Reaching Your Targeted Audience With Text Message Marketing

Bulk SMS (short message system) companies offer you the opportunity to send a single text message to all your customer's cell phones at one time. This is similar to sending bulk email with much better open rates and response. 94% of all text messages sent are opened and read making Text message marketing or SMS marketing a very effective and inexpensive form of advertising for your business.

So how do you get all these cell numbers to send your messages too?

One is using your existing customer list. Some SMS marketing systems allow you to import your existing email list to send an email through their system with a link to opt in to your SMS system to receive something of value to them.

For example: xyz company invites you to join our text message system to receive valuable weekly coupons via a text message to your cell phone. Click the link to opt in.

If the system you choose does not have a email system, then use your existing email system to send the invitation and use a keyword such as "invite" to your systems short phone number known as a shortcode.

For example: xyz company invites you to join our text message system to receive valuable weekly coupons via a text message to your cell phone. On your cell phone text the word "invite" to the number 12345.

You may also use this invitation using standard postcard mailouts.

The other way to build your opt in list is to entice your audience to join and receive something of value instantly via text message. A restaurant might have table tents inviting it's customers to join and receive 10% off their meal or a free dessert. By texting a keyword such as dessert to the shortcode 12345, they will get an auto response message that might say, Thank you for joining. Enjoy your free dessert. Show this message to your server.

Now that you have a targeted audience, it provides direct and instant response to you marketing campaigns. These are people who have asked to receive your information and may already be your customers. These messages will provide greater response than all your other advertising efforts.