SMS Buyers Guide
There are several Business SMS suppliers now in the UK and as the use of SMS messaging mushrooms there are new suppliers appearing regularly. So how do you choose a supplier? It’s only a text message surely you just buy the cheapest? Aren’t they much of a muchness?
The answer is No on two counts. Let me explain why.
When we deliver a text message on your behalf we send it via “Premium UK routes” (this term is important so remember it). This means we connect to one or more of the UK mobile phone networks – Orange, Vodafone, etc. – and this is what guarantees that your message will be delivered to the recipient’s phone in a very few seconds.. For each and every one of these messages we pay a fee, the Interconnect Fee, to the network for handling your message.
Now there is another way to send SMS messages using so called “black” and “grey” routes which bypass the UK networks and so avoid paying the Interconnect fee. I won’t explain how they do this other than to say they seek and exploit loopholes in the mobile networks. Some days these work ok, never achieving the speed or reliability of premium routes, but just about acceptable. But other days they can fail to deliver your messages as their latest loophole is spotted and closed. So if your message was important enough to be sent why wouldn’t it be important for it to be delivered? But even worse than non-delivery is late delivery. Your message confirming a delivery date and time arrives after the parcel has arrived. Worst of all, imagine sending a marketing message and it is delayed so pings the target’s phone at 4.00 am.
The problem is these “cheap” suppliers don’t tell you they are using risky routes. One fairly prominent insists his low prices are using premium routes when we know he isn’t.
So if you’re new to SMS or even considering switching provider it’s important to have an idea of the questions you should be asking in order to make an informed decision.
DevelopersHome outlines 13 questions you should answer before committing to an online SMS provider.
Our SMS Buyers Guide shows how Fastsms measures up when these questions are asked.
Related Articles
Environmental Monitoring: A Business SMS Use Case
9 Reasons to use SMS Marketing in 2018 [Infographic]
8 Key Reasons SMS Marketing is So Effective
You might not have run an SMS marketing campaign yourself, but you are likely to have received some form of SMS communication from a business. Whether that's a commercial brand running a competition or a healthcare provider, such as your GP or dental practice, sending you an appointment reminder. If you have run an SMS marketing campaign before, you're likely to already be aware of the effectiveness of the platform for communicating with customers, but might need help justifying your use of SMS messaging to other people or departments in your business. Here, we've listed out the key reasons SMS marketing is so effective.
What You Can Learn About SMS Marketing from These 7 Companies
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued seven monetary penalties against companies this year. We’ve read through them all – so you don’t have to – and discovered two lessons every company should learn about SMS marketing if they want to be successful.
Why a Text Message is Often Better Than an Email or Voice Call
A text message is a very small and condensed piece of communication in contrast to voice messaging or video broadcast. Consequently text messages can get through when network capability is degraded to an extent that makes other options unviable.
Can SMS Messaging Help Banks Manage “Mobile Disruption”?
Around the world bank branches are disappearing. Just yesterday I received an email from Business Intelligence (BI) predicting the doom of US bank branches and cash machines. Their data is based on US economic and survey data, but others have done similar research in the UK and the world. And they all agree: the days of the local branch bank office are soon to be over.
SMS Marketing for Estate Agents
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the property market towards a new generation of estate agents who are leading a push away from the traditional high street model. With new generations entering the housing market and changing customer behaviours, estate agents are having to look for new ways to attract both buyers and sellers. SMS marketing is a low cost and highly effective tool which could help. In this article, we explore how estate agents can use SMS messaging to attract and engage with customers, helping to boost sales and increase revenue with a minimum of effort.
Using SMS Messaging For a Cause is Catching On
As old as SMS messaging is (going on 25), is it surprising to know that for non-profits and political campaigns it’s just now catching on? It might be, but if you think about it maybe it isn’t surprising. Until the last few years, people have been very reticent to hand out their personal mobile number. Now though, they’re more willing – if they care about the source of the messages.
SMS Messaging for Artists and Performers
Independent artists and performers use many different methods to get people into their shows. Social media is a favourite, but SMS messaging can be even better. Learn how one performer used SMS messaging to sell out performances and how you can too.