Technology
7 Must-Have Features When Choosing an Auto SMS Sender
Is your business struggling with its SMS marketing strategy? Maybe you just need more features and an auto SMS sender, which is not an option. It’s a requirement. 🙂
Why? To answer in one sentence – auto online SMS services shrink the challenges of creating and sending multiple messages to crafting a single piece of text that goes out to all your customers instead.
However not all auto SMS senders are equal – so you need to look for the following features:
- Intuitive user interface
- Personalization
- Measurement and reporting
- Speedy delivery
Your business SMS service can make or break your campaigns, so let’s look at what your service must have so your marketing can reach the right audience when you need it.
1. An Easy to Use Interface
You want a tool that improves your employee’s productivity – not slow them down.
An automatic SMS sender that fails to provide an easy-to-use interface for your marketing team can present another problem instead of a solution.
Drag and drop interfaces have become the norm today, with brands looking for simple yet effective SMS campaign tools.
The simplicity of our interface means you can build your SMS templates in no time while focusing your energy on crafting the most compelling message for your customers.
2. Allow For Personalization
No generic text message ever impresses a customer. But how do you personalize when you have to send bulk text messages to thousands of customers? That’s where your auto SMS sender should come in.
Personalization works like this:
Split your contact list into smaller segments according to customer demographics or other creative categories.
Your business SMS service should allow you to do so. You can send a personalized text message to this particular group in return for better engagement.
3. Automate Data Capture, Measurement, Reporting
Collecting data, especially from your already launched campaigns, should not be a problem if you use the right auto SMS sender. Shop for a tool that automates data collection and analytics on your KPIs.
Also, you need a tool to help you understand your audience through sorting and analytics.
4. Seamless Integrations
You’re probably already using other marketing, communication, and analytics tools. Thus, shop for a bulk SMS sender that allows for seamless integrations with your website and auxiliary systems.
You’ve made the wrong choice if you have to hire an extra hand to set up your SMS service.
5. Look Before You Leap
The promises are many, but words are cheap. Action is much better. You should shop only for a tool that offers you an excellent free trial period to give you a test drive before writing the checks.
6. Delivery Quality
It’s hard to assess message delivery quality until you try the tool. One more reason for a free trial. By delivery quality, we mean speed of delivery, data integrity, and coverage.
You don’t want to miss a quick marketing opportunity because your SMS sender was late. You also want to make sure that your messages are sent with all originality.
A tool with international reach is also a favorite.
7. Experience/Reputation
SMS automation changes over time, but some old practices make better soup. Choose bulk SMS services with experience and a good reputation in the SMS business.
Check testimonials on websites, and with an excellent social media presence, you will know what feedback you can trust on social media about your SMS marketing.
5 Steps To Send A SMS Campaign
You may already be an expert SMS marketer, so the following steps are for everyone else.
Step 1: Building an SMS database
This should be easy if you’ve picked the right bulk SMS gateway. Ask your customers to subscribe to your lists through your website, in-store forms, or unique widgets.
Good auto providers like BSG also provide widgets to help you build your SMS database lists.
Pay attention to industry best practices, such as using a double opt-in system. This will ensure that you only text customers who want to receive your texts.
Step 2: Segment your target audience
Next, segment your contact list into smaller customer units according to user demographics or special marketing categories such as shoe sizes if you sell shoes. Consider age groups, particular locations, etc.
Step 3: Build your SMS template
Usually, a fundamental theme does the job. Your SMS provider can offer templates to choose from, but there’s always a blank template for you who likes to start from scratch.
Step 4: Craft a compelling headline and message
Short, concise, and personalized copy sell better. Customers are also keen on listening to promotions, special offers, new arrivals, or reminders.
Step 5: Turn to your KPIs
Setting and watching your Key performance indicators like; reach, opens, responses, the conversion rate is also crucial for successful campaigns. It’s how you’ll know what went right and what didn’t.
Summing up
Good luck with launching your first successful SMS campaign. With these tips, from picking the best type of SMS provider to set up your actual campaign – you can get your mobile SMS marketing campaign underway.