Running a business costs money, it is common sense that one needs to invest money, to gain money, this is why budgeting and strategy are very important when it comes to business. One of the aspects that requires attention, adequate planning and sufficient budget, is marketing. Marketing leads to sales, which is by definition, making a profit, this is what differentiates a business from a charity organization. 

Most business owners are thinking of methods to maximize profit while minimizing running costs. An estimated N170 Billion is spent on advertising/ marketing, annually in Nigeria, this goes to show that advertising and marketing is an aspect of business that takes quite an allocation.

SMS is a means of communication that makes use of alphanumeric characters, to send messages that do not exceed a character limit of 160. This is a quick way to pass information across from businesses to customers. Unlike other forms of messaging, SMS is the easiest and most effective, because of a few factors; you can access most people with SMS, seeing that one does not need a smartphone to access or receive messages, which increases the reach for businesses. 

Unlike phone calls, SMS does not really depend on the phone being on, as messages would be received once the phone is turned on. SMS are also convenient to read, easy to find after a while, and easier to react to. SMS has a 98% read rate, and if worded correctly, can convert your lead to a customer.

How Can SMS Marketing Save Money for Businesses

One of the basic perks of using SMS, in general, is the cost-effectiveness of the medium. When a medium this successful is this cheap, it is wise to listen, understand and try the said medium, because not only does it bring results, it is quite easy to afford. Considering the amount that could be spent on conventional advertising and marketing, it would do your business a great service if you invest in a cheaper, yet effective option. Below are a few ways SMS marketing can save money for businesses.

• Advertising/ Marketing; 

Since marketing is one of the pillars of a business, a lot of money is usually spent on it. With the use of SMS Marketing, businesses can cut back on the advertising budget as text messaging/ SMS is a cheaper and equally effective advertising and marketing option. 

• Feedback; 

Conducting research can be tedious. The time, dedication, commitment and money that goes into conducting a survey, is in most cases very high, but with the use of SMS, businesses can conduct a survey and get feedback easily and immediately, with very little cost. This feedback would inform the decision making of the business which would, in turn, help greatly in avoiding costly business mistakes.

• Reminders; 

Time is money; this is a very popular saying. This means that if businesses save time, they are literally saving money. A missed appointment can mess with the entire timing of the organization, by producing a chain reaction that would affect other events, this can lead to such businesses losing money or the opportunity to make money. By the use of SMS as a reminder tool, this can be avoided.

Imagine spending at least N500,000 per month on a billboard, printing questionnaires and employing the manpower to distribute, collect and sort them out, or even, having to send a delegate to remind your client about a meeting; most small businesses do not have such amounts, time and manpower to invest in these aspects of their business growth, so these areas continue to suffer, but by using SMS, these needs can be met. An Ad copy sent as a bulk SMS can reach the same audience that a billboard is intended to reach, this of course does not mean that a billboard is not a good idea. 

How Can SmartSMSSolutions Help?

SmartSMSSolutions has been in the business of helping organizations and companies save money, through our bulk SMS platform. With the use of SMS, we have managed to help businesses cut back on their marketing budget, thereby maximizing their profit. SmartSMSSolutions is a communication company, aimed at growing businesses by fostering communication between said businesses and their customers; using communication tools such as; Bulk SMS, Email, Voice OTPs, etc. To access our services, visit our website and create an account with us. For more information, call 08035515868.