Most businesses have used SMS to communicate with their customers and employees. It’s one of the most efficient modes of communication, and corporate SMS is as popular as it’s ever been. Surprisingly, 90% of all messages sent are read in under three minutes. Surprisingly, we still see many errors from text message marketing services for such a mature and responsive channel. Some of these are minor, but others may constitute a violation of the law, resulting in hefty fines.
We’ve identified the three most common SMS blunders made by businesses.
1. You didn’t get the proper opt-in from your customers.
Despite some high-profile cases in which companies have been heavily fined for improperly using consumer data, it’s amazing how many companies are still texting customers who have not opted in.
In both the EU and the US, the rules for using text marketing services are very clear. While the rules differ slightly, the ramifications for businesses caught text spamming are severe.
the stakes so high, it’s critical that you not only have your customers’ permission to text them, but also that you can show how you got it.
2. You don’t know how to shorten web links.
With SMS marketing services, you only have 160 characters to convey your message. You must accomplish the following with that short sentence:
• Introduce yourself
• Make a tempting offer
• Tell the customer how to respond
• Give them the option to opt out of receiving future texts
It’s a difficult task. With only 160 characters, each and every one counts. Using a “URL shortener” for your web links is a simple and often overlooked way to reclaim a few characters.
Your link can be significantly reduced, giving you more characters to convey your message more effectively.
There are a plethora of URL shorteners to choose from, with the majority of them being free.
3. You haven’t optimised your website for mobile phones.
If you’ve sent a text message to your prospects through chatbots on facebook, the most common “call to action” is to direct them to a website where they can take advantage of your offer or learn more.
As a result, it’s critical that the web page that customers arrive on is mobile-friendly. Nothing will make people click away faster than a site that is unattractive and slow to load.
4. Send an Excessive Number of Messages
According to Frost and Sullivan, 98 percent of all texts are read, while only 22 percent of emails are read.
With such high read rates, it’s no surprise that some businesses can’t stop themselves from sending text after text in the hopes of getting the same response every time.
Text Messaging’s Future Remains Bright
By carefully planning your campaigns and avoiding these common blunders by text message marketing, you can ensure that your next campaign will be a huge success.
You’ll not only get a better response from your SMS campaigns if you pay attention to the details, but you’ll also gain an advantage over your competitors.For more info, visit Umbrella Local!
