Since you can’t send texts to someone unless they consent, partnering with a bulk texting service provider helps make it easier.
On average, a real estate professional’s email campaign messages are opened less than 10% of the time. SMS text messages get read 97% of the time…and more than 95% of text messages are read within 5 minutes of receipt. As these jaw-dropping numbers indicate, if SMS isn’t currently part of your marketing plan, it’s time to start texting.
Choosing a Service Provider
There are a number of technical and logistical hoops that have to be jumped through to develop an effective SMS marketing plan. That’s why determining which bulk texting service provider and plan is the best fit for you is the first step in the process. If you’d like to get an idea of what’s available, take a look at SUMOTEXT, SlickText and ProTexting, three of the leading service providers in the bulk texting business.
The All-important “Opt-in” List
As long as your phone’s working, sending text messages to your friends, family members and co-workers is simple. Marketing via text message is little more complicated. Your potential recipients have to give you permission to send them marketing texts by “opting in” first. This means you’ll have to work with your bulk texting service provider build an opt-in list, usually by placing a “Click 2 Join” widget on your website and Facebook page and/or adding “Text 2 Join” messages to your marketing materials.
What to Do With Your List
Once you have an opt-in list, it’s important to focus on what you plan on communicating to your audience. While SMS messages are great for following up and answering (or asking) specific questions, instead of continually sending messages asking for referrals or touting your latest listing, try taking a “give to get” approach to your marketing campaign. When you give recipients something of value, you’ll get responses…and results. You can send personalized birthday wishes or holiday greetings, conduct a survey (with prizes for participants), invite recipients to download your mobile app and more.
From SMS to MMS
In addition to SMS, most of today’s phones also support MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages, allowing you to send photos and videos to everyone on your list. There’s no need to limit yourself to strictly sending SMS messages.
Once you put the power of the smartphone to work for your business, the possibilities are endless.
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