What is an SMS?
SMS stands for short message service, which is a short text message, usually received to the mobile phone. By technical words, it is a technology for receiving and sending text information fast and without interruption using the mobile handset.
What is Bulk SMS Messaging?
Bulk SMS is a kind of application-to-person SMS messaging service, which relates particularly to the mailing of a huge amount of SMS to the mobile telephones of a particular group of recipients.
Now the application-to-person SMS messaging services have expanded to cover bulk SMS messaging as well as sending of separate messages (for example one time passwords – OTP, and short message notifications), interactive SMS (i.e. crowd messaging services), and incoming number services (such as mobile marketing campaigns, voting or information lines).
One of the features of bulk SMS messaging is that companies and businesses can apply one or more tools to send and receive SMS, specifically; a mobile phone app, a software program, a web interface, or integrate an SMS API with their website or system. These bulk SMS sending solutions interact with service providers’ SMS gateway to assure the transmission of messages to handset mobile phone numbers anyplace in the world.
An SMS gateway acts as a relay connecting the mobile network operators and a wireless applications service provider. These SMS gateways enable SMS traffic to be spread via a direct connection to the SMSC (Short Message Service Centre) of a mobile network operator and then onto a recipient’s mobile phone number.
Bulk SMS as Marketing Channel for Service Providers
Bulk SMS can be applied by companies and various service provider companies (consulting, legal, real estate, education, communications, storage, processing, cleaning, repair service provider companies, adventure-tour leaders, window washers, etc.) as an advertising tool, effective and economical way of increasing the loyalty of the customer to their services.
The relatively low cost of sending SMS allows the company to achieve significant results at the lowest cost. The main advantage of SMS advertising lies in the instant coverage of the target audience. The company can include its special offer, information on a deal, coupon code for a customer, invitation, or any other information and send it to the database of customers in one click from a special automated system – a web interface, or integrate an SMS API with their website or system. Just like the SMS-Smart system.
SMS can be used to informing a large number of customers about hot offers, interesting information, discounts, new services, work schedule, etc. Bulk SMS service is perhaps the easiest way to inform customers about all the changes and innovations occurring in the company.
In our future articles, we’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of SMS advertising, how to use SMS sending platforms to get the most benefits and how to start using SMS-Smart systems for your marketing activities.
Stay with us!
SMS-Smart team.