Benefits of using Bulk SMS
- Due to the personal nature of the Mobile Phone, one can be certain the SMS is reaching the intended target audience. Direct communicating/advertising to your client.
- Easy to start an SMS campaign and get in touch with your customers in a few simple steps.
- Customers will be able to view all previous campaigns within their SMS records, Providing easy access to refer any previous correspondence.
- Easy to reach the customer as most places have a mobile network presence.
- Simple way to choose the demographic lets you specify the age group or locality or gender you want to market in, Providing the most cost efficient marketing for your campaign. Example: Campaigning to 18-24 year olds regarding any discounts at clothing outlets, Diners, Travel and Tourism services.
- Using Bulk SMS to advertise enables the target audience to share the SMS with people they feel might also be interested in the offer. When compared to other variants of advertising such as a TV or Radio ad where the customers don’t retain the advertisement.
- The capability of Scheduling the SMS to be sent out at a particular date or time recurringly.
- The cost of the entire Bulk SMS campaign is very low when compared to other forms of mass marketing such as Radio/TV/Internet.
- Scheduling SMS as reminders is a very cost effective way of reaching your customers and preserving records of it.
The simplicity of the Bulk SMS service is the primary reason for its quick adaptation, as it requires no special operating software or platform to run. It is a web based service where in a client logs in to the Website and has all the tools for running the campaign at their fingertips. The content of the SMS can be edited at any time before sending the SMS and all the contacts can be added individually or via uploading an Excel sheet.
What is Bulk SMS service?
Bulk SMS service is the process of sending updates/offers/ads via SMS in bulk, instead of having to send multiple times. It is used in industries such as Salons, Grocery stores, Schools and Colleges Airlines, Banks, Enterprises, E-commerce business and Payment gateways. Due to it’s low cost high outreach campaign, Bulk SMS is being adapted by small scale industries as a means to cost efficient marketing. Bulk SMS marketing is simply using the Bulk SMS service to campaign for your service/product by selecting the demographic you want to market to.
There are two primary variants of Bulk SMS service, Promotional SMS and Transactional SMS.
Promotional SMS
Promotional Bulk SMS contains marketing material such as offers, advertisements or communication regarding a new product. It is primarily used for marketing campaigns and to communicate to masses regarding any new products, discounts, services in a quick manner. Under regulations by the TRAI, Promotional Bulk SMS is operational only between 9am - 9pm. As such, any Promotional SMS sent between 9pm - 9am will not be delivered. The delivery of the Promotional Bulk SMS is also subject to DND (do not disturb) activation. If the customer has activated DND then any Promotional SMS will not be delivered regardless of the time of day. Promotional SMS sender ID is limited to a randomly generated 6 number ID (example: TL-326743)
Promotional SMS example: “ We are running a special offer today, Please use coupon XXX23X to avail flat 50% off.”
Transactional SMS
Transactional SMS deals with the more important updates that need to be delivered to the customer immediately. Such as OTPs, Bank transaction SMS, Confirmation details, Travel booking details, Registered educational institutes updates. Under regulations by TRAI, Transactional SMS is operational 24 x 7 due to the important nature of the content. You are prohibited from sending any promotional content under this route. It is sent to the customer without being subjected to DND (do not disturb) activation. The SMS will reach the customer even if they have activated DND. Along with the Transactional SMS route you get a Sender ID which gives you the option of choosing a 6 alphabet ID. Example: TL-AIRTEL.
Transactional SMS example: “ You have withdrawn 24,000 from your ICICI Bank A/C XXXX-XXXX-XX32.”