SMS and MMS Marketing

Everyday across the world several billions of SMS are sent, most of them carry personal messages but in recent years, the popularity of SMS and MMS has spread to business.

Companies have adopted SMS as a cheap and effective marketing tool. They can deliver message direct to their audience in large numbers in one go.

SMS marketing is mainly used by banks, drink firms, entertainment and leisure venues. Along with SMS, the MMS, which includes picture messaging, is also increasingly becoming an essential marketing tool.

All this is possible after the development of software and tools that allow your SMS and MMS to be sent via your desktop through to a web-based service or by using downloaded software.

SMS marketing can be sent when and where you want and it won't immediately disappear like emails. With SMS marketing, your text message can reach the your target market within seven seconds and you can receive an immediate response.

This type of marketing can also help build new relationships and, with regular text messages, you can keep in contact with existing customers and so build brand loyalty.

SMS

As characters in a text message are limited to 160 it’s essential to create a message which is clear and concise.

When using SMS as a business-marketing tool regulatory procedures similar to email marketing apply. Collection of cell phone numbers of users is the first step in SMS marketing campaign.

You get the agreements of each recipient in your target market (failure to do this can lead to pay fine under the Data Protection Legislation) and their phone numbers can then be loaded easily into software. This software then generates the text messages to the list.

MMS

MMS allows delivery of marketing and advertising messages in the form of images, animation, audio, video, and text directly to mobile phone users.

The possibilities are endless and the result is a richer more engaging presentation of a marketing message.

MMS content is delivered and stored in the inbox of a recipient's handset just the same as a text message. This allows the user to recall the message at any time in the future, which presents viral opportunities as the message can be forwarded to friends and family.

Unlike delivering content via wap push or mobile internet with their associated data download charges, an MMS message is entirely free to receive and view.

Advertising and marketing

There are now over 46m adults in the UK with over 56m mobile phones. This provides a unique opportunity to deliver messages right into the pocket of the consumer, it’s the only medium that’s truly portable and always switched on.

Usage is increasing everyday so, SMS marketing is now a very attractive advertising medium for major companies.

As a marketing tool, SMS/MMS messages are used in many ways. Advertisers can send SMS and MMS messages based on the users locality, age, sex, interest, occupation and several other parameters.

To take advantage of SMS marketing, mobile users can register with advertising companies and in turn the advertisers can contact them.

By using a key word similar to keywords used by the consumer, they accept the message you are promoting. The received responses are then delivered to your desk by email.

All-in-all, SMS and MMS marketing is a very cheap and effective way to create, build and maintain relationships, if you know how to use it.