Whether it’s a 2G phone or a smartphone, everyone owns at least one phone. And all phones have one thing in common -- an SMS function. But with internet penetration on the rise, many companies forgo SMS for online marketing strategies like social media and email marketing. Unconsciously, this limits their customer reach because not everyone can afford paying expensive monthly internet fees.
That’s why we recommend that businesses adopt a SMS marketing strategy, and here are three reasons why it makes perfect sense.
#1. Direct channel
Do you want to remind your customers today about a limited-time sale event happening tomorrow? If you sent an email or posted it on your social media, there’s a high chance your customers would see it only later that night, or worse, after the event is over. According to Jumia, one of Ghana’s leading online retailers, internet penetration is recorded at 18%, making online channels ineffective for delivering sudden notices.
This is the complete opposite of the country’s mobile penetration rate, which according to Jumia is recorded at a staggering 129%. When you add that fact with MobileSQUARED’s report that 90% of text messages are read within the first 3 minutes, it goes without saying that SMS marketing allows you to effectively send your message across promptly.
In Zentech I.T Solutions, we help you directly target your customers with our various SMS options, such as Bulk SMS and Corporate SMS Solutions. You can design, personalize, and send your text message within minutes to promote your product or inform your customers about the latest information whenever you want.
#2. Build personal relationship
A business needs to have many loyal customers to be successful, and SMS helps build a strong customer relationship. For example, informing your customers about your company’s new product launch or a branch opening not only updates them about what’s new, but also incentivizes them to act upon the text message, such as by purchasing the new item or visiting the new store. Sending a thank you message to your customers after their purchase also allows you to show your appreciation while forging more personal ties with them.
This is where bulk SMS solutions come in handy. Ours, for instance, lets you schedule your messages on certain days for specific reminders and personalize your SMS by adding the recipient’s names and/or other details pertinent to the individual.
#3. Increase sales
Have you ever made an impulse purchase because of a special deal you found out about just five minutes ago? With proper tools, you can influence your customers into immediately taking that same action. But this works only if you can quickly reach your target customers at the right place and time.
This was the case for Pizza Hut in the UK. For 15 months, a nationwide SMS geofencing marketing was sent to their customers in 340 branches. This meant anyone located within half a mile of a Pizza Hut branch and who had previously agreed to receive text messages from Pizza Hut would receive information at a specific time about their Happy Hour, Lunch Buffet, and other special deals of the day. After the campaign, they found that SMS marketing was 142% more efficient in increasing incremental revenue (the additional revenue you earn when customers purchase more than intended) compared with other campaign strategies.
Text messages cost only a fraction of print and online advertising, yet it can be equally -- if not more -- effective. And whether you’re located in the country or abroad, Zentech I.T Solutions’ SMS service ensures you can cost-effectively send text messages to your customers on-demand. If you’re interested in integrating SMS marketing into your marketing strategy to increase your bottom line, contact our experts today!
