10 SMS Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

SMS marketing is a key aspect of every company's marketing strategy, no matter where they are in the world. Through this instant texting service, marketers can reach out to their customers directly in their inboxes and can even send personalized messages that aren't possible to communicate through other mediums like television or banners.

Texts are opened 90 per cent of the time within three minutes of receipt, a statistic that no other mode of communication can match.

In this article, I’ll give you a sneak peek into the 10 SMS marketing mistakes commonly made by SMS marketers, and also suggest efficient ways to avoid them. Take a look!

Mistake 1: Sending unsolicited messages

Marketers have a habit of sending promotional offers for their products and services even to those who haven't requested for them or aren't in their target demographic. Remember that no one likes receiving advertising SMS that they did not request. Before you start sending out mass emails, double-check that you have the authorization to do so.

Mistake 2: Improper scheduling of SMS

It is always important to schedule the messages, instead of sending random SMS to customers. Sending frequent messages to customers can annoy (or irritate) them, causing them to unsubscribe from your services. Messages sent occasionally, on the other hand, fail to engage them in conversation. That's why it's essential to schedule messages for times and frequencies that correspond to your company's purchasing cycle as well as the preferences of your target audience.

Mistake 3: Sending the same messages on SMS and e-mails

Some marketers make the mistake of attempting to save time and effort by sending the same message via e-mail and SMS. The point is that different sorts of messages are better handled by different channels.

An email can be long and include illustrations, whereas an SMS has a word limit and must include captivating words to draw the reader's attention. Start your message with the major offer, the discount %, the promo code and where it must be entered, and the promotion's duration.

Mistake 4: Having the wrong phone number of customers

The reason for several firms' low message delivery scores is inaccurate phone numbers in their database. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common explanation is that companies obtain phone number databases from third parties. Many of these phone numbers are out of service or include errors.

To prevent sending messages to invalid numbers, you can use a reliable API with a phone number search option to ensure the numbers in your list can receive SMS.

Mistake 5: Send long spam messages

The 160-character limit for SMS is for a reason: it's designed to be short and crisp! Many SMS marketers make the same mistake of sending extended, spam text messages, which might be disrupted during delivery and alter the meaning of the message.

The golden rule of SMS marketing is to keep it as short as possible. It should be brief enough to convey all of the necessary information.

Mistake 6: Not personalizing text messages

Most of the customers are more likely to buy from a company that offers suggestions/offers based on previous purchases or is familiar with their buying habits.

Marketers can analyze the customer database based on the following factors:

• Demographics
• Buying patterns
• Stated preferences

When you use these parameters to segment your customers, you'll see a significant rise in conversion rates.

Mistake 7: Not aligning for future contacts

When it comes to SMS marketing, a common blunder is failing to set the framework for future communication. If you don't tell your customers how and when you'll contact them, they'll be unhappy and startled when you send them your upcoming message.

Deliver a welcome message to customers who sign up for your SMS list, outlining how often you'll text them, what kinds of information you'll send, and how they can opt-out.

Mistake 8: Not sending exclusive offers on SMS

Your finest discounts, first announcements, and most unique offers should all be delivered to text message subscribers. What leading businesses do in a text message is never offered anyplace else. Yes? Because successful businesses recognize the importance of this type of engagement, they never want their text message subscribers to believe they can obtain the same deals elsewhere.

Always consider what you can provide to your existing subscribers with each text message. This will not only encourage existing subscribers to stay with your text messaging campaigns but will also encourage new subscribers to join.

Mistake 9: Not including a CTA (Call To Action)

The following stage in your SMS communication should include a CTA so that your customers know exactly what they need to do to take advantage of the offer. Missing a CTA is the major mistake any SMS marketer can do.

All you have to do is include one clear call-to-action in your text message that your customers can complete anywhere on their mobile devices.

Mistake 10: Wasting your customer’s time

Customers would be uninterested in receiving a message about your company's latest success. By sending such material, you merely waste their time, causing them to become annoyed with your brand.

Think to yourself before sending a message: Is this information useful to my customers? Is it just another company campaign, or is it something more? When you take the time to think about your customers' wants and requirements, you'll be able to make better decisions.

Conclusion

SMS marketing allows you to communicate with prospects more directly than ever before. However, for this technology to be effective, it must be employed with prudence. Also, by aiming to design successful SMS messages, you will not only generate high engagement rates, but you will also gain an advantage over your competition and develop a strong relationship with your customers.