[Guide] Text Message Marketing For Dummies

[socialmediaking]

For my 100th post, I am working on a guide for people new to Text Message / SMS marketing field. I have the basic outline done already which I am going to post in this space, but I still need to know what people want to know and what you are having trouble with. Please ask my any questions you have about mobile marketing, newbie or advanced, and I will answer them. Topics can range from the difference between long and short codes, which providers are best, how to get started, how to approach companies, pricing, etc.

 

[doeboy208]

Yes, I would like to know:
How do I get started, I have numbers that are fresh.
Whats the pricing?
Where would I go?
Whats the cheapest way to get started?

I think these will help me out for now.

 

[Chris22]

I would like to know more about short codes.

Best value for money, configuration etc.

 

[vulzala]

International providers.

 

[godsonic]

Hey thanks for doing this Im new to mobile marketing and really just looking for a guide for beginners.
Havent find any guide thats easy to follow yet..
So I want to know more about the basics like to how identify the market, or is it just about grabbing as many on the list.
How easy or hard is it to get started, what should I need to get started etc.
Beginner stuff, thanks

 

[kendy]

What is the cheapest way to send bulk sms ?

 

[socialmediaking]

Yes, I would like to know:
How do I get started, I have numbers that are fresh.
Whats the pricing?
Where would I go?
Whats the cheapest way to get started?

You'll need to find a provider who allows you to import CSV. Which not all will due to spamming. The white hat sms industry has a lot to protect against black hat spammers, in the same way white hat email business is hurt by black hat spamming and emailing. Check the end of the post for a provider.

If you are going to really be sending bulk I would look at an smtp based solution because they do not cost anything.

I would like to know more about short codes.

Best value for money, configuration etc.

Are you looking to join into an existing one or try to acquire your own? I have my own and it takes around 8-14 weeks to get, as you have to be approved by all of the providers. It also has to be paid in 3 months increments, up front. So for a random shortcode, which is $500 per month you'll need $1500, and for a custom shortcode, youll be paying $1000 per month and $3000 upfront.

Those those prices however are if you have your own gateway programmed already which is really complicated. Since you are new you will likely need to find someone with an API or other gateway already established, and they can charge anywhere from $0-$500 per month for their shortcode management on top of the monthly messaging fees.

Plus if you are spamming/blackhatting with your own shortcode, it is going to be tied to you and you will likely be liable for CAN-SPAM style damages. It is not the recommended path.

And on top of all that, beginning in October, AT&T is revamping it's shortcode application process and so all shortcodes are going to be delayed an additional month.

International providers.

What countries specifically?

Canada is easy, but Europe and other countries where the users pay high prices for text messages, the services are much more hard to come by and expensive.

I want to know more about the basics like to how identify the market, or is it just about grabbing as many on the list.
How easy or hard is it to get started, what should I need to get started etc.
Beginner stuff, thanks

You want your list segregated the same way you would do email addresses. People really do not like spam on their texts, so try and be smart about who you are messaging and what you are sending.

I will go more in depth on strategies in the actual guide, but like i said, it depends on the niche. I do most of my stuff with sms, offline. I have a list for night clubs that I have assembled. I have been growing the list by having the downtown area and club parking lots flyed at night. The flyer says something along the lines of "Text clubvip to ##### to find out how to get on the VIP Guest List at the hottest clubs each week, show the text skip the line. Text it now, so you can get in later."

I then went to bars and clubs in the area and tell them I will blast their message to this interested group and that I want $X per person who shows my text at the door, and that they have to let them skip the line. They usually make it be like before midtnight or something like that. I live near South Beach in Miami where promoters make $5 per head and I just do it for a little less than that.

I have had some club owners try to buy out my list and have it exclusively, but instead I just set them up with their own and teach them how to grow it for $XXX dollars per month.

I can't really go into more depth than that at this time, but just read the guide when it comes out.

What is the cheapest way to send bulk sms ?

SMTP email program or a site like Callfire.com that lets you upload csv (it's 3 cents per message).

 

[Gray Marble]

Lemme see how can I put this...is there anything/downfall with SMS as far as charges that i should be aware of ?
I heard you can get into trouble if you don't manage the list ...can you give me an example of that or any other hidden dangers to be aware of that could make me lose a client...looking forward to the guide

 

[darkmonk]

What I am trying to understand is what offers work/convert over SMS? How do you make money? I understand the offline/nightclub thing, but is all of the revenue here in basically brokering your list? What about dating offers, finance offers, adult, e cigarettes, etc. So you send someone a text message. You want them to do something so you get paid. How do you track the conversion and have it credited to you? Coupon/promo codes coded to you? Are there networks setup specifically for or who know how to deal with this type of "traffic"? Or do you use bulk SMS simply to drive traffic to your landing page and from there its the traditional model?

 

[darkmonk]

This is all starting to click for me and now I can't make it stop, I see $$$ everywhere. This whole market is freakin wide open. This is insane. The possibilities are endless, my mind cannot stop coming up with ideas, I can't turn it off now. Thanks! I think... hehe

 

[socialmediaking]

I have already passed my 100th post, but I need more questions from you guys to add into it. I want it to be a like an FAQ so please post even if you normally just read. If you click this thread you probably had a question in the first place, so just click reply and put it in quickly...

 

[darkmonk]

Here's a question - who's got offers specifically geared for SMS. e.g. ringtone offers etc.

 

[You Turn]

How do you generate targeted lists of numbers? What program is used to send mass SMS?

 

[Gray Marble]

how often do you blast your list in a month
best time of day to blast for the niches you are working with or have
how big should a list be before marketing to it
how can I collect cell numbers before having a sms provider. I want to START building a list, get a provider (cannot afford one yet), add the list to the provider, then shop the list to niches

 

[treelancer]

Any more info on other ways to monetise sms? Everyone seems to talk about the offline busness method but there must be more potential than just that?

 

[Gray Marble]

any update on the guide ?

 

[socialmediaking]

I am working on it, but there really doesn't seem to be the enthusiasm I had hoped to see. I thought there would be lots of questions and I could compile the list just by answering everything on there. It's not exactly motivating to spend my free time writing a guide for people who won't even write in to ask their questions, when i invite them to.

I will answer the other questions asked above, but I am going to be traveling to san francisco next week, so things are a bit hectic. If you have any other questions be sure to ask here or pm me your suggestion. all questions, even noob questions are encouraged. please let me know what position you are in and what doesn't make sense.

 

[oyeah22]

Great man its great ur doing this...whats the cheapest sms sending solution out there? I keep seeing 2 cents per sms message through company's...but there obviously sending it for much cheaper as they're charging me to send sms's. I'm all white hat but am looking for the most cheapest way. I'm willing to invest money if its gonna save me $ over time. 2 cents per sms is kind of alot IMO. There's gotta be some cheaper way to do it if u throw someone some cash...not from email either thats 2 unreliable in my opinion. I need to send from a 5 digit number.

 

[loco_el]

looking forward the guide brah, i am trying to set up a site like yeptextdotcom and start selling keywords and sms to offline customers.

 

[marcmarcmarcmarc]

I have a list for night clubs that I have assembled. I have been growing the list by having the downtown area and club parking lots flyed at night. The flyer says something along the lines of "Text clubvip to ##### to find out how to get on the VIP Guest List at the hottest clubs each week, show the text skip the line. Text it now, so you can get in later."

I then went to bars and clubs in the area and tell them I will blast their message to this interested group and that I want $X per person who shows my text at the door, and that they have to let them skip the line. They usually make it be like before midtnight or something like that. I live near South Beach in Miami where promoters make $5 per head and I just do it for a little less than that.

I have had some club owners try to buy out my list and have it exclusively, but instead I just set them up with their own and teach them how to grow it for $XXX dollars per month.

That's a pretty cool idea. How big is your night club list? and how many of those people will actually show up at a club based on a text you've sent them?

I guess tracking would be an issue, too.