8 Must Know for SMS Marketing

SMS Marketing is the future of marketing. It is simple, 160-Characters, to send out a clear and concise  text message. However, simple as it may seem, there are principles that should be kept in mind when sending out text messages.

SMS marketing is awesome. Great to send out direct marketing, to customers. It is personal and easy to reach customers anywhere, around the clock because of the portability the mobile phone gives to its user. There is also a evidence suggesting that SMS has a much higher engagement rate as compared to email marketing; data shows a 90% read rate within 5 seconds of receipt.

With most marketing tools there are considerations to be put into place. A subtle not explicitly stated rule in most cases that should be followed to ensure that the user's personal privacy has not been violated and the freedom of choice for the user is maintained.

1. Make your SMS Campaign Opt-in

Encourage customers to choose to opt-in rather than blasting them with a surprise message. As highlighted before the mobile phone is an intensely personal device and a message from an unfamiliar number can be intrusive in nature.

2. Offer value

Your message should convey or deliver value and relevance to the target recipient. You can include special offers, coupon codes, an exclusive invitation, or more information regarding the product or assistive information to help buyers make an informed decision.

3. Timing

Do not send out a message in the middle of the night. Consider the obvious rules of courtesy and monitor the behaviors of your target audience. What they might do at a particular time of day. For example: Commuters spend time on the train browsing on their phones, but sports fans might not be too impressed with a message midway through a game. Your message should include, "win __" or "special offer if you show this message to the front desk to get a voucher of 50% on your day's purchase". Alternatively, inform opted-in customers that your company will be sending them a fixed total number of text messages a month and that number so that it is non-invasive manner of approach to their day-to-day use of the mobile phone.

4. Interaction

Always prompt an action (call-to-action). This should be a rule in everything marketing related. Text messaging is very interactive with URLs enjoying a much higher clickthrough compared to links in emails. You can use SMS messages to prompt customers to vote, complete questionnaires or take part in research surveys. These are amongst the few great ways to gain knowledge to help shape future marketing strategies.

5. Correct language.

Regardless of your target audience, your manner of speech should be appropriate. You want to appear professional as well as engaging. Don't fill up your messages with slang-filled conversation "YOLO" or "ROFL" - it just makes customers uncomfortable. Be clear, accurate and polite. That should be more than sufficient.

6. Exploit urgency

Because of the instant nature of text messaging, there is opportunity to make an offer for a "spot" deal to customers. This works as there is no delay like other marketing channels and demands a quick response from customers.

7. Respond quickly

Customers expect quick response, so if interaction has been initiated make sure you confirm their actions immediately. Customer participation can be easily and quickly rewarded if the campaign is tightly integrated across multiple channels.

8. Measure success

Lastly, and most importantly is to check with the performance of your delivered message to the response rate. This helps you to compare and to develop better future campaigns.

Above was the 8 Must Knows for SMS Marketing. You can find out how you can start a campaign now with EVERWORKS' SMS delivery gateway. 

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10 Reasons Why You're Missing Out on Killer Lead Conversions

If you are still unconvinced of how SMS can help enhance your marketing strategy or if you haven't considered integrating SMS into your marketing strategy this blog post is for you. There has been big pull factor especially for Malaysia with a 140% penetration rate in mobile phone usage and with growing uses of SMS in businesses globally SMS might just be the next best thing after PayPal.

Here are 10 advantages of SMS marketing that might just persuade you, that you too should join in on the bandwagon:

1. Quick. Actually Instant.

SMS is lightning fast, sending and receiving messages to your subscribers' hands within a few seconds. The average time for all mobile carriers and SMS services is less than 7 seconds from sending to the receiver. There are other marketing strategies that are fast in their own right, but nothing compares to the swiftness of SMS.

2. Flexible platform

You have flexibility to send a large amount of messages to a targeted group or sends thousands of SMS messages to your entire list. A great SMS marketing service makes it easy to customize your text message campaigns to the needs of your SMS subscribers giving better control and ability to tailor suit messages to individual customers. A short promotional message or a quick industry update, SMS molds itself into whatever needs your business require, easily integrating into your broad or focused marketing strategies.

3. Instant Opt-In and Opt-Out

Short codes allow opting-in and opting-out consistent with the nature of SMS, quick if not instant. Unlike other opt-in or opt-out options, SMS only requires one step, and besides entering a mobile phone number or short code there is rarely any personal information required up front. If speed is what you are looking for subscribers will appreciate the simplicity.

4. High Open Rate

Comparing to email marketing SMS has a high open rate, where almost every SMS sent is opened (and read), whereas only a fraction of emails sent are actually read. There is always a tendency to look when a subscriber gets a vibration or sound signaling a text messages, but subscribers have a choice to not open your email.

5. High conversion rate

with sms there is a high rate of subscriber action. From promotions to contests there is more action compared to any other marketing or promotion strategies.

6. Reliable

Unlike email, SMS doesn't have to battle against spam or other email filters; it is a direct connection to your customer base unlike any other marketing strategy; there isn't any barriers.

7. Short Messages

160-Characters can be a challenge to most businesses, but this limit is good as it forces you to be clear and concise. This allows customers to get to the point immediately without sifting through content that isn't always necessary.

8. Cool factor

A large demographic of consumers have abandoned email and turned to short text messages. This allows small business who are looking for the next innovative solution that is affordable to implement a head start in winning the battle for the next generation of shoppers.

9. Limitless Market Potential

There is a large number of active mobile phones. Since mobile phones are able to receive text messages there is an unlimited potential to tap into this virtually limitless market potential. Mobile phone users represent all demographics - a marketing gold mine.

10. Green

Text messaging doesn't use print material and requires little energy to operate a single message output, suggesting an efficient handling of resources.

The above are the 10 Benefits of SMS Marketing. Looking for ways to implement this start now with EVERWORKS SMS Delivery Service that allows you to send sms to your customers for a competitive price.

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Announcement - DiGi Planned Maintenance Notification - 21st January 2016

Dear Valued Customers,

Please be informed that there will be a planned system maintenance by DiGi that will be carried out during this time:

21st January (Thursday) 2016

00:00 ~ 06:00 hrs (GMT +8)

Activity: Changes on WAP AOC Page Content

Impact:
Total downtime for WAP SERVICE ONLY. Subscribers UNABLE to perform content purchase via WAP.
Other content purchase via  WEB/MMS/SMS/USSD/ IVR are STILL AVAILABLE and NO IMPACT.

DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd will be conducting a planned maintenance activity during the period indicated above. This is to ensure that we provide the highest quality of services to our valued customers.

Contact DiGi's Fast Recovery Center if there is any issue regarding this matter, through this number +6 (016) 300 3000 - Available 24 hours.

For EVERWORKS management inquiries please email us at info@everworks.com

For EVERWORKS technical inquiries please email us at cvs@everworks.com

We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

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Announcement - We Have Moved!

Warmest greeting from EVERWORKS Group of Companies.

We are happy to announce that EVERWORKS has moved into our new premise at Endah Promenade. It is a 4-storey building and EVERWORKS Group of Companies office will be occupying from Level 1 to Level 3. This new premises will enable us to have the whole group under the same building.

Here is our new address:-

Address:	A-1-9, A-2-9 & A-3-9 Endah Promenade No.5, Jalan 3/149E Taman Sri Petaling 57000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel:	603 - 8800 9999
Fax:	603 - 8800 6666
Website:	www.everworks.com
Follow us at:	www.facebook.com/everworks

In line with our move, we have also enhance our customer support line and you can reach us at:-

Technical Support Tel:	603 - 5110 8888
Mobile Support Tel:	603 - 5110 9999

As in any move to a new place, we do expect some teething problems and would appreciate your patience.

Thank you and we look forward to your continuous support.


Best regards,
EVERWORKS Group of Companies

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Advantage of SMS Payments

SMS payments are a means of paying for goods, services or products via a text message sent from a mobile phone. This represents a big opportunity for SME businesses in Malaysia to capitalize on a market that is unable to make Internet or credit card related transactions. Opening up a new payment option that could unlock a new market for businesses targeting targeted market segments.

This works just like a standard SMS with the system purchasers sending a text message to pay for a item or service and a clear transaction is created between the purchaser and vendor. The cost of purchase, is added to the monthly phone bill or deducted from a  pre-paid balance by the mobile phone operator allowing for a clear simple method for end-users to monitor their expenses on a single statement. This also mitigates inherent risks of publishing personal credit card or bank details on the Internet.

SMS is quick. In fact it's lightning fast, allowing your messages to be put into your subscribers' pockets or purses in a matter of seconds after you send. This ensures that there isn't any latencies involved. There is also an instant opt-in and opt-out option which is inherent with SMS's quick nature and requires only one step. 

Advantages:

For the customer

1. Quick and easy to use
2. Purchaser does not need to have to enter their credit card or bank details, or even have a bank account.
3. There isn't a need to remember passwords or usernames with payment websites like PayPal.
4. It is more secure, as there isn't a need for the release of personal or account details.

For business

1. Instant access to millions (billions) of mobile phones equipped with SMS facilities worldwide. There is a large penetration rate for mobile phone users in Malaysia, equating to 140%.
2. Access to millions of customers that do not have a bank account or credit card that has prevented them from buying goods and services before.
3. No need to verify customers' identities or worry about chasing payments or cards being denied.
4. All the billing is handled by the mobile phone operator.
5. It is easy and quite often costs little to set up.

Conclusion

Although there is a growth in other forms of payments such as Near Field Communication payment option and payment via web applications, there remains a simple fact that most basic mobile phones are capable of sending and receiving text messages meaning that SMS payments are seen by many in the industry to be a major player in future mobile payments. Start receiving payments through SMS now through EVERWORKS innovative SMS Payment Gateway.

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How to Increase SMS Subscribers at Checkout

One of the best ways to increase SMS Subscribers is through in-store campaigns. Having in-store campaigns are the most logical solution, but there is a big question that remains unsolved; where do we put our in-store campaigns? One suggestion is placing ads on your SMS Marketing campaign at checkout; more specifically on the point of sale system. 

Below is an example of a brand that uses the point-of-sale system to advertise their SMS Campaigns. In general an in-store advertising for SMS campaign generates a 2.3% to 3.2% opt-in rate. This is a fairly good response.

The disadvantage to the example above is the lack of an initial opt-in incentive. Where demonstrated previously can be highly persuasive and customers are willing to give up their handphone numbers for a fixed amount of text advertising per month to benefit from the offered incentive. This is quantifiable when a recent study showed that by offering initial incentives it increased their SMS Subscriber growth at a rate of 520%.

The reason to why customers are not opting-in could be largely due to the lack of incentives you are providing to them. Brands like Julep were able to generate 5,000 new SMS Subscribers within the first 24 hours of launching their SMS campaign, or why Taco Bell gained 15,000 new subscribers in the first five weeks of their campaign were because of incentivized campaigns prompting opt-in.

This can be done by encouraging your customers with a reward, coupon, or deal to join your SMS campaign much like Julep and Taco Bell have done, and you will be able to grow your SMS subscribers at a much faster rate than before.

Ready to start your SMS Marketing Campaign with a proven robust platform that helps to deliver your marketing messages to your customer? Consult an EVERWORKS Expert now.

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