Module 4: Mobile and SMS Marketing – How Small Practices Profit from the Mobile Revolution

Just like PC-based email marketing, the first step in SMS is to gather a list of subscribers. The best way to do this is through an opt-in form on your website or through your offline marketing channels. You can also use shortcodes. These are short phone numbers that your customers call.

Once they make the call, they’re automatically signed up. Once you have a list, you send them messages. The purpose of these messages is to build a relationship with them by sending them information and high-value offers, such as freebies, discounts, coupons or other special deals. If your practice has a brick and mortar location where you serve your clients, one great way is to invite them to opt-in while they are checking in for an appointment.

Mobile marketing is great for any kind of business. Offline businesses can use it just as effectively as online businesses. In fact, it’s ideal for small local practices since their customers are usually using their mobiles when they’re on the go.

For example, a local accountant can offer discounts to their subscribers. They send the coupon at the top of the tax season when their subscribers are getting anxious, and their practice becomes the natural choice for getting tax help

Mobile marketing is wonderful because people always have their mobile devices with them and are constantly connected. You can get immediate results. Most people consider mobile marketing to have a more personal touch than computer-based email marketing.

Virtually everyone uses mobile phones while not everyone is sitting in front of a computer. This means that you can reach a wider market that doesn’t necessarily use PCs or Macs. Moreover, the number of people using mobiles is increasing each year.

Marketing surveys have shown that open rates are much higher on mobiles than on PCs. This is possibly because people are flooded with emails in their inboxes. Mobile marketing is still new and fewer companies are doing it, so your customers will be more responsive.

The key to success with mobile marketing is to understand that mobile devices are completely different from computers. Mobile web surfing behavior is also different.

People have shorter attention spans and you need to grab their attention in a second. The challenge is to engage people and get them involved with your company through their mobile device. The more interactive your marketing campaign, the more effective it will be.

If you haven’t done this already, start by spending some time ensuring that your website looks sharp on all mobile devices – particularly the top browsers on the popular phones and tablets.

While there are some decent emulators out there that will show you approximately how your site looks on a given device, be sure to check things out with a few actual devices on your own as well.