There are more than 3 billion smartphone users worldwide, and mobile phone usage has increasingly reached new heights month by month. 

According to a report, more than 98% of mobile phone users open and read an SMS within 4 minutes of its delivery. No other mode of communication has this kind of turnaround time. And this is bound to continue for years to come.

So what does this tell us?

Well, these statistics indicate that bulk SMS service, if done right, has a lot of potential to generate positive ROI for businesses. 

Around 52% of online traffic comes from mobile phones, and this figure is increasing year over year. So bulk SMS can drive traffic to your website or e-commerce store, where consumers can then take action.


What is Bulk SMS?

As the name suggests, bulk SMS is sending high volumes of text messages to mobile phones in a short span of time. 

Businesses today are using software programs or API integrations with websites to send bulk messages. 

These services work by interacting with a network’s SMS gateway to ensure the delivery of messages to recipients anywhere in the world. Even if your texts are going to 100,000 mobiles, bulk SMS messages are usually delivered within seconds.

How is bulk SMS impacting businesses?

1. Immediate impact

We may not be on our emails 24/7, but we do have mobile phones next to us all the time. This explains the 98% open rate within 4 minutes of SMS delivery. 

In contrast to emails, people open nearly every text message they receive, while many choose to delete an email without even opening it. 

SMS marketing ensures that a high percentage of people see your marketing, which creates an immediate impact.


2. Customizable campaigns

We all know this – personalization is a crucial ingredient in successful marketing campaigns. And bulk SMS makes it easy! 

You can set up templates and customize SMSes specifically tailored to the consumer. You can also segment the database of contacts into sub-groups to provide a customized experience to each customer. 


3. Low cost and high ROI

SMS marketing requires low set-up costs compared to other promotional services such as TV commercials, outdoor ads, email marketing, etc. 

Small businesses can significantly benefit from this cost-effective and sustainable option while ensuring a good return on investment. Thanks to bulk SMS, they can target more than 1000 customers in minutes with a cost as little as under $100.

4. Impressive conversion rates

Most people respond to a text within 90 seconds, compared to 90 minutes or more for email. This makes for an impressive conversion rate. So, whatever your marketing’s objective is- promotions, surveys, or sign-ups- SMS marketing ensures a higher response rate than other marketing strategies.



5. Few barriers to delivery

Compared to emails, which often don’t reach their intended recipient due to spam filters, SMS messages are highly reliable in terms of delivery. 


How most businesses get their messaging wrong

There’s a catch, however. If not done right, Bulk SMS is going to cost you money- a lot of money! 

Making mistakes when it comes to sending bulk messages affects the ability to connect with customers and prospects. So let’s dig into how most businesses make them.



1. Not using bulk SMS for marketing

We have already said this and will iterate it again. Bulk SMS has a lot of potentials to generate positive ROI for businesses. Still, small businesses are not tapping into its advantages and are missing out on this effective yet affordable marketing strategy. 

If we look around us, businesses in every industry use bulk SMS for marketing, from big companies like Coke, Dunkin Donuts, and Wendy’s to our local grocery store, fast food joints, and the local bar. 

So, get started today!


2. Not using a dedicated platform to send bulk SMS

This is a huge mistake that businesses make while getting started with SMS marketing. To save a little money, they collect the customer’s/prospects numbers and start shooting them messages from their phone. Some even buy a new phone for this purpose. 

There are specific problems with this strategy. What happens if the phone is stolen? What happens once you get 1,000 or 3,000 or 5,000 numbers on your list? How can you track the unsubscribers? What if your messages are tagged as spam by the cellphone carriers? 

It’s very messy, right? 

That’s why signing up for a professional bulk SMS platform is crucial if you are to start SMS marketing.



3. Not sending interesting messages

Marketing is all about piquing the customer’s interest. What most small businesses do is just rush to send out a message every chance they get. They don’t work on the content of the message, and frankly, it all ends up being boring – useless – and a waste of time. 

This makes customers and prospects unsubscribe from the SMS list. 

So, what’s the solution? Give people what they want, when they want it. Send out a car wash discount after a dust storm or a coupon for theater tickets during the weekend. You don’t necessarily need to be sending deals all the time. 

Keep people informed about cool things that have to do with your business and make sure it’s interesting.


4. Not including a call to action

A call to action is a vital element of every marketing campaign. You will only see the power of SMS marketing if you give people a reason to take action. 

A call to action can be:

• Click this link
• Call us
• And any other ask for customers to take an action

So, don’t forget to always include a call to action when you send bulk SMS messages.


5. Not giving customers a reason to be on your SMS list.

You’re in the business of catering to your customer’s needs, so use that to your advantage. Always focus on helping your customers. 

Give them a reason to join and, more importantly, stay on your SMS marketing list. Send out something that they need and want. It can be anything, a coupon, information, tips, or tricks. But make sure they really want it!


List down tips on how to write an engaging SMS

The messages that you send out in a bulk SMS campaign represent your brand. For this reason, It is essential to make sure that the SMS copy is well done and reflects your brand tone along with engaging the reader. 

Here are ten useful tips for writing engaging SMSes:


1. Make them short and to the point

Keep your messages short and sweet. 

The nature of an SMS is that it is usually limited to 160 characters especially given the short attention span of the average audience. So you need to use these 160 characters wisely to grab the reader’s attention. 

Use gripping words like “SALE” or “FREE” to compel them not only to read the message but also to take up the offer!


2. Highlight important words in UPPERCASE

When it comes to SMS, it is restricting in terms of formatting and writing style. You cannot bold, underline or highlight the text as it is done in emails. However, one way to emphasize important words is by putting them in capital letters. But make sure to do this sparingly, or else it might give an impression that you are shouting.


3. Use a strong CTA

The purpose of marketing is to guide the customer through the buying journey. Your SMS recipients are looking for clues as to what they are supposed to do next. So a strong call to action can actually help close a sale instead of the message simply being ignored. Put the CTA at the end of the message as a final instruction to the recipient.


4. Personalize the messages

A single tweak in bulk SMS campaigns, such as using a person’s name when addressing them, can make it much more effective. By using the customer’s name, you are psychologically breaking down the impersonal barrier and making them subconsciously trust you. 

Furthermore, considering customer demographic data and purchase history can also help target your marketing efforts more effectively.


5. Use power words

Power words can add rocket fuel to your SMS copy. Such words pique people’s interest and compel action. When used carefully in message copy, they appeal to the recipient’s emotions. Here are some power words that you can use to boost conversions:

Words about newness- introducing, announcing, surprising, exciting

Words about exclusivity- special, exclusive, limited, secret

Words about urgency- now, discover, hurry, fast

Words that reassure- guarantee, proven, simple, easy


6. Do not use slang or text language

Using text language looks spammy, and it can devalue the brand. After all, you are a business, not some teenager. If you are using ‘w8’ instead of ‘wait’ and even ‘u’ in place of ‘you’ — it can actually cost you subscribers.

7. Use short sentences

Short sentences are easy to read and thus keep the customer engaged. 

Bulky text is bound to make people lose interest quickly. So keep your sentences short and succinct.

Use phone number or URL

Don’t forget to incorporate a telephone number or short URL at the end of your message. But make sure it is relevant to the call to action.

Avoid special characters

Due to technical specifications, some carriers do not support certain special characters. So play it safe and try to avoid using them in your SMS copy.

Include an opt-out option

With any marketing campaign, including an opt-out option is crucial. The same is the case with SMS. It may cost you a few more bucks, but it can save you in the long run, especially with the new anti-spam laws.



Examples of Bulk SMSes done right

Here are some examples of SMS marketing campaigns done right to inspire your next marketing move.

1. Subway

Subway tapped into the SMS marketing space in 2015, and their efforts were an instant success. They now have over 5 million subscribers with a whopping 85% retention rate.


Why did this work?

By using SMS marketing, Subway makes sure that they stay top-of-mind with their target audience.

The campaign compels action by using commanding verbs.

The visual of their promotion works as an added bonus to attract the prospect. 

1. Chipotle 

Chipotle’s SMS marketing campaign gets two giggles from one tickle! Through their Text-to-Apply program, they are reaching new customers as well as seeking out new employees.

Why did this work?

Chipotle examined its target market and then aligned its value proposition accordingly. 

This unique campaign is likely to stay in the reader’s mind and fosters a positive brand image and respect for Chipotle.

1. Jack in the box

The fast-food chain has a text club where they share mobile coupons, discounts, and sneak peeks at new products. 

Why did this work?

They have made their messages exciting and alluring. 

They tell people upfront about what to expect (five messages each month).

They have included an opt-out option. 

Conclusion

We think we’ve already inspired you to take a shot at SMS marketing, and if you’re ready to build your own successful strategy, then we’re here to help.

The SMSCountry support team is here to answer all of your questions. We’ll help you get started, and you’ll be able to run your campaigns within minutes. 

Are you ready to implement new strategies?

Read our other blogs: Top 10 Bulk SMS Service Providers in the Market
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