The SMS Marketing Blog

A lot of SMS Marketing content consists of one-off messages. You have an idea, or an event, and you shoot out a broadcast. A little while later, you have another idea and broadcast another text message. Rinse, repeat. This can be effective, but doesn't build the retention and front-of-mind awareness you'l see with a combined approach to your text marketing campaign. Here are four multi-message ideas to incorporate into your mobile marketing plans. 

The One-Two Punch
The simplest combination broadcast, this means sending a message that promises another message coming soon. This is the text message version of interrupting a sentence with "wait for it...." It builds anticipation and makes both messages more memorable and powerful. Some examples of a one-two punch include:

• Announcing a dinner special at lunch time, then sending the details at 3PM.
• Broadcasting a poll, followed by the results. 
• Sending the setup for a joke, then the punchline.

The Running Gag
They're not just for sitcoms anymore, and they don't necessarily have to be funny. Any theme you can use to link multiple broadcasts together builds momentum in a way individual SMS pieces won't. These can be iterations of a joke, comments on a hashtag-style common theme, or items in a numbered series. For example....

• Develop a habit of sending photos of a particular thing related to your business. 
• Top ten list in the Letterman style.
• A "Friday Fun" message delivering predictable content at the same day and time each week.

The Countdown
Similar to the running gag, but with a finite finish, this can build some of the highest anticipation and engagement. It's exactly what it sounds like: a series of broadcasts leading up to a finishing event or climactic broadcast. Try these examples, or make up some of your own.

• Daily updates for the 10 days prior to a sale or other event.
• Hourly coupons sent in anticipation of a midnight release sale. 
• A "Twelve Days of Christmas" style series leading to a holiday.

Some Assembly Required
This one is more involved, but can be among the most effective and fun combined SMS campaigns. Choose five to ten messages you'll be sending, and include part of a message in each one. Subscribers who pay enough attention to gather all the parts can put it together for a special deal, prize, or admission to an exclusive event. Bonus points for putting the message in a code, then sending the key as a final broadcast. Want to simplify a longer campaign? Use our free drip messaging feature to make it happen automatically!

What kinds of combined broadcasts have you sent out? How have they worked? Join the conversation in the comments below. 

That is all :)

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey is a force in mixed martial arts. She won Bronze in Judo at the 2008 Olympic Games, and went on to win all 7 of her professional fights with first-round submissions using the same move every time. All the while, she's used a smart media strategy to build her personal brand to the point that she headlined the first women's fight in the UFC. Your business could do worse than to take a few pages out of her media playbook.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, The Web & Instragram!

1. Have an Opinion
   Ronda started early with a willingness to speak her mind in interviews, and recent years have seen her Twitter presence grow into its own force. Though her comments are often respectful of those she admires, she has no problem "trash talking" people or ideas that get on her nerves. The controversial comments generate nothing but extra publicity, bringing those who already like her more fervently into her fan base.
2. Bare it All
   Rousey literally bared all in ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue, leaving only the parts covered by her strategically positioned gloves to the imagination. Businesses should strive for the same kind of tactical transparency. Rousey knew her mostly male fan base would respond to that kind of revealing coverage. What parts of your business will build trust and loyalty if you show your customers what's going on?
3. Be Unusual
   In a sport full of ultra-aggressive, high-testosterone fighters and their even more macho fans, Rousey is an attractive woman who frequently observes a vegan or vegetarian diet. This gets her more attention than others at her level by giving journalists extra information and fans something to talk about. Identify the things that make your business stand out, and find ways to celebrate them.
4. Stick With What You Know
   A judo champion and daughter of a judo champion, Rousey wins her matches with grappling skills -- in fact, the same grappling skill over and over. She sticks with what she knows and wins by being better at it than everybody else. Though it's good to branch out and be flexible, focus on becoming the absolute best in the places where you excel.

You don't have to rise to the top of your industry by threatening to break people's arms, but that doesn't mean you can't learn a thing or two from this fight sport champion. Readers, which of these strategies work best for you -- or which ones do you see your competition using well to your disadvantage?

We know you're reading this blog because you're excited about the marketing potential offered by new media and 21st century communications, but there are still some old-school tricks that bring customers to your door reliably. Even as you master your social media efforts, SMS Marketing campaigns and SEO efforts, it pays to keep them in heavy rotation. 

1. Referral Business
   Word of mouth will probably always be the king of marketing. Nothing influences buying decisions like the advice of a trusted friend or adviser. That's why we encourage SMS broadcasts that offer deals for bringing somebody into the fold. Do everything you can to reward referrals and watch your customer base grow.
2. The Three Foot Rule
   Versions of this have probably been around since the first businesses began to appear, but the rule was expressed this way first by Guerrilla Marketing guru Jay Conrad Levinson. The concept is simple: never let a new person get within three feet of you without knowing about your business. Keep business cards or brochures on you at all times to make this easier. It takes a little getting used to, but you will be amazed how many new customers it brings in.
3. Focus on the Bold Print
   What was true in the newspaper age remained true in the direct mail era, and is still true online. Though all your ad copy should be high-quality, compelling and information rich, you must spend extra energy on the headline and other bold print aspects of your ads. Most people only read that part of an ad, and those that read everything usually only do so if the bold print headlines grab their attention.
4. Radio Spots
   Of the big media options, radio is still the cheapest per impression. Even though iPhones and similar gadgets have replaced much of what radio does, people still listen in droves during their morning and afternoon commutes -- which explains why Google searches for a business spike whenever it gets mentioned on the radio. This works especially well for businesses that you wouldn't expect to hear on the air. Diamond wholesalers and dance clubs get some traction, but a karate studio or hair salon can see real results.

All of these strategies work best if you combine the old-school marketing with modern methods of reaching a maximum number of people. Do you have any stories of how you blended old marketing with new technology? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Whether you suffer from analysis paralysis, slow-starting mornings, a social media addiction, or any of a thousand other contributing factors, procrastination can kill your productivity as a manager. This is especially true of the most important projects, since the size and stakes make it harder to get motivated to start on them.

If the paragraph above hits close to home, try on a few of these prescriptions for procrastination.

1. Subdivide, Subdivide, Subdivide
   Take twenty minutes to break big tasks into small, ordered chunks. Don't "work on your novel." Make a list of 200 items, all of which say "write one page." Then schedule that subdivided chunk for a specific hour at a specific time.
2. Set a Two-Minute Timer
   If you're dreading a task, set a timer for 120 seconds and make yourself work for that long. Keep the timer in easy reach, since you're likely to go ahead and finish once time's up...unless you have to leave the area to turn off the buzzer. For a higher-tech solution, RescueTime offers a simple task-tracking program that runs in the background of your computer.
3. Get the Hard Stuff Done
   Schedule an hour or two first thing in the morning for the hardest/most intimidating/most onerous tasks on your schedule. This is much easier than tackling the same tasks when you're low on energy after knocking out the easy stuff.
4. Bribe Yourself
   There's nothing wrong with promising yourself a ten-minute break, a treat from the vending machines, or a quick nap after you've finished a looming chore. Just know which bribes work best for you, and keep the rewards in line with your goals. (For example, ice cream as a bribe for getting to the gym won't serve your plan to lose ten pounds.)
5. Write it Down, Then Do it In Order
   Make a to-do list, fill your schedule, print out an agenda...whatever format best suits your personal organization or work flow. When it's 10:45, you do what you wrote down for 10:45 and no excuses.
6. Set Time Limits
   This one makes enormous sense, but it's surprising how few people use it. If you're putting off prepping for that meeting, change the task to "prep for the meeting by 10 AM Tuesday."  Just double-check your schedule to make sure the meeting isn't on Monday afternoon.
7. Tweak Your Environment
   If you hit the Facebook Timeline and lose your mornings, turn off Internet access during your peak work hours. If you get into too many office conversations, work with a pair of headphones in. Identify what distracts you in your environment, and get rid of it.
8. Avoid Multi-Tasking
   It might feel like you're getting more done, but it takes time — up to 15 minutes with each switch — to regain your focus and become truly productive. You'll get much more done if you set up a place for every task, and do every task in its proper place.

When you're marketing for a startup -- or just starting some marketing -- don't try to reinvent the wheel. Stand on the shoulders of giants, as they say, by using these essential resources to support, guide and jump-start your efforts.

1. The 5-Minute Guide to Cheap Startup Advertising A guest post by Rob Wailing for OnStartups.com. If you're as new as your company when it comes to startup marketing, here's the best rundown of what you absolutely need to know.
2. The Quick-and-Dirty Tips Network Nobody in a startup has just one job. QDT has short podcasts with tips on everything from marketing, to money management, to public speaking. Each is just 5 to 10 minutes long, and supported by extensive blog content.
3. 10 Marketing Tips for Every Startup The web is full of "X Tips" articles. You're reading one now. But classics are classics for a reason, and this post over at TheNextWeb.com is the best of its genre for this purpose. Read it before your strategy sessions for ideas.
4. The Four-Hour Workweek You've heard of the book and seen the TED talk. Ferriss's ideas won't always cut your work week to 1/10th or smaller what it is right now, but they're always applicable. They'll help you prioritize your time, identify your most important goals point your company in the direction that's best for you.
5. The Blog Tyrant If you think commercial bloggers aren't startup entrepreneurs, you haven't been paying attention. Ramsay Taplin's advice about blogging will help you build a base for your company's web traffic, but it goes beyond the blog into the realm of startup strategy.
6. What the Founders Wish They Knew The only thing better than learning from your mistakes is learning from other peoples' mistakes without making them yourself. This article asks 10 recent startup successes what they wish they'd known before opening their own companies.
7. Startup Success A podcast, now in the 150+ episode stage, where Bob Walsh and Patrick Foley cover startup strategies, tips for marketing and interviews with thought leaders and influential up-and-comers.

The trouble with lists is they're never complete. Readers, what other resources had the skinny you wish you'd known before getting started? Better yet, what advice and experience can you offer yourself? Join the conversation in the comments below.

For some of the college-aged folks among us, Spring Break is all about partying, travel and public nudity. But if you run a business that serves actual grownups, the party theme for spring break SMS marketing campaigns is less compelling. Instead, consider a few of these ideas for seasonal text messaging campaigns with a wider appeal.

1. Gardening Time
   For most parts of the US, Spring Break is when gardening starts to get into full swing. Planting, or preparing to plant, is on the minds of many homeowners. Your business doesn't have to be a garden center to get in on this. Clothing stores can promote their sun hats, hardware stores can push gardening tools. Even a restaurant can offer a coupon for anyone who comes in with dirty hands.
2. Parent/Kid Deals
   Not every parent sends their kids to Cabo for spring break, especially if those kids are still school-aged. You can take any kind of buy-one/get-one, 50% off or other group-oriented deal and spin it as a parent/kid activity. This works best for fun-time activities like restaurant meals, spa days and skydiving. Anything that would make a parent excited about spending some time with a child.
3. Talk About the Weather
   March weather differs depending on where you're located, but in most parts of the country it can get a little weird. Whether you're in for rain, or wind, or the first melt of winter snow, you can make a big deal out of it. Watch the weather predictions and broadcast a poll, or have a weird weather photo contest. All participants get a deal, and winners get a bigger prize.
4. Spring Cleaning
   It's still a tradition in many households, and can become a thing in others with the right push. Your exact broadcast will depend on what you sell. Retail can focus on cleaning supplies. Restaurants can offer easy take-out for between-cleaning fortification. Any business could hold a before-and-after photo contest to sell pretty much anything.
5. Post-Game Celebration
   Parents love their kids, but they also love the peace and quiet and productivity that comes with those kids going back to school. In the week immediately after spring break, take advantage of this feeling by offering a deal for parents who want to enjoy the extra time and energy.

What are some of your favorite Spring Break memories? How can you turn them into SMS success? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Another Ez Texting SMS Marketing integration? Yes! Eventbrite makes it easy to plan awesome events. Ez Texting makes it easy to connect with your contacts. In other words, a perfect it. Our Eventbrite integration allows you to quickly and easily sync your event attendees into Ez Texting. Why would you want to do that? Already know the answer? Login to Ez Texting so sync up to Eventbrite now!

Before The Event
Short, sweet 160 character text messages are a great way to build excitement about your event. Whether you're teasing out info about the event or upselling attendees with special offers, text messaging is the perfect medium to quickly reach out.

At The Event
Stormy weather. The band is late...really late. If you've already synced your event attendee list to Ez Texting you won't break a sweat. Login, tap out a message (using our smartphone optimized site), select the Event group, and in less than a minute you can update everyone. No computer...or smartphone? No worries. Text-from-phone allows you to text your event attendees using any mobile phone.

What Else?
All the awesome SMS Marketing features at Ez Texting. Want to get the pulse of the crowd? Poll your event attendees using our SMS polls feature!

Don't have an Eventbrite account? What are you waiting for? Check out their features and then signup now!

When we debuted our first integrations (MailChimp & Highrise), we promised to keep adding new web apps to the list...and today we've got another one for you. You can now sync your iContact lists directly into your Ez Texting account.

The options for iContact are similar to the other email marketing integrations:

• Connect list(s) to Group(s)
• Perform manual or automatic syncs

Setup is quick, but it does require a bit of copying and pasting, so we put together a step-by-step guide. Once the initial setup is complete we'll handle the rest!

Turning out 160 characters over and over again seems easy, but after a while you find yourself running out of ideas (Looking for ideas? We’ve got lots of SMS Marketing Ideas). Worse, you might find that your SMS Marketing efforts aren't reaping the benefits you want because of some specific problems in how you write them. If your campaign results lack a little luster, check your records for these five all-too-common wording problems.

1. Weak Call to Action
   The power of SMS marketing comes from its interactivity. You text somebody an opportunity, and that somebody takes advantage of it. If your call to action boils down to "well, you might want to think about it...you know...someday...maybe," spice it up with a directly stated deal with a limited time and specific action.
2. Using TxtTlk ("Text Talk")
   Yes, people read SMS advertising on their phones. No, it's not a reason for your marketing material to read like you hired a 14-year-old to write it for you. Keep messages professional and easily readable. If you must cut down on characters, drop words like "the" or "and" instead of truncating content. That said, there are times when ‘text talk’ is appropriate. Only you know who is on your list, so the answer to what it is appropriate to use ‘text talk’ is a subjective one.
3. Generic Content
   Your subscribers want intimate details, actionable advice and insider information. Never broadcast something people could look up on your website. Keep it focused on your specific company and the specific interests of your subscriber list.
4. It's All Adspeak
   In print and on the Internet, phrases like "Act Now!" and "Satisfaction Guaranteed!" are invisible to the consumer. They're so common we don't even notice them anymore. On a text message that just interrupted your Temple Run ;game, they're downright offensive. Stay personal, realistic and genuine at all times.
5. Generic Time Frame
   If the SMS broadcast you're about to send today can easily wait for tomorrow or next month, don't send the broadcast. Instead, do something to link it solidly with something going on in the area, with your business, or on the calendar. This keeps the content as relevant as possible, and syncs with what's already on the minds of your subscribers.

While these quick fixes can make a big difference in any campaign, it never hurts to review our complete guide to SMS Marketing best practices.