick reminders can help you improve customers’ perception of your company.
- SMS marketing boosts sales – market new products and services directly through SMS and increase purchase rate.
- Keep customers up to date – keep your loyal customers in the loop and make them feel important.
- Send alerts if there is some problem your clients should be aware of – in case of customer’s service issue that can have a direct impact on your clients, you can quickly inform them to avoid possible inconveniences. People will appreciate such information since they are helpful and prevent misunderstandings.
Let’s conclude this article with the following statement – Bulk SMS is not a service that is limited by the size of one’s business. Companies of all sizes can use this mass text messaging service. If you haven’t tried this type of communication with your clients yet, you should try to feel effectiveness and easiness this type of interaction will provide for you.
You can start today by selecting HORISEN SMS Platform.
