Is SMS going to be the new direct marketing tool of the future? For people who opt-in to receiving information from valued suppliers or service providers it seems that SMS is fast becoming the most effective way of marketing to individuals.
Birmingham City Council recently used an SMS solution in order to invite its residents to enter a competition contributing ideas for naming new streets. Rather than canvassing all mobile numbers within the area, the council included a short code on the bottom of posters placed around the city. It was a far cheaper and less resource-guzzling method of reaching residents. The driving force was to get more residents involved than they would normally expect, and in this way the SMS marketing tool certainly worked.
As many organisations these days hold loyalty databases with volunteered mobile phone number information, the scope for sending out valuable and relevant information to targeted individuals is vast.
But let’s not limit our imagination to SMS texts. What about using Twitter, Instant Message of Facebook? The variety of mediums available to organisations is growing as are the channels for reaching varying consumer age groups, or in a business sense – dealers, suppliers and partners etc.
Rapid Notification systems are so versatile and great value for money that they can be used for a limitless number of reasons including:
1. Warning and informing staff that an incident has occured at the office and they should evacuate the building
2. Sending CCTV footage of thieves/ intruders to security staff in order to apprehend the suspect quickly
3. Sending out reminders for paying council taxes
4. Communicating company/ project information with a geographically dispersed team
5. Letting your resllers/ dealers know of new promotions for selling your products or services
6. Letting hotel guests know relevant information to their stay, or informing them of any emergency affecting their hotel
7. Reminding customers of an appointment, event, relevant information to them personally
The list is endless and is only limited by your imagination…
SMS Direct marketing is now very much established in the digital age due to its immediacy and cost effective nature.
