| There is no shortage of SMS companies providing a | | | | a company that will let you fully test and start a text |
| various form of mobile marketing. Each company is | | | | message marketing campaign before you have to |
| slightly different on certain aspects of mobile | | | | pay any money. This will take away all risk and you |
| management than can affect your success or failure | | | | will be able to gauge the response, redemption rates |
| with text marketing. How do you know which | | | | and potential ROI should you continue with the |
| company is the right fit for you? Lets look at a few | | | | service. |
| items that any sms company should have no matter | | | | 3) The simplest companies all offer text-2-offer |
| the business market you fall into. | | | | based campaigns in which your customers text your |
| 1) Text messages should be sent through the SMS | | | | unique keyword to the companies 5 o 6 digit |
| channel and not SMTP. SMS messages are | | | | shortcode. This is fine when first starting with your |
| guaranteed to be delivered and is the only method | | | | campaign but in the future you may also want to run |
| approved by cell phone carriers. The messages are | | | | more advanced marketing such as polls, contests and |
| sent via a 5 or 6 digit short code and through an | | | | scheduled messages. Make sure the company also |
| aggregator. SMTP messages by pass the | | | | offers these services so your advertising can grow |
| aggregators and are essentially email messages being | | | | along with the system you are working with. |
| sent to the text channel. Sending messages via | | | | 4) There are many different sized companies that |
| SMTP is ineffective as only 50% may actually arrive | | | | specialize in different markets. Some specialize in |
| and it can take up to 2 hours. SMS messages reach | | | | mass media and large national chain brands. This is |
| the recipient within 5 minutes, often sooner and have | | | | perfect if you are a national chain but not so great if |
| a 100% deliver success rate. | | | | you are a small single unit or regional chain. Find a |
| To tell the difference and be sure the sms company | | | | company that knows your business and can help you |
| actually sends the messages via SMS and not just | | | | out with every aspect of your marketing. |
| collects the opt-ins via SMS, look to see that there is | | | | 5) Is the pricing competitive and clear for your small |
| a nominal charge for each outbound message. | | | | business? Make sure you are not going to get |
| Companies are charged per each message sent from | | | | charged for managed service, campaign assistance, |
| the aggregators and then mark it up slightly to the | | | | keywords every month and the per message fee is |
| small business. | | | | something that with an average 20% redemption |
| 2) Do they offer a free trial? Mobile marketing is still | | | | rate will provide the return on investment works with |
| new technology and not all business's and customers | | | | the products your business sells. |
| get the same results. Begin your first campaign with | | | | |