Tips on choosing the Right Bulk SMS Service Provider

As current events within the world continue to force SMEs throughout Singapore to adapt to a new standard of conducting business, it has become more imperative that businesses, large and small, enact more effective means of reaching their consumer base without overstretching already-strained budgets. While many businesses have shifted towards digital avenues of marketing, one viable method is finding itself a key facet of these new SOPs, that being, bulk SMS marketing.

With competitive price and timely delivery, ITNIOTECH sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Given the sheer number of individuals who own a mobile device, the ability for bulk SMS marketing to reach a large subsection of any given business' target audience has made choosing the right SMS service provider all the more important as well.

Ensure Market Reach

When targeting an audience with a marketing campaign that is costing ad dollars for each view, it is critical that the message reaches your customer. Thus, before deciding on an SMS service provider, you need to factor in the ability of the provider's ability to reach them. For instance, if you intend to penetrate the Asia Pacific (APAC) market, source for providers that have a prominent presence in the region.

In Singapore specifically, marketers are required to cross-check their database with the Do Not Call (DNC) list before proceeding accordingly. However, not all marketers are fully aware of this SOP. However, bulk SMS providers such as One Way SMS are always ahead of this, equipped with a checking facility to assist their client with this troublesome scrubbing process.

Consistency With Consumers

In determining the reliability of an SMS service provider, while in the same token, establishing the viability of a bulk SMS campaign, the track record of the provider must be taken into consideration.

Key factors to keep in mind when determining the reliability of an SMS service provider are:

• Past client's feedback in the form of reviews
• History of performance in the form of case studies
• Written assurances or guarantees
• The availability of policies regarding non-performance

All of which lead to the next determining factor - cost.

Generating Leads That Pay

In addition to taking into account reliability and reach, in order for a bulk SMS campaign to be truly effective, the cost must be evaluated. Fortunately, when compared to other facets of marketing, bulk SMS campaigns generally feature a lower "cost-per-click" factor.

Often, the price per message is cents on the dollar. Bearing that in mind, some providers are more cost-effective than others. Some providers, such as One Way SMS, allow companies to utilize their services on a trial basis, furthering the cost-effectiveness of campaigns in the process.

Furthermore, all marketers that opt for One Way SMS as their bulk SMS provider should be happy to know that this provider openly offers a customer database filtering service. Your database of countless contact numbers and landlines will be carefully filtered to ensure that none of them are invalid, helping SMS marketers to avoid budget wastage.

Making Your Decision For Bulk SMS Marketing

Given that reliability, cost and reach are all critical facets of an SMS marketing campaign, when looking to contract the services of a provider, begin with these questions:

• Can this provider provide an adequate area of service to ensure complete reach?
• Has the provider proven its track record? Does it provide assurances against non-performance?
• Is the service cost-effective?
• Will consumers find the process of entering the sales funnel via SMS easy to navigate?
• Is it simple to refine the approach to ensure more effective campaigns?

The best marketing strategies catch a customer's attention in a quick, easy way that promotes engagement and action. SMS marketing can do that.

SMS marketing -- marketing communications sent through text messages -- can reach customers almost instantaneously, as nearly everyone always has a cellphone on them. Strategies for this type of marketing are similar to marketing yet require quicker messages to get their points across. While this approach has various challenges, it may be the easiest way to reach customers.

"In the jewelry retail space, we have discovered SMS is a great channel for reaching customers, keeping them engaged and getting them to convert," said Amber Smetana, SMS marketing lead at Peoples Jewellers based in Canada.

Peoples Jewellers is part of Signet Jewelers, which operates approximately 2,800 stores, primarily under the name brands of Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared and Peoples Jewellers. It is the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry.

Experience with SMS customers has convinced Smetana and the Peoples Jewellers' team they can more easily take advantage of deals and discover new products through SMS versus other digital channels.

"We send targeted messages to multiple, carefully crafted segments, are constantly A/B testing things like send times and [calls to action], and are … mindful of various regulations, such as obtaining consent," Smetana said.

To succeed in their marketing efforts, organizations can follow these 10 SMS marketing best practices.

1. Be engaging and get the customer's consent

An SMS marketing strategy should start with marketers getting the customer's permission to send messages, according to Liz Miller, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research.

If marketing teams don't get customers' consent, they risk jarring consumers with a random, out-of-the-blue text from someone trying to sell them something. It runs the risk of customers marking a company's messages as spam.

Want more information on bulk sms marketing service? Feel free to contact us.

"What [organizations] often forget is that people do not think of their phones as a mobile billboard," Miller said. "They think of it as a way in which to have bidirectional conversations with people they choose to have a conversation with. You should, therefore, start that dialogue in a way that is consistent with what the customer believes they have signed up for."

2. Keep texts simple

Text messages have a high average read rate, as they can reach consumers in real time. Because of this, marketers should find ways to add value to their messages. For example, they can use a conversational tone and deliver information concisely and digestibly, Smetana said. As shoppers' attention spans can be brief, marketers should keep copy short and to the point, with no more than a few hundred characters.

In terms of messaging, Miller said marketers should get right to the meat of what they want the customer to do or have a conversation about. "Don't waste space. Be short and concise. Be brief. Be brilliant. And be gone," Miller said.

3. Offer incentives

Many consumers want to sign up for texts from brands they like and trust. To aid in this, marketers can incentivize their text messages with an attractive offer, such as a discount or free service. Additionally, they could create VIP or highly engaged customer segments and reward these members with exclusive coupon codes or event invitations, Smetana said.

However, some customers may have to pay to receive certain texts, Miller said. Not everyone has unlimited talk and text on their mobile phones. So, marketers should make opting into SMS alerts worthwhile for these customers.

4. Focus on the present

Text messages are a form of real-time communication between parties and, therefore, have more of a short-term focus than a long-term one. An SMS marketing strategy shouldn't include messages about things a month away, Miller said. They should be about something relatively near term.

"When you think about the psychology of [text] messaging, it's about a quick burst of communication. 'Hey, Mom, I'm heading home.' 'Hey, what do you want for dinner?' People are having timely communications in their text messages," Miller said.

5. Consider relevant holidays, events

Marketers should keep ongoing or automated message strategies current with timely content. For example, during a holiday season, marketing teams could include links to gift guides or appointment booking in their welcome or cart abandonment messages, Smetana said.

Teams should build scenarios that offer a range of mobile touchpoints, according to Mike McGuire, Gartner research analyst. These touchpoints including the following:

• Text messages.
• Mobile wallets.
• Mobile web browsers.
• Native mobile applications, especially for social media.

6. Include SMS in a multichannel strategy

To make SMS marketing most effective, marketers should tie it to other forms of communications, rather than use it as a standalone practice. SMS marketing should integrate into the totality of how, when and where an organization communicates with the customer. A multichannel strategy -- where organizations interact with customers on various channels, like and social media -- can help.

"Multichannel marketing lets you create a unified experience across multiple channels to promote brand loyalty," Smetana said. "We've considered the unique strengths of each channel and what format would be most effective for communicating with customers to build out an ideal experience."

7. Segment audiences for better targeting

Marketers can better target their messages -- and overall communications performance -- if they break their audience into segments. Teams can base these segments on various factors, such as demographics, location, frequent vs. one-time buyers, engaged vs. unengaged customers and more.

However, marketing teams must ensure all communication fits within a customer's overall journey with the brand. Marketers should also ensure communication is consistent across channels so it aligns with the story that customers put together about the brand, Miller said.

8. Avoid texts that redirect a customer elsewhere

Marketing teams should take care when they send texts that would redirect a customer to another location, like a website. For example, if a customer isn't familiar with the brand or isn't expecting the text, they may assume the message is part of a phishing scam.

"If it is something or someone not known to them, they'll likely worry that it is a scam or junk mail. If your text message seems like junk mail, they will likely report it as such," Miller said.

However, if marketers do choose to include links in their SMS campaigns, they must ensure customers can say no or ignore the recommendation.

9. Be creative

Marketers should be bold and innovative with their content creation. For example, they can experiment with capitalizing essential words to highlight them, integrating emoji to make a message more relatable and using automated replies to enhance interactivity.

SMS strategies offer marketers unparalleled reach to their audiences and a simple method of engagement with elevated read and response rates, McGuire said. Creative messages, such as a holiday-oriented sale announcement or a witty response to a social media trend, can also better engage customers and boost read and response rates.

10. Act on the data that SMS efforts can produce

SMS marketing does more than passively push out messages. Ultimately, marketers must remember all SMS efforts play a role in their data collection strategy. Marketing teams should use the information they gather wisely, ethically and judiciously. Also, they should note that, when they send messages, the customer assumes the brand will eventually send something more valuable as well, Miller said.

"For example, restock alerts via text make it easier for customers to purchase previously sold-out products, and sending texts about limited-time releases and new product launches enables customers to act on deals faster," Smetana said.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of two-way communication service. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.