SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better?

MorpheusMirror · 23rd Jun 2012, 02:08 AM

Recently I have been thinking about adding SMS messages delivery to my small business marketing arsenal.

Is it better to add a coupon to a SMS message, or is it better to use SMS to let a customers know what is going on right then?

everge · 23rd Jun 2012, 03:53 AM

Better to use SMS as all phones will receive SMS's not all phones will display coupons.

rocho · 2nd Jul 2012, 01:20 AM

Great Idea. You can use either. Both should get you good results

Mo Goulet · 2nd Jul 2012, 08:33 AM

Without a coupon, your message will probably get deleted. With a coupon offer it stays on their phone. My text messages always have a "show this text to the server or checkout stand to receive this discount"

MorpheusMirror · 2nd Jul 2012, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Mo Goulet

Without a coupon, your message will probably get deleted. With a coupon offer it stays on their phone. My text messages always have a "show this text to the server or checkout stand to receive this discount"

That is an interesting tidbit of info. So coupons that require an immediate or near future action are the ones that get clicks?

WillR · 22nd Jul 2012, 09:25 PM

It's best to do both. If you only ever use SMS to advertise coupons then people will start to expect that and it becomes less of a deal. You should use SMS to keep them up to date with important events and to also offer special deals from time to time. Don't do too much of either thing though.

I always recommend no more than 6 messages a month. I find that the optimal amount.

WillR · 22nd Jul 2012, 09:26 PM

It's best to do both. If you only ever use SMS to advertise coupons then people will start to expect that and it becomes less of a deal. You should use SMS to keep them up to date with important events and to also offer special deals from time to time. Don't do too much of either thing though.

I always recommend no more than 6 messages a month. I find that the optimal amount.

Jones178 · 25th Jul 2012, 11:34 AM

My approach to a new business is simple. Simple text messages are not coupons. If you are going to show off mobile couponing you need something solid that will answer the questions about analytics, redemption tracking, and limits coupon abuse. Before I go to a meeting a setup an opt-in list with a coupon attached. This allows the client to see how they are able to build a database and see how the couponing feature works. I have been using Lime Cellular and their couponing does just that. Business owners love the fact that they can include their own graphics, and it can only be used once.

Rymico · 25th Jul 2012, 01:45 PM

I have to agree with Will above. Coupons only train the customer one way. Text alone train them another.

With my platform, I send texts,coupons, text to win contests, polls, questionaires, etc. Don't get hung up on one thing. Try different campaigns to make your customer money and happy.

We try to stay around one per week to keep people from being in a mood to type STOP.

Rodney

MadLion · 25th Jul 2012, 02:11 PM

Keep in mind that right now only 50% of cellphone users have a smart phone. Therefore use SMS with an offer in the text for the most redemptions.

You should use your text broadcasts to accomplish a purpose:
1. Increase frequency of visit
2. get them to buy more than normal, one more product, upsell
3. Grow your social network
4. Grow your email list
5. generate a new lead or customer by bringing a friend.

You should not undermind what your customers do already or buy already, but by choosing a goal and crafting the text around it you can benefit your business using text.

WillR · 25th Jul 2012, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Rymico

I have to agree with Will above. Coupons only train the customer one way. Text alone train them another.

With my platform, I send texts,coupons, text to win contests, polls, questionaires, etc. Don't get hung up on one thing. Try different campaigns to make your customer money and happy.

We try to stay around one per week to keep people from being in a mood to type STOP.

Rodney

Exactly. To be successful in marketing you need to keep doing pattern interrupts. If all you do is send out coupon codes every week then people get used to this and it becomes less of a deal. You need to mix things up so that the coupon codes and special offers get the attention they deserve.

want2knowhow · 28th Jul 2012, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by MadLion

Keep in mind that right now only 50% of cellphone users have a smart phone. Therefore use SMS with an offer in the text for the most redemptions.

You should use your text broadcasts to accomplish a purpose:
1. Increase frequency of visit
2. get them to buy more than normal, one more product, upsell
3. Grow your social network
4. Grow your email list
5. generate a new lead or customer by bringing a friend.

You should not undermind what your customers do already or buy already, but by choosing a goal and crafting the text around it you can benefit your business using text.

Thank you for this, as I am not a "Smart Phone" owner or user. As a 'baby boomer'...I hate those things. They annoy me so, I just own a basic, no frills call/text phone!

But, I am smart enough to know...that if I am to get into this type of marketing, I have to be mindful of those who can't live without being glued to one.

MorpheusMirror · 28th Jul 2012, 02:16 AM

Originally Posted by WillR

It's best to do both. If you only ever use SMS to advertise coupons then people will start to expect that and it becomes less of a deal. You should use SMS to keep them up to date with important events and to also offer special deals from time to time. Don't do too much of either thing though.

I always recommend no more than 6 messages a month. I find that the optimal amount.

To many messages a month seems to be like email spam?

Originally Posted by riverview

i think for establishing faith standard sms coupon is very important.sms coupon assured that the texts are coming from an application provider short code and these typically have a high standards to get their codes and programs approved.

agreed

Originally Posted by MadLion

Keep in mind that right now only 50% of cellphone users have a smart phone. Therefore use SMS with an offer in the text for the most redemptions.

You should use your text broadcasts to accomplish a purpose:
1. Increase frequency of visit
2. get them to buy more than normal, one more product, upsell
3. Grow your social network
4. Grow your email list
5. generate a new lead or customer by bringing a friend.

You should not undermind what your customers do already or buy already, but by choosing a goal and crafting the text around it you can benefit your business using text.

SMS, and mobiel marketing in general should be focused on keeping the base engaged without spamming them?

WillR · 29th Jul 2012, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by MorpheusMirror

To many messages a month seems to be like email spam?

Yes, you need to keep in mind that SMS marketing is more 'in your face' than email marketing. Most normal people will check their email a couple of times a day. So if you are getting spam email it's not a huge deal. You just delete them all in one go.

SMS however is something that we are notified about immediately and statistics show that most people open and view an SMS message within a couple of minutes of receiving it. Therefore if you are getting a whole lot of SMS messages you do not want you are going to be a lot more likely to unsubscribe from that list than if they were emails you were receiving.

tracourt · 25th Aug 2012, 12:36 AM

I agree with WillR 100%. That's why I believe that if you send a SMS at an inappropriate time you will create animosity in many cases. For the average employee, a 9am-10:30 am message may be too intrusive whereas a 11:30 SMS offering a lunch special will be welcome.

23rd Jun 2012, 02:08 AM	#1
MorpheusMirror Making the Dream Real War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Orlando, FL USA Posts: 95 Thanks: 58 Thanked 32 Times in 18 Posts	SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: Recently I have been thinking about adding SMS messages delivery to my small business marketing arsenal. Is it better to add a coupon to a SMS message, or is it better to use SMS to let a customers know what is going on right then?
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23rd Jun 2012, 03:53 AM	#2
everge Active Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Australia Posts: 62 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: Better to use SMS as all phones will receive SMS's not all phones will display coupons.

2nd Jul 2012, 01:20 AM	#3
rocho Warrior Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: Great Idea. You can use either. Both should get you good results
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2nd Jul 2012, 08:33 AM	#4
Mo Goulet Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 1998 Location: Sun Valley, Idaho Posts: 1,034 Thanks: 57 Thanked 251 Times in 170 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: Without a coupon, your message will probably get deleted. With a coupon offer it stays on their phone. My text messages always have a "show this text to the server or checkout stand to receive this discount"
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22nd Jul 2012, 09:25 PM	#6
WillR Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 12,472 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: It's best to do both. If you only ever use SMS to advertise coupons then people will start to expect that and it becomes less of a deal. You should use SMS to keep them up to date with important events and to also offer special deals from time to time. Don't do too much of either thing though. I always recommend no more than 6 messages a month. I find that the optimal amount.
	. ➨ Here's How to Make Your First $177 Online This Week Using the Piggyback Method... .

22nd Jul 2012, 09:26 PM	#7
WillR Digital Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 12,472 Thanks: 1,984 Thanked 8,187 Times in 4,079 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: It's best to do both. If you only ever use SMS to advertise coupons then people will start to expect that and it becomes less of a deal. You should use SMS to keep them up to date with important events and to also offer special deals from time to time. Don't do too much of either thing though. I always recommend no more than 6 messages a month. I find that the optimal amount.
	. ➨ Here's How to Make Your First $177 Online This Week Using the Piggyback Method... .

25th Jul 2012, 11:34 AM	#8
Jones178 Warrior Member Join Date: 2012 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: My approach to a new business is simple. Simple text messages are not coupons. If you are going to show off mobile couponing you need something solid that will answer the questions about analytics, redemption tracking, and limits coupon abuse. Before I go to a meeting a setup an opt-in list with a coupon attached. This allows the client to see how they are able to build a database and see how the couponing feature works. I have been using Lime Cellular and their couponing does just that. Business owners love the fact that they can include their own graphics, and it can only be used once.

25th Jul 2012, 01:45 PM	#9
Rymico Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 82 Thanks: 2 Thanked 23 Times in 15 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: I have to agree with Will above. Coupons only train the customer one way. Text alone train them another. With my platform, I send texts,coupons, text to win contests, polls, questionaires, etc. Don't get hung up on one thing. Try different campaigns to make your customer money and happy. We try to stay around one per week to keep people from being in a mood to type STOP. Rodney
	Contact me at sales@rymico.com

25th Jul 2012, 02:11 PM	#10
MadLion Visionary Join Date: 2012 Location: NC Posts: 50 Thanks: 14 Thanked 34 Times in 14 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: Keep in mind that right now only 50% of cellphone users have a smart phone. Therefore use SMS with an offer in the text for the most redemptions. You should use your text broadcasts to accomplish a purpose: 1. Increase frequency of visit 2. get them to buy more than normal, one more product, upsell 3. Grow your social network 4. Grow your email list 5. generate a new lead or customer by bringing a friend. You should not undermind what your customers do already or buy already, but by choosing a goal and crafting the text around it you can benefit your business using text.

25th Aug 2012, 12:36 AM	#15
tracourt Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 67 Thanks: 53 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Re: SMS Marketing - Coupon or No Coupon, Which is better? Share on: I agree with WillR 100%. That's why I believe that if you send a SMS at an inappropriate time you will create animosity in many cases. For the average employee, a 9am-10:30 am message may be too intrusive whereas a 11:30 SMS offering a lunch special will be welcome.