Bombarding your audience with too many SMS messages is a sure-fire way to alienate them. This mistake, known as over-messaging, quickly leads to "SMS fatigue," where recipients become annoyed by the constant influx of texts from your brand. While the immediacy of SMS is powerful, its effectiveness is inversely proportional to its frequency. There's no magic number for optimal frequency, as it depends on your audience and industry, but for most businesses, once or twice a week is often the maximum for promotional content. Be mindful of your subscribers' attention and only send messages when you have something genuinely valuable or time-sensitive to communicate.
Ignoring the Character Limit and Writing Long SMS Messages
SMS messages are designed for brevity, with a standard limit of 160 characters per segment. A common mistake is writing lengthy, wordy messages that force them into multiple segments, potentially costing more and appearing shop clunky to the recipient. Avoid excessive jargon, unnecessary words, and try to convey your message concisely and directly. Get straight to the point, clearly state your offer or information, and include a strong, short call-to-action. Mastering conciseness is crucial for effective SMS marketing, as it ensures your message is easily digestible and impactful on a small screen.
Failing to Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
Every marketing message, especially a mass SMS, should guide the recipient towards a specific action. A significant mistake is sending messages without a clear, compelling Call-to-Action (CTA). Don't assume your audience knows what to do next. Whether it's "Shop Now," "Visit Website," "Reply YES," "Call Us," or "Click Here to Redeem," make it explicit and easy to understand. Without a clear CTA, your message lacks purpose, and recipients are unlikely to engage further, leading to missed opportunities and wasted outreach efforts.