In today's digital and competitive world, businesses constantly seek ways to connect with their customers. One of the ways that influence the marketing world is bulk SMS messaging, a powerful tool that allows you to reach a large audience directly on their mobile phones.
From Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential Campaign to Domino’s Pizza - Two-topping Tuesdays, bulk SMS messaging has played an essential role in their marketing. But what exactly is bulk SMS, and how can you leverage it effectively for your business? This blog post will help you understand everything in detail.
Table of contents
What is bulk SMS messaging?
Bulk SMS messaging, also known as mass texting or blast texting, is a way for businesses and organizations to simultaneously send large number of personalized text messages to a databse of recipients at once. This will help business owners to reach a broader audience with a simple text message. Let's see what bulk SMS is used for:
Bulk SMS marketing for promotion
Businesses like fast food chains or retailers can use bulk SMS messaging to send coupons, announce sales, or promote new products.
Sending alerts or reminders to customers
Restaurants and gyms (fitness industry) can use the same feature to send appointment reminders and alerts about service outages.
Customer service
Businesses can use bulk SMS messaging to send out order confirmations, shipping notifications, or other customer service messages.
Bulk SMS messaging is a popular communication tool because it has a high % open rate of 94 % compared to email at 21.5 %. This is because most people check their text messages frequently.
How will Bulk SMS help you with your business?
Let's understand the benefits of bulk texting and how it will help you with your business.
Targets larger audience
Research shows that 97% of Americans own a mobile phone, and 85% own a smartphone. Most of these people prefer texting over talking on the phone, which makes SMS (Short Message Service) a desirable marketing solution.
High open rates
People have become aware of promotional emails and don’t open them often. However, the chances of ignoring a text message are less. People tend to check their phones immediately when the phone buzzes or beeps. The average bulk SMS texting open rate is more than five times that of the average email open rate.
High response rate
Bulk texting has a high conversion rate as mobile users respond to text messages and SMS call-to-action more than any other marketing channel. The response rate of SMS messages is 45%, while the email response rate is just 8 %.
Affordable
Bulk SMS messaging is cost-effective compared to traditional marketing methods like print media, radio, TV, and billboards. It also has a greater return on investment. It is the most reliable low-cost marketing method that helps reach a more extensive customer base and helps businesses get value for their money.
Measurable results
Bulk SMS campaigns can be easily tracked and analyzed, showing how many messages were delivered, opened, and clicked on. This data can be used to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make adjustments as needed.
How to set up a bulk SMS campaign?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up a bulk SMS campaign. If you don’t have an account with any bulk SMS service provider, refer to all nine steps. You can skip the first three steps if you already have an account with any bulk SMS service provider.
Choose a bulk SMS service provider
When choosing a Bulk SMS messaging provider for your business, a few things must be considered. Firstly, features include scheduling the message, automated triggered messages, keyword setup, and analytics to track performance.
Secondly, look for providers' pricing plans so you are not burdened with unwanted features and get value for your money. Finally, ensure the platform is easy to create and send messages quickly and efficiently.
Here’s a list of best SMS marketing platforms for you to choose from to start bulk SMS marketing.
Setup an account with the provider
Set up an account after selecting your business's bulk SMS service provider. This can be done through the provider's website or mobile app. Depending on the provider, input your name, contact details, and payment method to set up the account.
Configure messaging settings
After setting up the account, the next step is configuring your messaging settings. This includes importing customer databases, making templates based on customer base, and scheduling SMS campaigns.
Create a list of contacts
After configuration, you need to upload a contact list platform. This process is to upload an Excel or CSV spreadsheet containing all your contacts' information, such as their names, mobile numbers, email addresses, etc.
Target your audience
For a bulk SMS campaign, it's important to consider who your audience is, as it will help you draft relevant and engaging messages. By understanding your target audience and drafting tailored messages, you can ensure your bulk SMS campaign reaches customers successfully.
Input the text message in your system
You need to understand that the message should be straightforward and to the point. It should also be clear and easy for your customers to understand. Don’t use too much technical language or jargon.
Using “exciting offers” or “amazing prices” will help engage your customers and encourage them to act on your request.
Schedule the text message
It’s important to decide when to send the bulk SMS messages so that we can get the maximum response rate from your target audiences. It is suggested that promotional messages be sent out during off-peak hours, such as late at night or early morning, as the customers are more likely to see and respond to your message since they are most likely free from their tasks.
To send reminders of appointments or other notifications, sending them 12-24 hours in advance so that customers can prepare and respond accordingly—the right timing results in higher customer engagement and response rates.
Utilize scheduling tools and automation
Scheduling tools allow you to set up text SMS ahead of time and have them sent out automatically on a specific date and time. Along with Automation features, you can keep track of customer responses for follow-up purposes.
Test out your messages before sending them out
It’s important to test out your messages before sending them out. With this, you can ensure the message is well-formatted and looks good across all devices. You can also ensure that all of the links in the message are working correctly and that there are no typos or other errors.
Tips for sending bulk SMS campaigns for your business
Personalize your messages
Personalized texts have a whopping open rate of 98%, while generic texts only have 22%. This indicates that messages customized to the receiver are more likely to be read and responded to.
The personalized messages show the receiver that you are putting in the extra effort. This helps build trust and foster stronger relationships with your customers. Customers appreciate the extra effort, leading to increased brand loyalty.
Keep messages short
It is important to remember that people's attention is short in today's world. Short messages are more likely to be read and understood quickly, increasing the chances of engagement. Also, SMS messages typically have a character limit (usually around 160 characters).
Most people open their SMS messages on their mobile devices, which have limited screen space. Short messages are easier to read and navigate on small screens, enhancing the user experience.
Include your company’s name
Including your company's name helps the SMS receiver recognize the message's source. This reinforces brand awareness and builds trust as the SMS receiver becomes familiar with your brand.
Add CTA link
Including a CTA link in SMS marketing messages helps drive engagement, increase conversions, track performance, enhance user experience, and measure campaign success.
It provides a clear pathway for the SMS receiver to take action and helps you maximize the impact of your marketing efforts.
Opt-out options
In most countries, there are government regulations that provide opt-out options. If it's not there, give your customers the freedom to opt-out anytime by clearly providing them with steps.
Best bulk SMS service providers
Choosing the right bulk SMS service provider depends on various factors such as pricing, features, reliability, and customer support. Here’s a list of some of the best and most popular bulk SMS service providers that are highly regarded in the industry:
Falkon SMS: It is renowned for its excellence in bulk SMS services, high reliability, and competitive pricing.
Simple texting: Highly customizable software designed to meet diverse business needs, offering a range of plans to suit different budgets.
Podium: A robust platform centered on customer engagement, perfect for companies looking for a comprehensive solution.
EZ texting: User-friendly with excellent customer support, making it an ideal choice for beginners.
Twilio: Widely popular for its powerful APIs and scalability, it is a top choice for large businesses with complex requirements.
Conclusion
Bulk SMS messaging is a powerful tool for businesses to connect directly with their customers on a large scale. By leveraging this approach, companies can conduct various marketing and customer service activities such as promotions, alerts, reminders, and customer service messages.
With a high open rate, response rate, and affordability, bulk SMS offers numerous benefits, including targeting a larger audience and providing measurable results.
Setting up a bulk SMS campaign involves choosing a provider, configuring settings, creating contact lists, targeting the audience, crafting concise messages, scheduling, utilizing automation tools, and testing messages before sending.
To maximize effectiveness, personalize messages, keep them short, include the company's name, and add a clear call-to-action link. Additionally, it provides opt-out options to comply with regulations and respect customer preferences. With these strategies, businesses can harness the power of bulk SMS messaging to enhance customer engagement and drive success.
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