Bulk SMS services vary due to their features, the businesses they aim to serve, pricing packages, scalability options, and other factors. However, if you’ve decided that your company needs a robust system to support your messaging campaign, you probably want to understand better how such services work.
This section will reveal the most common ways to make the most out of a bulk text message app. Of course, everything will depend on your business type and goals. However, there are certain typical milestones we will explain, along with tips on how to take advantage of an SMS marketing service.
Choose a Service that Suits Your Objectives
You should first define your company’s objectives and needs in detail. Each SMS marketing firm has advantages and disadvantages. Comparisons of prices alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, you must be certain that the service you choose precisely satisfies your unique demands while making your choice.
When selecting a messaging app, keep the following in mind.
Features’ applicability
Make sure the SMS marketing company you choose can deliver all you want for your messaging campaigns. The tool you choose should satisfy all of your needs and guard against any annoyances.
As a result, you should be very cautious while examining the features the service provides. Give a platform that addresses all facets of SMS communication high priority. As a result, you won’t have to pay extra for services from another supplier.
Support mechanism
One of the secrets to a great user experience is adequate customer service. Even if the majority of messaging systems are simple to use and straightforward, you could need some guidance to do more challenging jobs or make use of advanced capabilities. You won’t be left to deal with the possible difficulties along with a system that has a responsive 24/7 support service.
Convenience
Do you recall intuition? It has a significant impact on your decision about the greatest text blast service for your requirements. with effective UX and easy onboarding
You shouldn’t have any trouble picking up on the intricacies of the program and rapidly figuring out how to utilize it.
Additionally, it’s wonderful if you can try out an app before you subscribe. As a result, you may decide if the system is practical enough before paying for the service.
Package prices
The price choices will, of course, determine if the SMS platform is appropriate for your company. Find trustworthy businesses that provide a range of solutions to suit various requirements. If you just need SMS marketing services for a short while, a pay-as-you-go strategy will also be advantageous. Consider the hidden costs and restrictions that can have an impact on the app’s ultimate cost.
CRM connections
CRM connectors are essential for every messaging platform, as was already established. You should be able to combine many different systems with a competent SMS marketing service. Selecting a tool with enough choices will probably make your life simpler.
Step 1. Use Your Contacts Database
Once you’ve picked a service that meets your business requirements and goals, you should prepare the phone numbers of the recipients of your messages. In most cases, you can integrate your existing database by importing it to the system through an API.
It will take just a few clicks to connect this data to the system. Then, you can sync it with phone numbers from your lists.
Also, depending on the type of your business and the recipient’s location, the phone number used by the service provider may vary. Here are the most common types of these codes:
- Shortcode consists of five to six digits. It’s generally used for a single country and has the highest delivery rate. A dedicated short code feature can make this number belong solely to your company.
- Long code can be used internationally and is tied to a single company. It has a relatively low delivery rate.
- Toll-free long code can also be used for different countries yet have a higher delivery rate than a long code number.
Step 2. Create Your Messages
The success of your campaign depends on numerous factors. However, the texts themselves play the most significant role. The point is to create messages that will engage your audience and deliver them the required information. At the same time, it’s essential not to overwhelm or confuse your users.
Here are several important rules to follow when creating your texts, regardless of their purpose and nature.
- Be brief and precise. As you probably know, a text message is limited to 160 words. And sometimes, it’s better to make your texts even shorter. An engaging and informative notification will hold the reader’s attention. On top of that, ensure the recipients understand the text’s essence and purpose.
- Offer to opt out. Due to telecommunication regulations, enabling your customers to stop receiving your texts is mandatory. You’re supposed to offer the recipients this choice in the first message.
- Personalize your texts. Call the recipients by name and provide them with the information they’re likely interested in. Personalizing your messages will engage your customers and encourage them to respond.
- Strive for conciseness. The notification should be clear and polite. However, try not to make it too formal. Stick to a friendly tone of voice.
Step 3. Divide Recipients into Specific Groups
Polls with text-to-vote options, for example, are useful features that let you divide your audience into targeted groupings. Your communications will become more tailored as a result, which will increase user engagement.
SMS polling is, in a nutshell, the simplest approach to get client input, comprehend their expectations, and enhance your campaign. In other words, you may get some insightful information about opt-in consumers from the list by completing this survey.
Text-to-vote campaigns may be improved with a personalized approach to SMS marketing. It applies particularly well if your audience is large and diversified. This approach will make it possible to comprehend the particulars and requirements of various target consumers.
In your contact lists, you will create matching groups as a result, and you’ll send more relevant and goal-oriented letters.
Step 4. Set the Texting Schedule
As soon as you begin utilizing an SMS platform, proper scheduling is essential. One of the most frequent problems causing high unsubscribe rates is sending messages too often (or too infrequently). Thus, if you want to avoid this, plan your messaging campaign carefully and choose the appropriate moment.
Fortunately, a reputable SMS marketing company can assist you in creating a plan for messaging that works. The majority of these solutions let you use an automated approach and specify the precise time that the repeated SMS should be sent out. The intervals between communications delivered to your consumers may also be set.
For instance, Smarter Contact offers CRM interfaces through Zapier so that users may continue to use features like calendar management or appointment tools. By syncing your preferred method of organization with the messaging app, you may benefit from it.
Step 5: Track the Important Metrics
You should have instant access to all crucial indicators, data reports, and KPIs thanks to the system you employ. In addition, managing the results and streamlining certain procedures, will assist you in running more effective SMS campaigns.
Texting software often provides customers with a fast and practical dashboard summary of this data on a web or mobile app interface. You may be sure you won’t miss any important, urgent reports thanks to this function. As a result, you will have a detailed view of the development of your SMS campaign.
To be more specific, an analytics tab in your messaging platform may provide you with information on the number of new clients, the keywords that provide the best results, data on unsubscribes, response rates, etc. A solid custom dashboard allows for diving down into specific facts as needed without being overbearing.
