Thanks to you, our customers, 2017 was a record breaking year for Semaphore and 2018 is shaping up to be even bigger! As you might recall, we successfully launched our new and improved platform early last year.
As a result of our growth, late last year we experienced a few growing pains involving messages being delayed by minutes and sometimes even hours. To start off the year we’ve been working hard to make the platform as fast and reliable as possible. To achieve those goals we’ve made a few key changes to the way messages are handled as follows:
Single Messages
Single messages are now processed before bulk messages, meaning that if you send a message to one recipient, that message is prioritized over a message being sent to multiple recipients in a single API request. This should solve the issue where bulk marketing messages end up clogging the queues and delaying messages.
Priority Messages
We’ve also implemented priority messages and corresponding API endpoint which allows your message to skip to the front of the line on both the “bulk” and “single” message queues. To prevent abuse, this “priority messages” cost 2 credits (instead of 1 credit) per 160 character message.
To use this method just change the API endpoint from /api/v4/messages to /api/v4/priority. Priority messages have a guaranteed SLA of 10 minutes. The priority endpoint is not rate limited. This is good for time sensitive messages like one-time passwords or two factor authentication.
API Connection Limits
Starting April 1, 2018 all non-priority API requests will be limited to 30 requests per minute. If your system is sending the same message to multiple numbers, please make a single request to /api/v4/messages and specify multiple numbers (comma separated) in the ‘recipient’ field.
These features are currently in beta so let us know if you have any problems–we appreciate your feedback! Our documentation has been updated and can be found at https://semaphore.co/docs. Thanks again for helping us to be the best way to send SMS in the Philippines and please do let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help either through the chat widget on our websites, by emailing support@semaphore.co or through our Facebook page.
As always, thanks for choosing Semaphore!
Your Semaphore Team
How to Grow Your Opt-In SMS Database
An SMS campaign is nothing without a profitable opt-in database. And when growing your list, there are rules to follow.
While easy, buying a purchased list is a big no-no. It should be permission-based and grown organically. Unsolicited commercial text messages can be seen as spam and damage your brand’s reputation, whereas permission-based messages target customers that have shown interest in your product or service. Obtaining your recipients’ permission first will result in higher response and conversion rates.
If you have collected information from your customers, you can ask them for their mobile numbers. Sometimes, customers can be hesitant in sharing their personal contact information, and you’ll need to work to build their trust first (or properly incentivize them).
Here are some tips and strategies to help you grow your opt-in list for text blast.
Ways to Grow Opt-In SMS Database
1. Incentivize Signups with Valuable Offers
People value on their privacy, they will be hesitant in giving personal information away without good reason. However, they can often be incentivized to do so, if they can gain something in exchange. It can be a discount code, an exclusive promotion, valuable information, or important notifications.
When you’re getting customers to sign up for your SMS marketing campaign, it’s important to focus on what benefits they can get out of it. Be sure to convey the level of exclusivity that opting in to your SMS list offers.
2. Use SMS Keyword and Short Code on your Advertisements
If you run a brick-and-mortar store, you can put up a sign that drives customers to text a specific keyword to a short code number for special discounts, promotions, and exclusive freebies. You can also place this information on your billboards, flyers, website, and other marketing materials.
Keep your instructions and benefits clear to readers, and use a simple and relevant keyword that is easy to remember and spell.
In the sample below, WCCB-TV implemented this strategy to grow both its opt-in database and community. By texting WCCBVIP to 31401, subscribers do not only get a chance to win two advance screening passes. They also become a member of its text club.
3. Integrate SMS with Other Marketing Channels
Exhaust all possibilities to reach potential subscribers by asking them to opt-in to your SMS list using other marketing channels.
You can add a banner image to your website with simple instructions on how they can sign up to your SMS list. Place a reminder in your email newsletter about how they can receive SMS notifications for more exclusive discounts and promos. In your online sign-up forms, try adding a field for mobile numbers. Consistently posting on your social media channels about your SMS campaign is also helpful in growing your SMS database.
Here are the other marketing channels where you can include your SMS opt-in message:
- Flyers and print advertisements
- Social media posts and ads
- Search ads
- Email newsletter
- In-store signs
- Billboards
- Events and conferences
- Radio and TV
Final Thoughts
Since you want your SMS list to include customers who are interested in your business, it is also your responsibility to give them the ability to unsubscribe when they no longer want to receive notifications or messages from you. This will also help you manage and filter your SMS database.
Of course, opting out is the last thing you want your customers to do, so do your best to keep them engaged!
Want to grow your business using SMS? Sign up for Semaphore here!
SMS Metrics You Need to Measure [Infographic]
Performance measurement and analysis are important in any business strategy. The same goes with SMS marketing campaigns. Metrics allow you to determine whether your campaign reached its goals and targets.
By analyzing the key metrics relevant to your SMS gateway and knowing the industry standards for every metric, you can determine which areas of your campaign need improvement. Furthermore, you can adjust your targets to be more realistic and attainable for your campaign.
Check out our infographic to learn the 5 key metrics you need to measure when launching an SMS blast. Included are tips and fast facts that can help you boost your SMS performance.
1. Delivery Rate
Your delivery rate pertains to the total number of messages successfully delivered out of the total number of recipients included in your SMS blast. It tells you how reliable your SMS marketing provider is. Cheaper SMS marketing platforms sometimes fail to send SMS messages successfully due to weaker infrastructure.
(Number of Successful Delivers / Total Number of Recipients)*100
It’s important to note that several factors are involved in the delivery of your SMS including the size and health of your contacts list, message frequency, and prepaid phone number composition. Cellular signal in specific areas of the country can also affect your delivery rate.
It’s easy for users to discard prepaid phone numbers and switch to a new one. This is especially common in the Philippines, where prepaid SIM cards are either given for free or sold for ₱10 to ₱50. Check your list health regularly to determine the active numbers from the inactive ones. Delete the inactive numbers from your contacts list to improve your delivery rate.
2. Opt-Out Rate
The opt-out rate shows the percentage of users who unsubscribed to your SMS marketing list after reading your text message. The average industry opt-out rate is usually below 5%. You don’t want to lose subscribers! A high opt-out rate tells you that you might need to take a second look at your campaign offering to improve retention rates.
(Number of Unsubscribes / Total Number of Recipients)*100
Some users don’t want to be bombarded with frequent messages, especially if they receive these messages during inopportune times. A high opt-out rate could also mean that you’re targeting the wrong audience, or your messages don’t provide value to your subscribers. Find a way to engage your users with compelling text messages.
Split testing your SMS campaign can help you isolate the areas for improvement, and decrease opt-out rate.
3. Response Rate
SMS has a 45% response rate while email only has a 6% response rate. This means that users respond to almost half of all text messages they receive on their mobile phones. Placing clear calls-to-action in your SMS message encourages subscribers to take the next step.
(Number of Users Who Responded / Number of Successful Deliveries)*100
If you’re reaping low response rates, the simplicity of your call-to-action may have something to do with it. Make sure to refrain from complicated requests. Provide clear instructions to avoid confusing your audience. Keep things easy and simple. You can even ask your subscribers to text back with a single word or code.
4. Click-Through Rate
The use of smartphones and mobile internet increases every year, enabling marketers to adopt multichannel marketing campaigns. If you include a website link in your SMS blast, you need to measure your click-through rate. According to recent surveys, the average click-through rate of URLs included in an SMS blast is at 36%.
(Number of Users Who Clicked / Number of Successful Deliveries)*100
If your campaign generates a low click-through rate, then take a second look at your target demographic. Do they use a cell phone or a smartphone? You may want to include this in your next SMS blast. Ask your subscribers if they own a cell phone or a smartphone. You can also try to determine whether your smartphone users have access to mobile internet, as this can greatly affect your click-through rate when using CTA links.
5. Conversion Rate
Conversion rate refers to the percentage of users who completed your goal by taking your desired action. This can pertain to when users sign up for a service, purchased a product, visited your store, clicked through to your website, or called your company.
(Number of Users Who Took Action / Number of Successful Deliveries)*100
Overall, the conversion rate tells you whether your SMS campaign is on the right track to generating leads and increasing your revenue. Industry standards show a 328% conversion rate for leads who are sent three or more text messages after their initial contact.
6. Unsubscribe Rate
SMS unsubscribe rate is the percentage of subscribers who opt-out of receiving SMS messages from your business. This is important because it indicates the level of engagement and satisfaction of your SMS subscribers. A high unsubscribe rate may indicate that your messaging is not resonating with your audience or that you are sending too many messages.
(Number of Subscribers who Opted-out / Total Subscribers)*100
To reduce SMS unsubscribe rates, businesses can take several steps such as ensuring that their messages are personalized, relevant, and valuable to the recipient, limiting the frequency of messages, and providing an easy opt-out option for subscribers.
Measuring the Right SMS Metrics
SMS is the fastest way to reach your target consumers or audience, as it is still the most popular messaging tool used by cellphone and smartphone users. Make sure that you’re tracking your progress by measuring the relevant SMS metrics.
Reach your bottom line faster with an SMS platform that delivers results. At Semaphore, we help businesses grow by providing an SMS service at low costs. Make sure that you partner up with a reliable SMS blasting service so that your SMS messages are sent to the right recipients instantly.