Whenever an innovation or technology hits the mainstream, it’s only a matter of time before misconceptions and misinformation rear their ugly heads (or head their ugly rears; whatever floats your boat!). Unfortunately, if these misunderstandings take hold, they can do damage to any modern marketing campaign that’s trying to reach people where they are.
And make no mistake about it; people are on their phones and other mobile devices consistently, something made much easier thanks to the expanded availability of wireless networks. Here are five odd falsehoods about Short Message Service (or SMS for short) that need to be shot down immediately, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood myth buster.
You Will Be Placed On Spam Lists
Signing up for a text message campaign doesn’t mean you will get spammed. Not even close. When you consider that mobile message campaigns are a purely voluntary act, the last thing the mobile industry wants to do is breach that trust by sharing that information with spammers. Without the implied trust of their subscribers, the entire industry would die off, so yes, they won’t do anything to kill the golden goose.
Once You’re In, You Can’t Leave
There seems to be this fear that, once you sign up for a text campaign, you’re stuck. Good luck trying to opt out of it. Again, not true. Companies are required to make it easy for users to opt out if they want to. The industry is tightly regulated, which brings us back to the first point.
Texting Is Just For Teenagers And Similar Creatures
No, that’s not the case at all. Just because it’s relatively new technology doesn’t mean that only teens and twenty-somethings are being targeted. Businesses that cater to a multitude of different demographic groups use SMS campaigns. A recent Nielsen study shows that 45 – 64-year-olds are the fastest-growing age group in terms of mobile usage. Middle-aged folk, represent!
SMS Marketing Is A Big Business Tool, Not For The Little Guy
It may seem that any tool that can reach a humongous audience is something only suited (or available) for the big companies, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, SMS campaigns are a great equalizer, thanks to the ease and low costs involved in setting one up. If a small business, even a one or two-person garage-based operation, wants to run with the big dogs, then by all means, an SMS campaign is a must. For instance, if you’re a club owner, you can check out this article for ideas on how to use texting to increase attendance.
It’s A Fad! It Won’t Last!
Do you think so? According to the article “Dispelling 5 Common SMS Marketing Myths”, nearly 90 percent of executives have either executed a text message campaign or are planning to do so within the next year. We’re not talking 8-Track or Beta; text message campaigns are here for the long haul.
SMS marketing is a great way for smaller businesses to enjoy a level playing field when competing with the big companies out there. Don’t let rumors and false assumptions deprive you of this valuable tool.