| When creating an SMS marketing message there are | | | | This is great for event interest. eg. |
| some very basic things in that you need to | | | | From: +61429705882 |
| remember to do. We are constantly surprised at the | | | | Real Estate Legend Course Graduates. Freeadvanced |
| amount of users that attempt to text message | | | | course intro seminar starting in |
| marketing campaigns without these basic things in | | | | Sydney in November. |
| place. As an SMS is limited in size people try to save | | | | Take your property skills to the next level. |
| characters in a variety of ways and sometimes | | | | Interested? REPLY YES |
| forget to put in the most basic of information. | | | | Opt-out reply STOP |
| You might think that an SMS is just 160 characters | | | | With keywords you can also add auto-responders |
| and that there isn't much to worry about, but you | | | | that can send further details and add them to |
| would be wrong. SMS is a very personal and direct | | | | separate lists. |
| medium, without considering carefully the content, | | | | You can also add URL's to mobile web pages, google |
| delivery and calls to action in your message you could | | | | maps, mobile video and even application downloads. |
| potentially see a lot of opt-outs from your list. | | | | There are a multitude of URL shorteners available |
| However if you do it well SMS can become a | | | | that are excellent for use with SMS. bit.ly is probably |
| powerful and well regarded part of your marketing | | | | the most popular and it has analytics so you can see |
| strategy. | | | | how many recipients visited the link. eg. |
| 1. Display your business name. | | | | From: +61429705882 |
| So many people forget this most basic of | | | | Real Estate Legend Course Graduates. Freeadvanced |
| information. There are a couple of ways to do this.a) | | | | course intro seminar starting in |
| You can set the caller ID (number sent from) to be a | | | | Sydney in November. Take your property skillsto the |
| name up to 11 characters (no spaces). The issue here | | | | next level. |
| is that it is not a number so recipients cannot reply | | | | Watch intro video on your mobilelnks.to/relegends |
| to it and you still have to have an opt-out method in | | | | Opt-out reply STOP |
| your message. Your message might look like this. | | | | 4. Deliver good quality information and offers |
| From: TOPFASHION | | | | I know this may seem a little simple but as mobile is |
| Members get 50% off all stylestomorrow only at | | | | such a personal medium you need to make strong, |
| flagship store. | | | | time sensitive offers to give people a sense of value |
| Open 9am, 100 Chapel Street, Prahran. | | | | from your SMS messages. They need to feel that |
| Opt-out SMS STOP 123 to 0429705882 | | | | they are getting something that others aren't and |
| You can use manual methods to opt people out as | | | | that it was a good decision to give up their mobile |
| well, but these are less likely to be used and continual | | | | number. |
| messages to people that can't opt out easily will | | | | Good SMS content can come in the form of freebies, |
| create a bad brand perception. eg. | | | | discounts, mobile coupons, reminders, links to free |
| For info or opt-out call the store on 03 1234 5678 | | | | applications, competition entries, mobile video, alerts. |
| The benefit of a name in the caller ID is that you get | | | | Just sending out a vague sale alert tends to come |
| a little extra branding on the incoming message. The | | | | across as spammy and will probably result in an opt |
| drawback is that you need to use more chars to | | | | out. Most importantly make the recipient feel that |
| include to the opt-out number.b) The alternative is to | | | | they were special in receiving the SMS, with good |
| use the opt-out number as the caller ID. You then | | | | SMS platforms like Burst SMS you can use database |
| must remember to put the company name in the | | | | variables to insert the persons name and other details |
| message. eg. | | | | into the message. eg. |
| From: +61429705882 | | | | From: +61429705882 |
| TOP FASHION members get 50% off all | | | | Hi [firstname], As a Club Fabulous Subscriber,show |
| stylestomorrow only at flagship store. | | | | this SMS to jump the queue this Saturdaynight 25th |
| Open 9am, 100 Chapel Street, Prahran | | | | July. +50% off cover charge for youand a friend. |
| Opt-out reply STOP | | | | Member: [number] |
| With this method the message is slightly shorter and | | | | Full DJ lineuplnks.to/clubfabulous |
| it is easier for the recipient to opt-out. Over time this | | | | Opt-out reply STOP |
| will generate less complaints and be more positive for | | | | 5. Don't try to be funky with text language |
| your brand. | | | | Shortening words and funky acronyms are used by |
| 2. Qualify the recipient | | | | people with no keyboard, some marketers try to use |
| People NEVER remember why or how they got onto | | | | this language to save characters or 'connect with |
| a mailing list, it could be as fleeting or inconspicuous | | | | Gen Y', we find it is much better to speak in simple |
| as a competition entry, a survey or making an in | | | | plain proper language. When marketing you need |
| store purchase and giving details. Smart companies | | | | people to read and understand a short succinct |
| and marketers are now collecting opted-in numbers | | | | message quickly, they don't need to be deciphering |
| from customers at point of interest and point of | | | | some kind of code. |
| purchase. What they aren't doing is qualifying the | | | | Also people know you have access to a keyboard |
| recipient when they send out the messages. This is | | | | and plenty of time to think about what you are |
| much easier to do on email as you have as many | | | | writing so you will come across as being a 'try hard' in |
| characters as you need to explain how they came to | | | | the eyes of youth anyway. Keep it short simple and |
| be on your list. With SMS it is a little more difficult. | | | | to the point. |
| Generally by identifying your company that will be a | | | | By following these 5 simple tips you will have the |
| start, then just mention the relationship before the | | | | basics down for creating powerful and useful text |
| offer. e.g. Members, Customers, April Competition | | | | messages for your marketing campaigns. |
| Entrants etc etc. By quickly mentioning how the | | | | The underlying concept is to treat peoples mobile |
| recipient came to be on the list it will make them feel | | | | numbers with respect, they aren't like email |
| easier about the communication. This is especially | | | | addresses people only have one. They can't just give |
| important with your first communication. | | | | you a purposely setup one just for collecting spam. |
| 3. Add an interactive call to action | | | | They make a conscious decision to trust you with |
| You can easily engage a customer by mobile by | | | | this data and should you abuse it you will be opted |
| adding quality calls to action. You can use SMS | | | | out and never be given the opportunity again. |
| keywords to have people reply to the message with. | | | | |