SMS Marketing Software

What is SMS marketing software?

SMS marketing (or text marketing) software is a bulk text message sharing tool. It allows businesses to send SMSs to customers, in addition to helping them create and maintain contact lists, schedule message delivery, analyze response rates, and generate reports.

Whether you are an eCommerce business that needs to send order delivery messages or a bank that wants to send transaction updates to customers, you need a text marketing platform to handle all your business engagements.

What are the benefits of SMS marketing software?

Some of the benefits that SMS marketing software are listed below, however the most important benefit of enterprise SMS marketing is that it is one of the least expensive marketing techniques that have mass reachability.

• High open rates: About 23 billion text messages are sent each day, of which 97% are opened. In comparison, only 20% of emails are opened. This figure proves that an SMS is seen by the customer in almost all instances, which assures businesses that their message will be delivered to the audience.
• Faster delivery, better adoption rates: Unlike emails or social media, text messages can be delivered to all types of mobile phones, whether it’s a pager or the latest smartphone. In short, marketers can leverage the fact that all mobile phones have texting capabilities.
• Traceable outcomes: Unlike traditional advertising, SMS marketing can be tracked. The software gives businesses an instant view of campaign performance regarding SMSs sent, opened, read, and answered. This helps marketers evaluate customer engagement at various stages of the campaign, so that they can improvise as and when needed.

What are some typical features of SMS marketing software?

SMS marketing software solutions typically include some core features that are present across most platforms, however many also have optional features, which can help buyers differentiate between tools and choose the best one for their small business. In general, the typical features that SMS marketing tools include are:

• Mass texting: Send messages in bulk to a large audience in a single go.
• Contact management: Create a centralized repository to store contact details, such as name, address, and phone number, in an organized, searchable manner.
• Scheduled messaging: Set a specific time to broadcast messages to individuals or to entire contact lists.
• Reporting/Analytics: Determine and report the performance of the SMS marketing campaign based on KPIs such as messages delivered, read, and answered.
• Mobile keywords: Add unique identifying keywords in the text message to let readers perform certain actions during the campaign. For instance, “START” or “STOP” to continue receiving messages.

What are some considerations to bear in mind when purchasing SMS marketing software?

When purchasing text marketing software, buyers need to ask themselves a number of key questions in order to find the best option for their organization. SMS marketing software tools can vary significantly in terms of functionality, and the best solution for one business may not necessarily be the best solution for another.

• Scalability: Most text-based messaging service providers offer plans based on the number of messages to be sent in a month. We advise you to evaluate your message volume and choose a plan that best fits your current needs. Keep in mind that the provider you choose should be able to scale-up the solution as your business expands.
• Uptime and reliability: Most carriers have started filtering unnecessary SMSs and blocking spam sources to provide a better customer experience. For your SMS to reach the right audience, get a reliable and reputed SMS service provider or you may end up paying for the service even though your SMSs are blocked by the carriers. Also, ensure that the service provider has a high uptime, so that you can send messages any time.
• Ability to integrate with existing applications: We highly recommend choosing a solution that integrates with your existing systems, such as CRM, for smooth operations. This will prevent repetitive data entry as the integration would sync information across all applications in real time.

What are some relevant SMS marketing software trends?

It's important to factor SMS marketing software trends into any purchasing decision, and to understand and consider them within the context of wider industry trends. The most important trends to bear in mind when selecting SMS marketing software are continually shifting and it is important to keep up with the latest developments, as they may inform future upgrade decisions. Some of the most important text marketing software trends to bear in mind before making a purchase are as follows:

• AI is the new buzzword: Artificial intelligence (AI) is making its impact in the marketing field as well. It is enabling marketers to analyze their audience’s engagement level and reinvent the scope of communication. From customer responses to the SMSs you send, AI software can suggest better promotions and offers to customers.
• SMSs could be used for credential verification: Using SMSs to verify personal details and approve transactions through OTPs and push notification is expected to increase. Until 2018, about 2 trillion SMS were sent globally for verifications and customer support. This shows that multiple industries have started using, and will continue to use, SMS as a trusted mode to verify their customers and users.