Categories
Cover Story
Internet Marketing Tools
Internet Marketing Business
Internet Marketing Online
Email Marketing
Internet Marketing Service
Internet Marketing Advertising
Internet Marketing Strategy
Internet Marketing Promotion
Search Marketing
Affiliate Marketing
|
|
Internet Marketing Tools
December 2011 Issue --> Internet Marketing Tools Article
3 Important SMS Marketing Tips You Need To Know
By: Mary Wilhite
Text messaging marketing, commonly known as SMS marketing, has a huge untapped opportunity. With about 3 million mobile websites and nearly 5 billion handsets worldwide the marketing potential is gigantic. Unlike email, open rates for SMS hover in the region of 97%. In addition, mobile devices are personal and rarely shared. Meaning your messages gets to the right person without screening. However, most business owners are not reaping these benefits because they don't get the basic principles. Let me give you the three most important best practices that stand the test of time.
1. Have a valuable proposition.
Expectancy levels for text messages are usually high. It is then crucial to send relevant, timely and appropriate text messages. For instance, it would be unacceptable to send a 12-year old an invitation for a couple's only dinner. Sending a college student a $3,000- per-plate dinner offer would have no meaning. A Christmas offer coming on January 5th would be outdated. The propositions would have no value to the recipients.
The best way to avoid this is to know your clients and ask yourself: "What value I am giving my customers that will warrant my inclusion in their inner circle?" If you can't get an immediate answer, then you can ask them or be a keen observer.
By the way, some things require commonsense. A lady buying a dress will most likely require a matching pair of shoe. A man buying a car will require regular servicing and cleaning. If you sold the lady a dress and send her an SMS about places she could get the pair of shoes at a deep discount, then you are likely to get into her inner circle. If you send car-washing coupons to the man who bought your car, you will earn his respect.
2. Make it easy.
This is a time-honored principle. Make SMS communication have as few steps as possible. Minimize the typing required. If a customer shows up with mobile coupons, make the redemption as easy and stress-free as possible. Figure out how your messages are received with various mobile devices. And ensure they are read with minimum difficulty.
Don't say: "Register on our website" in an SMS. You are making life difficult and reducing response rates. Instead, say: "Reply to this SMS" or "Call us now on our toll-free no 1800". Having a short code number will even make things better because they make the engagement with customers faster and much easier.
3. Engage your customers.
A two-way communication usually adds value and makes people feel they own the process. Tell clients that they are free to ask any questions. Hold a contest that brings most of your customers together. You may decide to lead a cleanup campaign for your street together with your best customers. Tell them that they can seek a donation for their favorite charity from you. And make this fun by letting people compete for the donation by writing letters. The best-written letter earns your donation.
Engaging customers also makes them loyal and increases likelihood of doing a bigger purchase every time they shop. Furthermore, engaged customers are also likely to refer other customers to you.
About the Author:
Mary Wilhite is a Mobile Marketing Specialist, also known as the Mobile Marketing Queen. Teaching small businesses, entrepreneurs, and internet marketers how to attract better customers with mobile marketing devices. Get more of her mobile marketing tips, tricks, and strategies today. Just click here http://marywilhiteblog.com.
Bookmark this page now...
Other Internet Marketing Tools articles enjoyed by our readers.
Click here for all Internet Marketing Tools articles
|
|
