Text messaging through SMS is the most common method for reaching people with mobile marketing. It is extremely powerful, but you also have to be very careful about how you use it.
[display_podcast]
Most people have to pay for their text messages. They may get a few for free, but generally they can only receive a certain number of them. For this reason, people don’t typically like to see direct marketing.
Instead, it’s important to be more subtle with your marketing. There are two major ways to accomplish this:
- You can send them a friendly text or an informative text and simply drop a link to your website.
- You can provide them a valuable service or product for free, using that as a platform for your marketing.
A friendly message comes in the form of a quick blurb, news story, update, etc. You give someone a small piece of information, and just use your web address as a signature.
“Hey! Lady Gaga is giving a FREE concert to benefit the Pediatric Aids Foundation at the Blue Lounge tonight. See you there! http://www.WebsiteAddress.com Providing a valuable service or product is even more effective.
People love getting stuff for free, and you can use your freebie as promotional material by including marketing within the giveaway. For example, you could create some sort of valuable service people would want in the niche. Using the record store example, you might create a page where people could hear samples of the current Top 40 songs, as well as music clips from local artists.
Then you could send a message like this: “Check out our new free music clips page at http://www.WebsiteAddress.com. Hear samples of Top 40 hits, as well as music from local bands!”
This will get people to look for your messages and pay attention, because you’ll always be providing something of value to them.
