For organizations, bulk SMS is still the most sought - after and trusted method of communicating with customers. Bulk SMS gateways have eased the process of sending bulk messages to a large audience.
Your business needs customers. And there is no better way to reach out to customers than through phones. By sending a message to your customers, updating them about new features on your products or services, you instantly get their attention. Even with the evolution of new ways of directly communicating with customers, SMS is still probably the most used and trusted way of reaching out to them. Statistics have shown that 99% of all text messages sent through SMS are opened within the same hour.
But if you are trying to reach thousands of customers at the same time, individually texting them on the phone is a nightmare any seller would like to gladly avoid. There is an easier way of keeping in touch with your customers and updating them about your products and services on a regular basis- through Bulk SMSing.
Bulk SMSing is nothing but sending a common message to a large database of phone numbers. Bulk SMS technology has made it possible for sellers to conveniently interact with customers.
An SMS Gateway Server is a platform used to send bulk messages to customers. Essentially, they are relay channels used for transmitting Short Message Services (SMSes). The messages are integrated to the platform through a module, a protocol and an interface. The technology can be customized to suit small businesses with limited customers as well as growing organizations who use bulk messaging services for running product promotions.
With minimum interference, bulk SMS can be efficiently sent through gateways using modern technology. Different types of interfaces are used to send bulk SMS, of which Application Programming Interface (API) and Web SMS (desktop) are the most common and easy to use.
The API works by connecting the website or application to an SMS gateway and uses the HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS (HTTP secure) protocols. Web SMS services are facilitated by Web browsers. There is a strong preference amongst customers for API than for Web SMS because of the ease of delivery of messages and availability of message tracking systems.
Also, to keep in mind while selecting a gateway is the method of sending the bulk SMS. SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) is considered better than SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.) SMPP uses the same technology that mobile phones use to relay a message from one phone to the other. Hence, it is also more expensive.
Sending messages using SMTP is like sending bulk email from your inbox. It is difficult to measure its effectiveness and one can never be sure if the message was actually delivered and how it appears to the customer. This is also the reason why SMTP SMS gateways are far cheaper than SMPP gateways.
When choosing an SMS gateway, you should keep in mind some important aspects. The SMS gateway should have the best SMS API option with multiple integration features for your computer and mobile applications. It should also offer the option of setting alerts and reminders for the ease of employees responsible for sending bulk SMS.
Check if your bulk SMS gateway provider has the option of international bulk messaging and interactive messaging (two-way communication to conduct surveys and get feedback.) Many SMS gateway providers offer customized servicing opportunities where you can select a group to send a particular message. This way you are assured of sending the right message to the right set of customers.
The best way to find out if you are choosing the right SMS gateway for your business is to see if it syncs well with all your software. The transition and interactions across various systems, and applications should also be smooth. With functions such as these, you will be able to connect with your customers frequently and in a hassle-free manner.
There are several good bulk SMS gateway providers in the UAE region. The trick is to find the one with the configuration that is most suitable for your customer base. A bulk SMS gateway should also be reliable and display scalability, which means that it should be offered by an organization which has a good reputation in the market and amongst its competitors, has a wide network and boasts of excellent expert support.
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