Business SMS is typically connected with outbound messaging. Which is the practice of delivering notifications, reminders, and messages to employees’ and customers’ mobile devices and to Bulk SMS services.
But did you realise that by using inbound messaging. You can let the same receivers start discussions with your company?
Find out what inbound messaging is and how integrating it might help your company here.
Inbound SMS: What Is It?
The most common type of inbound messaging is text-in competitions. In which you text a short code to a predetermined number to enter a drawing.
People still have a tendency to just think about bulk SMS when discussing mobile marketing. Which involves sending a generic message to a pre-existing or created list. Once the message is written and sent, it is finished. Few people consider using texting in the opposite direction. Which is where inbound SMS comes into play.
Businesses can enable their clients and future customers to text them using virtual numbers. Both long code (normal 11-digit mobile numbers) and shortcode (usually around four or five digits). As a method to generate new leads or start a two-way dialogue. Inbound SMS may help you increase your client base and engage your consumers in ways other than the conventional text-to-win contests or text request methods.
Inbound messaging essentially allows stakeholders to text your internal business and SMS gateway systems straight from their mobile devices for communication and engagement.
Benefits of Inbound SMS in your business
Easily recollected shortcodes
Mobile phones are always within reach for the 65% of people in the globe who send and receive text messages. With shortcodes, your consumer won’t have to commit a lengthy number to memory or keep in mind to visit your website the next time they’re online. All they have to do is SMS a five-digit code, which is frequently free for them.
Generating leads
With up to 45% of recipients replying to branded text message blasts, you can get up to 450 leads if you have a list of 1,000 recipients. Customers may engage with or respond to prompts quickly and conveniently with inbound SMS, and it also provides you with a list of popular keywords.
An efficient technique to gauge the success of your offline marketing
Shortcodes may be an excellent technique to get leads from print advertisements or brochures in offline media lists. It has always been challenging to qualify leads from offline advertisements, unlike digital marketing where you can analyse clicks and website visits. Customers of your business may express interest or request information by utilising a straightforward shortcode.
Engage your consumers in dialogue
Inbound SMS offers a special degree of interaction and enables discussions between you and your consumers, even if you’re not trying to instantly produce a user action like a sale or a booking. According to 66% of customers, if a product was backed by a mobile messaging channel, they would be willing to pay extra for it.
Worldwide connectedness
Virtual numbers are available for all nations in the globe if you deal with a firm that provides global access. Even if you have offices overseas, virtual numbers, particularly longcodes, allow you to connect with people locally. Since over a billion people in Australia and 730 million in India send SMS messages, you may wish to execute an international campaign utilising local numbers in those countries even if you are not established there.
Enhanced client services
Communication that is clear and efficient with customers is crucial for establishing bonds and trust, which eventually lead to corporate success.
Why should you think about including inbound SMS into your customer support initiatives?
- You might provide customers with multichannel support.
- Make sure you can hear your clients on whatever channel they may want if you want to communicate with them in a way that works for them. You provide your clients another way to contact you anytime they need your assistance with inbound text messaging.
- Provide a quicker and easier means of getting in touch with customer care.
We’re all likely aware of how disappointing and distressing it may be to have to wait forever for a support representative to pick up the phone. Now go back to a time when you had to repeatedly explain your issue to several agents as your call was transferred until you eventually got through to the specialist you needed.
Such situations have a significant negative impact on consumer experience. You can prevent all of these misunderstandings by using inbound texting, which also ensures that your customer’s message is sent to the appropriate member of your support staff.
Setting up surveys and competitions
SMS polling is a time-tested technique for gauging public opinion during political campaigns and allowing viewers to cast their votes during contests and TV and radio programmes. It’s not just limited to one use, though. It provides exceptional chances for companies of any size to research. The industry both before and after launching a service, product, or marketing campaign.
In order to get feedback on your services and goods. You may use inbound text messaging to motivate your current and future clients to participate in your surveys and competitions.
You may also organise a straightforward competition where participants receive rewards for registering. Or casting a ballot within a predetermined time range.
