Article

Tristan Anwyn

Tristan Anwyn writes on a variety of topics including social media, how to build customer relationships, content marketing and how to use SMS to market your small business.

Tristan Anwyn has written 44 articles for SB Informer.
View all articles by Tristan Anwyn...

Remove Those Common SMS Marketing Myths for Your Small Business

Tristan Anwyn

October 15, 2015


Not rated
Rate:

Do you believe the myths about text marketing?

You might have heard that it's expensive, it looks like spam or customers don't like it. Don't let the rumors put you off this cost-effective and very useful marketing tool for your small business.

Here are some of the most common myths about SMS marketing, and the truth behind them….

Myth: Customers Don't Like SMS Marketing

Lots of small business owners worry that their customers will think SMS marketing is akin to spam, and will be put off their business.

In fact, SMS marketing is done via opt in, which means customers choose to sign up for your messages. That gives you a list of people who are happy to hear what you have to say.

The opt-in nature of SMS marketing means you can rest assure you're reaching people who want to be reached. 

Myth: Customers Don't Engage with SMS Marketing

You might be worried that even after opting-in customers will dismiss your text messages with nary a glance.

You'll be relieved to know that text messages have an impressive 98% open rate, and are a good way to grab your customers' attention.

The nature of a text message encourages a response, which makes it a powerful marketing tool.

Customers receiving texts from you will be inclined to respond, whether that's to buy something, answer a survey or partake of an offer.

Myth: SMS is Only Suitable for Announcements

The short nature of texting can be baffling.

What can you really do in so few characters? This leads to some business owners thinking SMS is only suitable for short announcements.

SMS is very versatile. You can include a call to action, an invitation to take a survey, or instructions on how to enter a sweepstake.

It all comes down to careful word choice.

Think carefully and make each word count, and you can craft SMS messages that encourage customers to interact with you.

Myth: SMS Marketing is Expensive

Perhaps you're worried that SMS marketing is expensive.

The truth is, SMS marketing is a cost-effective solution, which can be especially useful for small businesses on a budget.

Texts cost pennies each, with most providers making it easy to scale your service up or down to meet your budget.

As the article "Dispelling 5 Common SMS Marketing Myths" says, SMS is an inexpensive marketing channel.

Combined with strong open and response rates, that means an impressive ROI for your business.

Myth: SMS Marketing Is Difficult

It's true that SMS marketing comes with its own rules that need to be followed:

You'll need to meet the guidelines set out by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It's not a steep learning curve though, and the actual setting up of a mass SMS campaign is straightforward.

Once you've got to grips with it, you can use SMS in a variety of ways.

You'll want to take care over your texts of course, but there's no doubt that crafting a good text campaign takes less resources than print marketing.

Myth: SMS Marketing is Only for Young Customers

If your customers are of an older demographic, you might be wondering if SMS is really appropriate for them. The answer is yes.

Google's "Our Mobile Planet" shows 55% of Americans aged 30 - 49, and 24% of over 50s are Smartphone owners.

Whatever your customer demographics, SMS marketing means reaching them on the go. You'll stay in touch, and that means they'll keep your business in mind.

Don't believe the myths: SMS marketing is versatile, cost-effective, and a fantastic marketing tool for your small business.


                   



Add comment Add comment (Comments: 0)  

Advertisement

Partners

Related Resources

Other Resources