Rules to get started

The problem of spam for SMS is not as severe as it is in e-mails, though some problems still remain. There are many spammers who can get into the SMS infrastructure through the Internet and send numerous SMSes to random mobile numbers. If you are choosing one of these companies, you should be aware of the pit falls of dealing with them as well. You will be exposed to stiff penalties for text spam, and large number of messages will never go through. Even if the messages reach your audience for some time, the mobile companies will soon cut you off.

Use Conventional Methods with SMS:

You can use conventional marketing methods to complement your SMS campaigns. Businesses that are already operating successfully in the market have many things at their disposals which they are not even aware of. You can use radio spots, billboards, website (you can even use table tops if you are running a restaurant). Be creative.

Decide Your Goal:

While choosing your service provider, you need to know how much you are going to spend and what do you want your SMS campaign to do. Many small businesses use ready platforms such as Mobile Commons or Hip Cricket. You can start your SMS campaign for a little as $800 per month.

Don't Ask for Anything:

If you are asking for phone numbers, your audience may end up protecting it even more. Therefore, don't ask them for their phone numbers. Rather, ask them to vote for a poll or share an opinion or give them exclusive content not available to anyone else. If you are providing free stuff, that may also help your SMS marketing campaign become more customer friendly. The catch here is the users should get themselves registered so that the SMSes don't remain unsolicited anymore.

SMS for the Long Term:

SMS marketing campaign should be designed keeping a long term relationship in mind. Your campaign becomes almost a part of your customer relationship management machinery. For example, if a customer regularly gets in touch every week and is absent for some days, they should receive a message if everything is alright.

Here are some key goals for your SMS marketing campaign:

1.Overall profit margin should increase.
2.More business should come from current clients.
3.You should get more clients from new markets.

Content is Important:

The language of the SMS campaign will be decided by your goal. The language of SMS for new client will be very different from the one that goes to old clients to generate extra business. If you are trying to achieve all these objectives simultaneously, the effort is certainly laudable but the final message to be delivered will become blurred and confusing. Therefore, even before you decide on your medium or message, it is important you beside what your goal is and stick to it.

Even if you are marketing through SMS, it is important that you pay close attention to the actual content of the message. If the message is confusing, you cannot achieve you goal. The fact that you have to limit your message to only 160 characters, you are forced to think cleverly and clearly.