Bulk SMS campaigns are generally called mobile marketing. These campaigns have fast become one of the most effective mediums for businesses to promote and advertise their services and products. It involves making the effective use of mobile phone technology to communicate with prospective and existing customers of a company. SMS or Short Messaging Service brings manifold benefits to users who consider it an efficient point of contact with customers.

Previously, the use of bulk SMS software was considered ineffective and disadvantageous. It had a negative influence mainly because organizations made use of a cold database and spammed the customers. However, situations have completely changed in recent times. At present, the network providers have stipulated a complete set of measures and guidelines when it comes to using bulk messaging solutions. With proper measures in place, bulk SMS marketing has greatly evolved into one of the most effective marketing tools. The modern-day companies can effectively use this marketing medium for getting close to their consumers. However, there are certain guidelines for them to follow:

Seek Permission

Before sending messages in bulk, it is important for companies to ensure that the customers or the clients have completely agreed to the act of receiving messages from them. The entire procedure can easily be held into a perfect place by going for either web opt-in or keyword opt-in facility. It gets easier to come up with a reliable bulk messaging database simply by getting the permission of the clients. However, in order to do this, you need to make it convenient for the customers to join your messaging database. It is also important for you to make sure that the customers have all kinds of information regarding the delivery of messages. The customers should be well-informed about when the messages will be delivered and what would be the matter or content of the SMSs.

Come Up with the Right Budget

In the case of SMS marketing, it is necessary for you to have a well-planned budget handy. Having a budget at your disposal will help you in avoiding unwanted problems and regrets in the near future. Strategically planned short messages can easily be managed and they also go a long way in improving the bottom line of business.

Deal in the Delivery of Direct Messages

There is no use jamming up your messages with a lot of content or details. This will not help in any circumstances. Instead, it will ruin the quality of your messages and have the customers losing the interest to even go through the details that you have delivered on their phones. Make sure to limit your messages to not more than 140 characters. Also, make sure to include all the important points within the same limit. Always keep in mind that a long message is not an effective message. A message will be effective only when it contains useful matters or information for the customer without being too repetitive or boring. Make your SMSs attractive in order to grab the attention of the customers. Try using plain and simple language and well-known texting shortcuts.

Always Indulge in the Delivery of Relevant Messages

The relevance of a certain message cannot be over-emphasized. No matter how attractive and relevant your message is, it might struggle to strike the right chord of the customer if it does not meet their requirements. This is where steps like audience targeting and segmentation come into effective play. One of the most important things you need to keep in mind when preparing or designing promotional messages to be sent on the mobile phones of the customers is demographics. Consider the location of the customer along with the target group you are looking to grab for your products and services.

Send Personalized Messages

Sending messages in bulk is considered one of the most effective strategies to build exclusive and long-term relations with consumers. However, you can achieve this only if you are able to send customized or personalized SMSs to the customers. Take for instance; you can try personalizing the messages by using the first name of the customer in the message. By doing so, you can make the client feel special.

Messages Should Be Scheduled Properly

It is also important to schedule bulk messages properly. This is important because even the most creative and attractive message can fail to lure the customers if it is not timed properly. Take for example; you should avoid sending messages during office hours because the recipients will not pay attention to them. This is because they are busy at work. If you do not want the messages to be ignored, time them in the right way.

Factoring in the above-mentioned points when designing a bulk SMS marketing plan will help you in achieving great rewards. Bulk SMS marketing is one of the best ways of exploiting the potential of the local market but only if it is strategized in the right way.