There are over four billion peoplewho own mobile phones. And over two billion people who have smartphones. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the potential mobile marketing offers to businesses.

So it's no surprise many companies are jumping aboard the premium SMS service bandwagon. This takes your typical text message marketing to the next level. But before we get into that, let's see why this is such a big deal.

For starters, 25% of consumers say they prefer text messages from businesses versus phone calls. Then the user engagement is unsurpassed. A whopping 98% of SMS messages are opened compared to 20% of emails.

That really puts things into perspective for business owners. But if you really want to increase the potential SMS offers, you should consider offering premium SMS.

Now, let's find out what this is.

What Is Premium SMS?

In a nutshell, it allows you to offer services and products to your customers using text messages. They can make purchases by simply replying to the promotional text. Then the charge is billed to their mobile phone bill.

The money deducted from their phone bill is split between you and the mobile operator.

Why Is This Ingenious?

For one, it removes the need for credit cards, electronic transfers and cash. Customers are able to conveniently purchase from your brand. Needless to say, this can help boost your sales tremendously.

Even better - any business in any industry can profit from offering premium texting services. We've seen it being used by retailers, department stores, restaurants, mom-and-pop shops and e-commerce websites (to name a few).

So how does a business like yours get started?

First, You Need a Short Code

A short code is a 5-6 digit phone number that your business uses to relay messages to customers. This is the number customers will see when they open the text. You can somewhat choose the shortcode you have, based on those still available.

Once you have one, you can use it to send offers, coupons, promotions and so on. Surely, you can come up with unique ways to make it work for your brand.

Get Customers to Opt-In

Your short code means nothing if no one opts in for your premium text messages. Make it clear in your terms and conditions how the service works. This way, you won't have a backlash from surprised and disgruntled customers.

Start Advertising Your Short Code

Now, it's time to start sharing your code with your customers and prospects. A few ways you can do this is to advertise it in your store, website, social media, television, radio and print materials. It would help if you knew where your audience hangs out.

Make sure to include keywords for your campaigns, so it's clear which one they're opting in to.

You Won't Get Far Without a Bulk SMS Provider

Unless you're going to sit around texting thousands of people daily, you're going to need a bulk SMS provider. This will streamline your SMS marketing in an efficient and cost-effective way.

It's essential to choose a provider with a quality and highly secure service. This is why many businesses trust Mobivate. We offer the best price guarantees and use reliable software to ensure quality SMS delivery.

Customer support is unmatched and you'll even have your own designated account manager.

If your business is transitioning to premium SMS, then contact us today to get started!