What is Text Message Marketing? Text message marketing is a form of mobile marketing that uses text messages to deliver public, private, and opt-in messages. It’s inexpensive for any business with a captive audience to send targeted ads straight to their customers’ phones.
Text message marketing can be used in many different ways: it can be used as the sole method of contact with customers or supplement other methods like emailing or advertising on websites. It’s also an easy way for businesses to reach out to people who are not currently interested in what they have offered—customers who haven’t spent money with them yet but might be persuaded by the right kind of text message.
However, to learn how to hire a company for text message marketing for small businesses, stick around until the end of this article.
Find SMS Marketing Company Near You:
The first step is to find out which companies serve your area. If you’re in Canada, there are hundreds of text message marketing companies to choose from. Some are big, and some are small, but most have very similar business models with only cosmetic differences.
In the United States, there are a few more choices regarding companies. However, you can choose from many reputable SMS marketing firms if you’re looking for something in particular—like a company with experience in B2B or software products.
The best way to find a text message marketing company is to look them up online. You can search for “SMS marketing” in your city, state, province, or country (depending on where you are) and see what comes up.
Another option is to check out the directory over at Your Business Name Sucks! It’s a business name generator that suggests relevant company names. The company names are either clever or silly (occasionally both), but the directory links to real websites that people can visit.
Check Out Customer Reviews:
The next step is to read reviews of all the different services. Ensure they have a solid reputation by checking for quality customer service, attention to detail, and fairly competitive pricing.
If you’re in Canada, many local SMS marketing companies have a strong following because they serve small businesses well. You can find plenty of testimonials from people who use them for invoicing or appointment reminders.
If you’re in the US, here are some companies to check out: Marketlokal.com, Textlocal.co.uk, and SMS Group. Also, see these online companies that charge $100 per month for mobile marketing services: TinyPulse (US), TextMagic (US), and Thryv (US).
Decide on a Service:
Step three is to decide whether to go with a reseller or an end-to-end provider. The biggest difference between them is that resellers will take care of many details for you, but you have the final say in what’s done and how much it costs.
By contrast, end-to-end providers will quote you and take care of everything. You just need to sign off on their work.
Some companies even let you use their SMS gateway to send your messages without requiring any technical knowledge or creating an additional account. The company’s servers handle all delivery, so you can relax and use a familiar interface.
Choose a Package:
Step four is to choose a package. You’ll be able to find several different packages from most companies, each with unique features that help you get the most out of your money.
In this step, don’t forget to ask about billing rates so you know which plans will cost more as your business grows. You’ll want to avoid paying extra as you acquire more customers over time.
Sign a Contract:
The final step is to sign an agreement with the company and let them know how best to contact you going forward. Some companies will send you a contract for signing, but others may require a separate email or request a follow-up phone call.
You can either sign by phone or ask for electronic signatures instead. Most companies will know what to do, but some may need you to explicitly request this before proceeding with the sale.
Let’s Recap:
So now that we’ve discussed how to hire a text message marketing company for a small business let’s recap the steps.
Start by searching online for “SMS marketing” or related options. Look for reviews on different companies and decide whether to go with an end-to-end provider or a reseller instead. If you feel extra motivated, you can ask customers about their experience with various services.
Now that you’ve chosen a service decide on a package and then sign an agreement with the company. If you’re feeling extra motivated, consider requesting electronic signatures or giving online reviews of your experience.
