Last Updated on March 20, 2023 by asifa
In today’s economy, using bulk SMS for marketing cuts right through the consumers’ daily lives. With a 98 percent open rate, it is, no doubt, an unparalleled marketing channel out there.
Sounds easy, right? Well, there is the challenge of building a reliable database for SMS marketing to work. So, how do you build and maintain an SMS database to help you grow and get your products out there?
Read on to find out, but first, what do you know about an SMS database?
What is an SMS Database?
Simply put, an SMS database refers to a collection of contacts or numbers for marketing. It is often a spreadsheet of phone numbers collected through various methods including face-to-face encounters or short code messages.
There are other companies, however, that purchases random SMS databases for their marketing activities. This option, nonetheless, is marred with lots of risks including legal and reputational scandals – especially if the customer did not opt into the service.
It is, therefore, recommended that you build your SMS marketing database organically, as much as possible.
5 Ways of Building a Bulk SMS Marketing Database
One of the tried and tested methods of growing, building, and maintaining your SMS database for marketing begins by giving customers valuable offers.
That said, here are 5 ways to get started:
1. Engage with Customers More through Texts
It is easier for a company to open up two-way communication as it sends out bulk SMS to give the target audience a feel that you value their feedback. By responding to the, you are showing that you care. This also helps you in identifying their needs and adapting your products and services to match their preferences.
If you can’t respond to all their queries, you can create a forum where you answer the most common questions.
Read More: Pest Control Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business
2. Solicit Contacts at Point of Sale
It is easy to ask for contacts from a client at the point of sale. But before doing it, you must know what kind of data you want to collect to avoid making it look too awkward. People simple questions, which are not, in any way obligatory. If you structure your questions professionally, you can easily get contact information at the point of sale.
Begin with simple information such as a name or email address. Then go ahead and ask if they would like to receive SMS notifications and in return, enjoy great offers or be the first to try out new products.
3. Entice Customers with Mobile Keywords
Mobile keywords, those strings of letters or numbers that can be sent by the customer to your business’ short code, make a great way to entice them for subscriptions.
Such messages will include something like “Send the word (keyword) to 12345 and win.” By sending such keywords to the short code, they automatically subscribe to your service.
4. Diversify How You Grow
Don’t limit yourself to text only. There are lots of opportunities online, on social media, and pretty much everywhere. To increase your database for bulk SMS marketing, you can use paid promotions, digital marketing, Facebook ads, and more!
5. Short code Opt-ins
Sending customers messages without their consent is infringing on their rights. But through short code opt-ins, you can increase your SMS marketing database without much of a hassle. This way, you can send them text messages without worrying about any ethical or legal issues.
Ready to build your SMS marketing database? Get started with Celcom Africa today!
Celcom Africa provides an all-around solution to B2C SMS problems from a reliable, secure, and easy-to-use platform. With bulk SMS services and multi-platform functionalities, there is no better time to invest in SMS marketing than now! For more information about how to create a customer database, feel free to get expert tips from Celcom Africa, an industry leader in bulk SMS solutions in Kenya
