How Social Media and SMS Messaging Work Together
Pop! Did you see that? Yet another social media platform was just born.
Not really, or maybe it was. They pop up so frequently it’s hard to keep track. And if you’re doing any mobile marketing, it can really create some confusion about what to do and which platform to do it on. And usually, until you get to know a particular social network, it’s really hard to make headway – or see any ROI from it.
This blog isn’t about choosing a social platform, but it does address how focusing on social and SMS marketing together – but differently – can lead to greater success in your mobile marketing.
SMS is the money maker
Social media has come a long way from something businesses once did because they knew they should, but didn’t know what they got from it. Basically social media efforts were marketing experiments. As you expand into the social platforms on mobile, a similar thing can happen. It’s likely to leave you asking the question, “Is this making me any money?”
In an article about mobile social media on Techshout, the author makes the following observation,
“It’s easy to be sucked in by the shiny new features of social media platforms but don’t be fooled into thinking that this is the only game in town. While it’s great to build and improve your relationship with your customers, SMS marketing is a more targeted and tangible way of trying to earn money. People like to read and respond to text messages, giving SMS good open and click through rates and a solid ROI. No one should allow social media to turn their heads to the extent that they ignore other facets, particularly those that deliver good returns. In many ways social media expands the traditional horizons of marketing and mobile marketing – but SMS still does the important legwork to bring in the money.”
Social media is shiny in the land of mobile marketing, offering new ways (or at least new apps) to connect with customers on the go. But when it comes to generating income, SMS is still more reliably profitable. Successful campaigns often have an ROI in the hundreds of percent – sometimes even thousands of percent.
One well-known example is a campaign run by Avenue, a women’s fashion retailer. They achieved a 6,600% return on an SMS messaging campaign. They sent messages that encouraged customers to come into their store for special deals. The increased foot traffic and sales that came from those messages account for their huge ROI – not uncommon among retailers using SMS marketing (results vary of course).
Working together
If there’s one thing marketers have learned in the last few years, it’s that customers want a consistent brand experience. That’s certainly a challenge for just about every business. It can be made easier though, by realising that both SMS and social are inherently mobile solutions these days (the exception given for the few who still hang on to their laptops).
Just the effort it takes to consistently cross promote can improve ROI on both channels. Share your SMS opt in campaign on your social channels. Advertise a special deal only available to those who sign up using the right keyword found in your social messaging. Promote a contest or social sharing activity to your SMS list and get them to follow and engage with you on social media.
In the 2016 State of Marketing Report from Salesforce, the annual survey found that companies that integrated these channels (and others too) saw greater ROI overall and more successful marketing in general (you can read this blog for a short review of it).
Doing both SMS marketing and social media is a lot of work for a small business, and requires lots of coordination in a large one. But whether you’re big or small, it’s worth the investment in both.
Related Articles
5 SMS Marketing lessons from The Apprentice
More Examples of Calls to Action in an SMS Message
In a previous article I shared two examples of SMS marketing messages I received and how their call to action worked, or not. This time I want to share two more examples to help you in crafting the perfect call to action for your SMS marketing messages.
Our 10 Best SMS Mobile Marketing Blog Posts
Need to know all about mobile marketing with SMS messaging? We’ve pulled together the top ten blog posts that tell you everything you need to know. The list starts with the basics and goes through analysing the success of your campaign.
Improve SMS Marketing ROI By Giving Your Customers Options
SMS messaging offers some of the highest click through rates in mobile marketing. But did you know it could be even better? See how one retailer improved their click rates by offering their customers different options in their messages. Then see how you can do the same.
3 More Reasons to Use SMS Marketing This Year
If you’re still not sure about why you need SMS marketing, this blog takes you beyond the usual statistics to show three convincing reasons why you do. Find out how it provides value to you, and your, customers a variety of ways.
7 Statistics That Show Why You Should be Using SMS Marketing Right Now
You might have heard about SMS marketing and thought it wasn't for you. Maybe you're unconvinced by this method of reaching customers and are just not sure it could help your business thrive. But any business, big or small, can benefit from an online SMS service and the facts are plain to see.
Do Your Customers Trust You?
I think for much of the last decade, people used the Internet and then mobile devices, without giving too much thought about what they were doing. Or more accurately, what other people were doing with their information. But then came Edward Snowden in 2013 who revealed governments were collecting and using our personal data in ways we hadn’t imagined.
10 Invaluable Ways to use SMS Marketing for Your Business
There is something about SMS marketing that is not like any other form of marketing. It is a simple form of communication, but highly effective in forging close relationships with clients who purchase from you regularly. Here are 10 key ways to use SMS marketing for your business and how to get the most out of your clients.
6 Tips To Help You Get The Most From SMS Marketing
What are the dos and don’ts of SMS marketing? How can you get the most from your business text messaging? We’ve put together six actionable tips to help you get the best from your SMS marketing campaigns.
4 Basic Metrics for Your SMS Marketing Campaigns
One key to successful marketing is to know when you’re doing it right. And when you’re doing it wrong. The great thing about SMS marketing is you can get that information pretty quickly. But to understand how your messages are performing, you need to do a little maths. Thankfully, it’s all rather simple once you see it.