In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about bulk SMS messaging online.
You’ll discover:
- The key benefits of bulk SMS for businesses
- How to choose the right bulk SMS service provider
- Best practices for crafting effective SMS campaigns
- Real-world examples and success stories
- Step-by-step instructions to get started
The Benefits of Bulk SMS Messaging for Businesses
Let’s explore the key benefits of bulk SMS for businesses.
Cost-Effective
SMS is incredibly affordable at only a few cents per recipient send.
- There’s no monthly fee like with email
- There’s no designer, coder, or copywriter to hire, proofing rounds, etc.
Combine that with engagement rates 4x higher than email and other marketing channels.
High Engagement Rates
- SMS messages have an average open rate of 98%, compared to only 20% for emails.
- SMS marketing campaigns have an average click-through rate of 19%, significantly higher than the 3-5% average for email marketing.
- 90% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes of being received.
- SMS marketing generates up to 45% higher response rates compared to other digital channels.
- 70% of consumers have made a purchase as a direct result of receiving an SMS message from a business.
- SMS messages have impressive open and response rates compared to other forms of digital communication.
Higher Quality Subscribers
Most people have a secondary or fake email address to subscribe with but most people tend to have one mobile number.
This means when they give you that number, they are serious about what you have to offer and want to hear from you.
Low Competition
Email inboxes are bursting at the seams resulting in low open rates.
Ad banner blindness has never been higher resulting in lower click-through
…But it’s highly likely that your competitors are not inside your customers SMS inbox.
Choosing the Right Bulk SMS Service Provider
When it comes to implementing bulk SMS messaging for your business, selecting the right service provider is crucial. Here are some key factors to consider.
Reliability and Deliverability
Look for a reputable service provider with a track record of delivering messages promptly and consistently.
Scalability and Capacity
Consider your business’s growth potential and choose a provider that can accommodate your increasing messaging needs.
User-Friendly Interface
A user-friendly interface makes it easier for you to manage your SMS campaigns effectively.
Personalization and Customization Options
The ability to personalize your messages is crucial for engaging your audience.
Customer Support
Choose a service provider that offers reliable customer support. Look for providers with multiple support channels, such as email, live chat, or phone support.
Best Practices for Crafting Effective SMS Campaigns
Here are some best practices to help you make the most of your bulk SMS messaging efforts:
Always Be Segmenting (ABS)
Avoid having one large group of subscribers, you want smaller and targeted groups of subscribers, this makes a few things easier:
- Offer creation
- Messaging relevance
Strong Offer
An offer will make or break a campaign so come up with an offer that your target audience will love then shorten it down to a handful of words.
Personalize Messages (Sometimes)
The SMS community loves to go on about “personalizing” your messages and sometimes this is necessary, like using their name, or mentioning some other highly specific theme, but it’s not a hard rule, if you have something important to say that is relevant to that person, that can be enough.
Timing and Frequency
As with anything, timing is important, when is a person likely to want to engage with your brand? Then message them earlier, that “earlier” timeframe will depend on the product i.e. a restaurant would message people at 10am, a real estate agent might message someone weeks earlier for an upcoming sale.
Test and Optimize
Keepa record of the campaign and the result – then try to beat your score.
Comply with Regulations and Obtain Consent
This is essential, find out what the SPAM laws are in your neck of the woods and follow them to the T.
How To Send A Bulk SMS Message (Step By Step)
Step 1: Sign up to an Online SMS Platform
Go to /signup.php and sign up for a free account. You’ll have access to some free SMS credits.
Step 2: Import your contacts
Before you can send an SMS message or campaign, you need to have your contacts set up, you can just upload them. We have a template you can download as well.
Step 3: Select Your Contacts
Select one or more contacts.
Step 4: Write Your Message & Send
Write out your text message. Your message can be anything up to 450 characters just be aware that the more characters you use the more SMS credits are used.
Finally, click send or schedule.
That’s it!