Whether you are just about to start an SMS marketing campaign or are still trying to figure out if it is beneficial for your company, you probably have questions about the medium. It is common for people new to texting to be unsure about certain aspects of text message marketing. Even old pros sometimes forget some of the basics of the marketing channel. The following provides some answers to the most commonly asked questions to help you take the next step in your texting campaign.

Does SMS Marketing Only Work on Millennials?

Although Millennials might text more than their older counterparts, the difference is not as much as you might think. All Millennial smartphone owners probably text. However, 98 percent of those between the ages of 30 and 49 text and 92 percent of those over the age of 50 text. Therefore, SMS marketing is not just for Millennials; it works for all generations.

Won't My Customers View the Messages As Spam?

When email marketing debuted, it was not long before spam became so excessive that filters became the norm. Now, only one percent of text messages are seen as spam. Plus, 70 percent of consumers surveyed believe that brands should text them more often. Consumers want to receive messages from their favorite companies and are more than willing to sign up.

What Type Of Information Will I Have About Subscribers?

This depends on how they signed up. For those who opt in through a keyword, you will simply have their mobile number. You might initially have more information from subscribers who sign up through another channel, such as an online form. As your campaign progresses, you can ask for more information from customers so that you can integrate the campaign with your other channels and more easily group the subscribers for targeted messages.

What Messages Do I Send?

You can send any type of message you want. Many businesses use their SMS marketing campaign as a way to send exclusive offers and deals to their customers. This works well, as the medium has a higher redemption rate than other channels. There is no need to stop there. It is possible to use texting to send out tips, reminders, invitations to events, transactional messages, customer service inquiries, polls, surveys and more. You can also run contests.

What Makes a Campaign a Success?

What makes the campaign a success depends a lot on your goals. Do you want to bring in a lot of subscribers, spread the word about your company, increase your sales, or enhance your customer service? You can't measure success unless you have metrics. The fundamental metric is your established goal. Your texting platform will have analytics you can review, including an opt-in rate, opt-out rate, conversion rate and redemption rate. Reviewing these will provide insight into how well your overall program performs.

How Often Should I Text?

The ideal frequency for texting varies based on the audience and the business. In general, the preferred number of texts is two to four per month. It is generally better to err on the side of too few texts than too many, since too many texts may annoy customers. However, you do not want to text so rarely that your customers forget that you have a texting program.

How Long Should a Text Be?

Text messages should be no longer than 160 characters. Although some newer smartphones appear to send messages that are a lot longer than that, that is not exactly the case. They still send the message, but broken up into 160 character chunks; it just does not appear that way to the user. Thus, sending longer texts could end up costing your subscribers more money. Keep it short and simple, and include a link to a web page if you have additional information you wish to share.

How Do I Get Subscribers?

It is essential that you only send texts to those who have opted into your campaign, as texting is a permission-based marketing platform. Luckily, there are many ways to promote your SMS marketing campaign and get subscribers.

• Add a line on your existing marketing and advertising that has a keyword and a short code and a short explanation of your program.
• Promote it on your social media profiles and post about it.
• Have information on your website.
• Include it on receipts.
• Have flyers in your store
• Have your employees tell customers about it.
• Alert your email subscribers about your new campaign.

As your promote your list, it will start to grow. Include some type of incentive, such as an exclusive discount, and watch your list grow even faster.

These are just a few of the most common questions that go beyond the basics of what is a keyword and short code or how much does it cost. SMS marketing is a lucrative marketing channel that shows no signs of slowing down. Take advantage of it today, and contact us if you still have any questions about the channel.

Ready to start your campaign? Try ClubTexting for free and get started today.