Enhancing Two-Way SMS Messaging with Autoresponders

SMS messaging can be a one-way, or a two-way affair. Sending coupons, sale notifications, or event announcements are all one-way messaging. The recipient doesn’t need to reply in order to use the information sent.
In two-way messaging though, recipients can reply to your messages. And that makes it much more interesting, engaging, and potentially a lot more work to manage. But thankfully there’s a handy feature in NetMessenger called autoresponders that can help with that added work.
But first, before you can use autoresponders, you need to have a way people can reply to you if they want. You can choose a virtual mobile number which looks and behaves just like a regular mobile number. Or you can choose to rent keywords on our shortcode. People reply to the shortcode using the keywords you provide and the messages get routed directly to you. Either way the person replying to your message won’t really notice a difference. Which one you use depends on your circumstances and goals for your campaigns. Learn more about Inbound SMS.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look more at how autoresponders can help enhance a two-way messaging campaign. Here are some examples of using autoresponders:
Confirmations
Whenever I take an action, I like to know it actually worked. Don’t you? Autoresponders are great for giving us the warm fuzzies of knowing our message was received. For example, I order a pizza via SMS, they send me a confirmation request with the total. I reply YES to accept the total of £15. Then nothing. No more text messages from the pizza place. It won’t be long before I’m pacing, looking out the window and wondering if I should call them just to make sure they took the order. But let’s say right after I reply YES, I get a confirmation message thanking me for my order and letting me know it will arrive in 15 minutes. Much better. Now I can relax and wait for the delivery.
Whatever the action a person takes, sending them an automatic reply – even if it is just to say “We got it!” really will spread warm fuzzies throughout the land.
More information
Sometimes a text message just isn’t enough space to say everything that needs to be said. Let’s suppose I was driving around and saw a house for sale. I loved the look of the house from the outside, and the sign said to text a number for more information. So I texted the number and immediately I get a reply with a link to a web page with more information on the house.
Of course the estate agent set up the autoresponder when he created the listing for the house and the signs advertising the ability to get information via text. Now, I probably would get the reply text quickly, perhaps while I was still in the neighbourhood. I could contact the agent for a viewing, or keep driving if it no longer interested me.

The autoresponder benefits the home shopper and the agent. It saves them both time. I can think of similar uses across many different industries and business sectors. Everyone loves to save time.
Send additional information
This is an exciting example where I’ve won a contest that I entered via SMS. I get free concert tickets to a show on Friday night. But I need to reply YES in order to claim the prize. So I type in YES as fast as I can while thinking of who I’m going to bring with me to the show. Almost immediately I get a reply that I need to show the text message with the special code at the Will Call window by 7 p.m. Excited I call my best friend and tell her the good news.
In this example, just sending a reply letting me know I won a contest I previously entered didn’t give me the instructions on how to claim the prize. But the autoresponder after I confirmed my information gave me the proper instructions. Autoresponders are great for providing instructions on how to claim discount coupons, sending addresses, or what hours a person can pick up a package at the store.
Using autoresponders improves communication with people, but it also helps save you time by automatically sending out messages based on replies you get to your virtual mobile number or keyword. In fact, if you have a lot of replies, it may not even be practical to manage them manually. You’ll need an automated system, which NetMessenger can provide.
To learn more about NetMessenger, autoresponders, and how SMS messaging can work for you click on our live chat to talk with a representative. Or you can email or reach us by phone using the contact information at the bottom of the page.
Related Articles
SMS Mаrkеtіng Success for Lеttіng Agеnсіеѕ
SMS and the Future of Sales and Marketing
Four years ago, reputable commentators in The Guardian were wondering if SMS - short message service or text messaging - had peaked in performance after a two-decade exponential rise. Here we look at the evidence which shows that SMS is not only going strong, but continuing to stand out as an essential marketing channel for many businesses.
Email to SMS – a real winner for businesses and customers
How One Car Dealership Increased Leads by 15% with Cloud-Based SMS Messaging
Go Auto, a car dealership in Edmonton Canada, was using SMS messaging in their business for marketing. And their sales staff used text messaging on their mobiles to connect with customers. But it was all getting a bit out of control. They wanted something that would let them manage their SMS messaging better.
SMS Marketing for Dental Practices
5 Reasons You Want to Use SMS Messaging in Your Business
Are you looking to grow your business? Get more customers? Have larger profits? Of course you are. Isn't every business looking to improve, grow and generate more sales? More and more businesses are realising how SMS messaging can help them do all those things. But it's nice to have some facts to back up what most people seem to assume is true.
Can You Use SMS Messaging in B2B Sales?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. B2B marketing really is business to one person. It’s just that one person is playing a role in the buying process, rather than making their own purchasing decisions. But you already know that if you’re in B2B sales or marketing. What you may not know, is how willing those various people are to use their own mobile for business.
Growing a Business Around Your Family Life? Here’s Why Mumpreneurs Need SMS Marketing
Mums are natural entrepreneurs. And now they're turning that entrepreneurial spirit towards running a business, using their organisational skills to turn a profit from franchises and hobbies, fundraisers and baking. Mumpreneurs are on the march and they need smart marketing strategies like SMS that fit around their busy lives.
Why Your Startup Needs to be Using SMS Marketing
Are startups afraid of using SMS marketing? Is it because they’re afraid of annoying customers and breaking the regulations? I don’t think so. If your startup isn’t using SMS marketing already, it’s probably because you don’t know all the facts. Find out why SMS is actually perfect for startups.