subject: Sms Shortcode: A Profitable Marketing Strategy [print this page] Marketing, a vital tool of business strategies is the process of communicating the value of a product or service to customers. As the term "Marketing" may replace "Advertising" it is the overall strategy and function of promoting a product or service to the customer. There are various medium of marketing a product like print medium, Electronic medium, internet, outdoor and others. With the advent of mobile technology text messages has become a new medium of communication. Mobile marketing is the distribution of any kind of promotional or advertising messages to customer through wireless networks. SMS marketing is the only medium that can reach audience instantly. It is for a fact that having a mobile phone now a days is a sort of a necessity and it is an inevitable truth that mobile industry is taking everyone by a storm.
For text marketing, short codes are used specially for sending and receiving MMS or SMS from different mobile servers or companies. These are 5 or 6 digit special telephone numbers, that can be used to address SMS and MMS messages from certain service provider's mobile phones or fixed phones. These are available in two formats; shared or dedicated. A shared one is utilized by many marketers while a dedicated one is allocated to just one entity. They work in tandem with keywords, which are useful in identifying different marketing entities.
Shortcodes are designed to be easier to read and remember than normal telephone numbers. Like telephone numbers, these are unique to each operator at the technological level. These codes are widely used for value-added services such as television program voting, ordering ringtones, charity donations and mobile services. On replying to the special code the charges deducted are higher than normal rate of text messages. These are use for advertising the product or service among customers. Various business operators involve a mobile marketing budget in their media plan. The features of shortcodes are many, like:
It can send auto-response within seconds to the message sender.
It includes unlimited keywords.
It is a cheap, efficient way to market the service and product
It tracks and keeps record of each enquiry sent by users.
Easy to use to send messages to masses in one go.
It increases the audience traffic to your business.
It can be used for viral marketing.
It is instant and effective to immediate call back action.
Now a days these codes are being used for generating public opinion on topic by various news channels and even social service campaigners. Talent shows also take help of these codes to bring in voting for participants. In such way, the organiser and SMS service provider earns money.
There are various companies who provide shortcode services in market. The SMS gateway provider provides an organisation with dedicated or shared number for receiving and sending messages. Depending upon your choice you can opt for one way messages wherein you can only receive messages or two-way service wherein incoming and outgoing both are applicable.
The SMS short codes service is an effective and cheapest way of advertising which brings in positive results.
