Have you decided to use A2P SMS to promote your business, or achieve other goals? Then it’s worth taking some time to prepare. We’ve put together a list of 4 simple rules that can help you create a high-quality SMS campaign.
1 – Compile your own customer database
One of the first rules of SMS marketing is to have a well-suited customer database. You should remember that your recipients must have agreed to receive SMS mail-outs from you, otherwise contacting them will be considered illegal. Each country has its own rules and laws on advertising, but they all boil down to one thing; that you must have clear, accessible opt-in and opt-out mechanisms.
For your A2P SMS, you can use your own customer database or use one provided by a mobile operator. Both of these methods are legal, and the subscribers will all be people who have given their consent to receive information from you.
2 – Make a content plan
As you can only include a small amount of information in text messages, you should have a clear understanding of what exactly to send to your subscribers. In the modern world, much attention is paid to content, even when it is limited in volume. It should therefore be of high quality, otherwise your clients may quickly get tired of it.
3 – Choose the right day and time for your SMS mail-outs
Be careful when you send messages to your clients. No one likes to be woken up early in the morning or given information during moments of relaxation, such as late at night. Explore what day of the week and time of day is the best moment to send information about your business. If you have a café and you want to attract clients at lunchtime, send out the information in the first half of the working day. If you have a bar and want to invite subscribers to your place for the weekend, send text messages on Thursday or Friday afternoon.
4 – Find your SMS gateway service provider
It’s very important to choose exactly the right service, one which you will be comfortable working with. What should you pay attention to?
- API availability;
- Pricing;
- An easy to use personal account;
- Testing and tech support;
- Having a modern website and additional software.
These are simple rules. Following them may help your SMS mail-outs become successful. Don’t forget that it doesn’t matter what specific purposes you use this marketing tool for, the main thing is that, ultimately, it should attract the attention of clients, rather than turning them away from you.