What you need to know about SMS marketing platforms

75% of consumers under the age of 44 want to contact a business via text (Startup Bonsai),

With so many SMS marketing platforms it can be tough to find the right one for your business. You may find yourself spending hours comparing costs, combing through reviews, and learning about unique features. All that time spent researching just to come to the realization that you’re still not sure which one is a match for your needs. Today you’re going to learn what 5 features to review when deciding on which SMS marketing platform to sign up for.

When you weigh the advantages and disadvantages, you'll probably discover that SMS has the potential to be a net benefit for your company.

We advise carefully examining each platform because there are so many different SMS marketing automation options available. So, let’s dive into the first feature.

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1. Reliability

Reliability can easily be one of the top factors to consider. A dependable SMS service ensures that your messages are delivered promptly and efficiently. This is particularly important for businesses that need to reach their customers quickly or need to deliver time-sensitive info. A reliable SMS service will provide you with a high uptime guarantee, which ensures that your messages will be sent around the clock without interruptions. A service with a 99.9% uptime guarantee is considered the industry standard and should be the minimum requirement for any business.

Rapid message delivery is also a crucial aspect of an SMS service. The quicker your messages are delivered, the faster your customers can receive and respond to them. This is important for businesses that need to reach their customers in real-time, such as through emergency alerts or time-sensitive promotions (deadlines). Your customers are more likely to take action based on the message they receive. When selecting an SMS service, it's important to consider the speed of delivery to ensure your messages are delivered promptly and efficiently, giving your customers the best experience possible.

2. Ease of Use

Offering an easy-to-use platform is crucial for businesses and content creators. The simplicity of a platform can impact the user experience. If it’s too difficult to navigate, people may not use it or give up learning. A platform with a user-friendly interface and clear instructions can make a big difference in how effectively you can use it to reach your audience. You’re also encouraged to ask for a trial or demo of the platform to help you determine if it's the right fit for your needs and if you can easily navigate it.

It's also important to consider the accessibility of the platform. Can you use it on multiple devices, such as a desktop or mobile phone? Can you easily access the platform from different locations, or are there limitations? These are important questions to consider when evaluating an SMS marketing platform. The ability to access the platform from various devices and locations can make it easier to stay connected with your audience and respond to messages quickly, which can improve the user experience and ultimately lead to better engagement with your brand

3. Integration

Integrating SMS with other components of your marketing strategy is crucial to maximizing its potential. While SMS can be an effective standalone tool, it becomes even more powerful when used with other channels, such as email, social media, or paid advertising. Consider the integration capabilities of SMS tools before selecting a service provider. Ideally, the SMS platform should have open APIs, which allows for easy integration with other marketing tools and platforms.

If you take only one idea from this blog post, we hope it’s the importance of creating a cohesive and comprehensive marketing strategy.  For instance, an SMS campaign can be used to drive traffic to a landing page where customers can sign up for an email newsletter. Alternatively, an email campaign can promote an upcoming SMS campaign or offer. This cross-channel integration not only maximizes the impact of each individual marketing channel but also helps to create a consistent brand experience for customers across all touch-points.

4. Target Users

Understanding the target audience of the SMS platform (who are they catering to?) can provide insights to help you make a decision. Different levels of management, such as CEOs, founders, general managers, marketing teams, and office managers, all have unique needs and goals. For example, CEOs and founders may be interested in analytics and ROI (return on investment). Marketing teams on the other hand may want to focus on engaging with customers and promoting their brand. Take note of the SMS platform's features and offerings to understand the specific needs and goals of its target audience.

Then, ask yourself, if you fall into their target audience. If so, the information provided to you on their website will resonate with your more and show that they have a deep understanding of what their target audience values and prioritizes.

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5. Cost

The majority of SMS service providers provide several monthly plans with escalating costs depending on how many messages you send. For instance, if you send 100,000 messages each month as opposed to a mere 1,000- you’ll pay a lower rate. There is an additional fee for specific features and extra services.

Have a figure in mind to create a budget.

Do you want to introduce your SMS channel slowly? Or, are you planning on going in aggressively to build your sms marketing channel?

You'll need to invest some time in evaluating and contrasting possibilities because there are numerous SMS service providers to pick from. Choose the option that has the most chance of expanding with your company over time.

Conclusion

There are five criteria to evaluate when choosing an SMS marketing platform. Reliability, ease of use, integration capabilities, target user base, and costs are all important aspects to consider. With Subflow, you’re guaranteed a reliable and easy-to-use platform that integrates with other systems quickly and seamlessly. Subflow also appeals to brands and businesses looking for multiple pricing plans and user options. Sign up today to get started on your 14-day free trial so you can experience all that Subflow has to offer. Start building meaningful relationships with your customers via text message and take your business one step closer to success.

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