Text message marketing: The benefits
While SMS text message marketing has been around for a good 10 years, it appears many companies
are only now coming round to the benefits of this simple, quick and effective marketing tool.
Responsiveness
Marketing companies know only too well the benefits of a positive response rate from a prospective
client. Quick and unobtrusive, with the brand or marketing message communicated in a few lines, a
potential customer can typically read and respond to an SMS text alert in a few seconds.
Immediacy
For existing and potential clients alike, brand messages can be sent and received in a mere fraction
of the time of conventional mail. Also, with a message alert ‘ping’ on most phones, the recipient
usually reads the marketing message with a certain degree of curiosity. If unwelcome, then a quick
‘STOP’ instruction can limit the amount of time companies waste on a ‘dead end’ lead, saving
everyone time and money.
ROI
In most circumstances, sending a marketing SMS costs companies 8p per message. A fraction of the
cost of designing, printing and packaging expensive marketing material, which can naturally still be
sent as follow-ups to now-vetted interested parties. Simply put, SMS text messages could increase
the efficiency of your business
The competitive edge
With the take-up for SMS text message marketing still in its early stages in the UK, early adopters of
this technology still have the chance of stealing a march on their competitors, in turn making sure
their messages have a higher impact.
Last minute reminders
Sending last minute SMS text reminders to existing and potential clients is a good way of ensuring a
good attendance at events and launches, themselves useful tools in building strong customer
relationships. Should you get a drop out at an event, SMS text messaging can also be used to fill
vacant slots, perhaps by including a last minute deal or incentive with the message.
Your green credentials
SMS text messaging, along with email and online social networking are, by their ‘paperless’ nature,
an extremely green way of conducting business. A useful statistic to remember here is that for every
10,000 sheets of A4 paper a company uses, two and a half trees are cut down and pulped. Obviously,
with contracts and other legal documents, there is a necessity to make sure a ‘hard copy’ is sent,
using SMS text messaging where practical however, is a good thing for both the bottom line and the
environment.