All About the SMS Mobile Marketing Guidelines

SMS service is a communication medium that enables 2 mobile subscribers to send short text messages between their mobile devices. The messages are of 160 characters and it is also known as "text messaging" or "texting." All mobile operator networks support SMS messages. The mass usage of SMS has created a market for SMS being used for marketing and advertising campaigns. Marketers need to be aware that there are 2 different forms of mobile marketing that is recommended by the MMA (Mobile Marketing

Association). These are Initial SMS Ad and Complete SMS Ad. The Initial ad is a short message of 20-60 characters that is appended to a non advertisement SMS message. It is plugged to the free space available at the end of the non-advertisement content. A Complete SMS Ad is a 160 character SMS text which carries only the marketing message.

Marketers have to follow the watershed hour's requirements of the local market while delivering a SMS marketing text. They should be ready with additional information about a product if it is requested by a subscriber. According to the Guidelines, additional information should be given to the subscriber within 12 hours of the request. The responses have to be given by an alternate short code but the subscriber should be easily able to identify the message. The aim of these guidelines is to give users information in a way

which does not disturb them and intrude their personal time. Marketers, if they are providing any telephone numbers should ensure that the numbers are working during the campaign. If the call rates for users are higher than normal charges, it should be clearly mentioned in the advertisement.

The content of Complete SMS Ad has to be well structured with the advertiser clearly identifiable. A URL, if it has to be embedded in the message, should ideally be in a shortened form to reduce the character count. The webpage that it links to must be up and running at the time of campaign launch. The guidelines of SMS Ad marketing are updated from time to time. Marketers need to be aware of these guidelines. Guidelines are also in place for Mobile Web, MMS marketing, Mobile Video and TV and Mobile Applications.

Marketers have a well defined Mobile Marketing Framework based on which they run a marketing campaign. Most of the guidelines are incorporated within this framework. The broad framework categorizes mobile marketing into Advertising, Promotions, Direct Marketing and CRM. A customer's willingness, perceptions and reactions are also captured in the framework. There is little doubt that Mobile marketing along with Social Media with drive the next wave of marketing and advertisement for companies of all sizes. Marketers only need to work within the guidelines of Mobile Marketing and see the 'moolah' fill up their coffers.

Why Sending Bulk SMS Messaging

Financial Services SMS
You can send account details, promo offers, payment reminders to your clients via Bulk SMS"

IT Enabled SMS Services
You can integrate Bulk SMS to Your systems to help in notifying users about system malfunctions, server downtime, password notification, credit card usage etc.

Educational SMS Services
You update parents about their ward's exam results, payment reminders, parent's day etc..using the Bulk SMS service.

Stock Market SMS Services
You send daily transaction details to your customers via Bulk SMS. you can also use them for sending market news & other tips advices.

Retail SMS Services
SMS lets me update customers on purchases, send greeting, announce discounts, new launches. I also conduct customer surveys.

Recruitment Companies SMS
Your customers are happy when you send periodic SMS alerts on job openings to their mobile phones.

Corporate Communication SMS
You can send all internal communications, salary notifications, incentive schemes etc... to your employees on their cell phones via Bulk SMS.

Real Estate SMS
You can extensively use the Bulk SMS medium to send promotional campaigns, payment reminders & announce property launches.

Airline/Travel SMS
SMS comes very handy for us to inform booking details, delays, weather info & other promotional offers to our customers.

Gyms and Health Clubs SMS
Your students will be happy not only for the quality training they get at the gym, but also send them health tips to their mobiles through SMS.

Clubs and Society SMS
You can send all your event updates, invitations and alerts about membership renewal messages via sms to your members.

Hospitality SMS
SMS is a boon. You send confirmations on hotel bookings, tour plans, reservation details & notifications on special events via Bulk SMS to your customers.

Automobile SMS
Your sales increased after using Bulk SMS services. Promo offers, Service reminders, invitations for test drive when vehicle is launched, discount updates etc to your clients.

SMS Messaging What is IT..?

The word SMS (Short Message Service) is a communication service that enables the interchange of short text (alphanumeric) messages between mobile telephones (or other mobile devices). Over the last few years, SMS text messaging has become the most widely used mobile data application across the world with over 78% of all mobile phone subscribers are sending and receiving text messages on their phones.

It became popular services over the past few years mainly because it offers a very easy and cost effective substitute to making phone calls. Especially when considering the proliferation of cell phones across the world.

SMS Messaging is fast, efficient, discreet and convenient way to communicate. SMS messages are instantly transported, 99% of SMS messages are received within a few seconds from being sent, it is much more convenient and discreet to type your message than writing it or saying it if you make or answer a phone call in public. If compared to making a phone call, SMS is an inexpensive method of communication. Using the text messages to send information is the cheapest way to keep in touch.

SMS messaging is an excellent method to keep in touch and stay informed even when being unable to answer a phone call like while attending a meeting or when in a movie theater. SMS messages will still be received even when the phone is set to the silent mode, with or without vibrating. As technology evolves, it makes our life more convenient.

The SMS technology enables us to stay in touch with our family, friends and colleagues. If we don't have the time to talk, we are usually able to type or use one of the built in message templates {simple SMS messages are already saved in every mobile as templates} to send a simple message (e.g. "Call me after lunch", "The meeting at 12:00 is canceled" or "please call home").

SMS messages are extremely useful for inexpensive communication and time saving. We have SMS messaging right on our fingertips at all times. Considering its many benefits as well as the increasing popularity of SMS messaging, the future of SMS seems to be very promising.