Text messaging as a marketing tool

SMS, or short message service, is most commonly known as receiving and sending a text messaging via a mobile phone. SMS is an innovative and exciting marketing channel for businesses of all types and industries using subscriber cell phones to distribute mobile coupons, promotional messages, information on product launches and even special alerts to their customers.

At the core of its effectiveness, SMS text message marketing is based on the concept of “choice.” People must request that they be sent your promotions and offers. This request is simply performed by texting a keyword to a five or six digit number, which is called a short code. Once the text message is received by the consumer, the business has that customer’s cell phone number available for use as a one-to-one marketing channel.