Text message marketing has in the recent past become a favorite marketing strategy among small firms. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this. Most importantly, mobile phone users are with their phones almost 24 hours day. Businesses using this channel to market their products are always confident that their messages will be received instantly. Compared to online and offline market, all aspects held constant, mobile markets is the most worthwhile marketing strategy for small businesses. Statistics also show why businesses in the modern world prefer text messages. On average, research shows that 94 percent of messages received are read. 80 percent of mobile phone users keep their mobile phones with them for 24 hours. In the United States alone, 39 percent (76 million) consumers prefer text messaging to radio or television advertising. 18-30 year old consumers prefer text messages to voice services. So how can small firms’ owners take advantage of these facts?
The first step towards maximizing profits from mobile or text message marketing has to do with developing a text messaging strategy. In this step, marketing consultant, or whoever is charged with spearheading mobile marketing strategy identifies the target audience. A consultant should then proceed to ensure the audience’s mobile contacts are entered into the firm’s database. The next step involves identification of what the firm wants to offer to targeted consumers. From here, a marketer figures out how to promote whatever a firm wants to sell to consumers. After all this, all that follows is integration of mobile marketing strategy with existing strategies.
After successful initial signing up of the first batch of consumers, and following it up with necessary promotions, chances are that new business leads will be established. Many firms concentrate on mobile marketing only, and thus fail to take advantage of new leads. Taking full advantage of mobile marketing and capitalizing on new opportunities brought about by text marketing assists a firm to maximize profits.
Knowing your metrics allows one to use mobile marketing strategy effectively. Using online messaging services allows a marketer to access powerful tools that can be used to track the successes of various mobile marketing campaigns. The more one understands how mobile marketing works the better positioned one is to identify winning strategies. On the bleak side, a marketer can identify quickly when text message marketing is not working. This way, such a campaign can be abandoned without wasting valuable resources. On the bright side, if an administrator’s panel on a mobile marketing webpage shows progress is being made, marketers can proceed rigorously with their campaign.
Any firm serious with reaping benefits associated with mobile marketing may follow the three steps discussed here. The first step involves the creation of a text message marketing strategy. It is during this stage that a firm signs up for a short message marketing (SMS) solution. The second stage involves taking advantage of all benefits that come with mobile marketing, though not directly related to it. The final step has to do with getting familiar with the metrics.
