SMS promotions work because they provide a one-on-one dialogue with customers. With an average open rate of 98%, it's one of the most successful means of communicating in the world. To launch an effective mobile marketing campaign using SMS/Text messages, you need to lay the correct groundwork. There are 5 steps you have to take to ensure your bulk SMS marketing is done properly and makes you stand out from the crowd.

STEP 1: Build your opt-in Mobile Marketing List

The first step is to produce a list of subscribers to send your mobile marketing campaign to. There are many ways to acquire people’s contact numbers; for example, you can get them to register online, complete surveys, or run competitions that request their phone numbers. Give people a reason to join your list; such as discounts, coupons or special offers. Make sure there is always a check-box on your subscription form that explicitly states that they are opting in to your mobile campaigns and that they are able to opt out at any time.

STEP 2: Profile your Subscribers

It's important that your SMS messages are relevant to your customers. There is nothing more fruitless than sending someone messages that they don't care about. On the other hand, nothing helps build customer engagement faster than sending messages that are relevant to their interests.

STEP 3: Write your SMS

The general rule is to keep your SMSs short, simple and easy to read. The power of SMS messages lie in their simplicity, not in their length. Promote the benefits and features of your offer in a way that your customers quickly understand what is relevant to them. Then include a clear call to action to make sure your customers know what you want them to do.

STEP 4: Send your SMS Campaign

GraphicMail’s mobile marketing solution lets you use the internet to send bulk mobile SMS/Text messages. One in three people internationally own a mobile phone, so SMS is an ideal way to reach the unwired - at any time, anywhere. GraphicMail's SMS gateway connectivity gives you access to a reliable, secure, high-capacity bulk SMS messaging system. And if you can't express your message in 160 characters, send an SMS with an embedded link to a mobile page that you can design using our free mobile editor.

STEP 5: Measure the Results

Tracking the results of your mobile marketing campaign is vital if you want to measure its success. Make sure you know what your performance goals or expectations are before you send out your messages, so that you have something to compare it to. Important metrics to monitor include; the number of SMSs received and opened, any mobile numbers that were invalid and the number of people that have responded. Remember to track the sales activity on the accounts of the customers who you sent the bulk SMS campaign to, for following up purposes.