If you’re like most business owners, then you have a lot on your plate. From running the day-to-day operations of your company to handling staff and helping develop a wide variety of networks with potential clients, there are plenty of things to do. But juggling your hectic schedule doesn’t mean that you should overlook an important part of any modern company’s communications strategy: text messages. Texting is quickly becoming the most popular method of communication for mobile users, mainly because it’s the most convenient. In this article, we will discuss some factors you should consider when choosing a business text messaging service.
1. Type of Messaging
The first thing you need to decide is the type of text messaging service that works best for your business. There are two primary services, Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). SMS is a one-way messaging service, which means you can only receive messages and cannot send them. In addition to text messaging, MMS can also send pictures, videos and other multimedia files through the same message center. The main difference between the two service types is that SMS messages are delivered almost immediately, while MMS messages may take a little longer because they must be converted into an SMS message before delivery.
2. Messaging Volume
The next thing you need to consider is how many messages your company will send. Many of these services have a set limit on the number of texts they can send per month, so this is a limiting factor that needs to be considered before signing up for any service. Some businesses fail to understand the amount of messaging they will do or the volume of people they are targeting, which leads to overages and other fees that can really hurt your bottom line.
3. Monthly Spending
This is not a factor you should ignore if you are serious about messaging your prospects and customers. Many of these services offer low-cost plans as long as you only use them for messaging or mailings, but the problem with that is that there are many other options that can be costly over time. You can easily get caught in a cycle of paying more than necessary because they will charge you every month when you have reached the maximum limit, forcing you to choose additional services.
4. Services Your Prospects Use
The last thing you need to consider is which services your prospects or customers use. Some of these services work better than others, so it’s a good idea to know which providers work best for your clients so you can emphasize the ones that do. Businesses operating out of different states or countries often have a hard time finding reliable sources of information about these types of services as it’s all very localized.
Conclusion
As we said at the beginning, there are many factors you must consider when choosing a text messaging service. Taking time to evaluate your business objectives, your target audience, and other relevant information can help you find the perfect solution for your needs. It may sound difficult at first, but once you do a little research, it will be easier to make smart choices in selecting the right provider for you.
