Do Cinemas Need to Use SMS Messaging?
Thanks to blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, James Bond, and Disney, cinemas have been doing quite well lately. But still, some years are better than others. Is it possible for cinemas to improve their attendance and sales during those not-so-good years? Yes, and it involves SMS messaging. But before I get to that, let’s take a look at some recent industry numbers.
The UK Cinema Association publishes data on monthly, annual and weekly sales and admissions. Here’s what I found for the industry since 2007. 2014 saw the lowest annual attendance compared to the previous seven years and 2015. It was 8.4% lower than 2015, and nearly 10% lower than 2009 which saw the largest number of monthly admissions.
Of course, these types of fluctuations are expected in the industry. Even month to month admissions fluctuate. Below is a chart showing the monthly admissions in 2015 and 2016 through November (December numbers weren’t available at the time of this writing).
Obviously, there is more attendance when a highly-anticipated film comes out, and down when people aren’t so interested in the current releases. There are also economic, social and seasonal issues too. Which brings us back around to the initial question: Can cinemas use SMS messaging to help bring up admissions when they are down?
Yes, they can. And they probably should.
Enticing Special Offers
While cinemas use other forms of advertising to draw people in, SMS marketing is potentially more effective. This is because people who opt in to receive messages are extremely interested in the company, products, or services provided. These types of people are more likely to act on the offers they see when compared to a channel like print or radio advertising, or even email.
Here are some example offers that would work well for SMS marketing to a cinema’s list:
- Reduced ticket prices. Sometimes, when admissions are way down, it might make sense to discount ticket prices just to get more people in the door. Once there, the usual 4000% mark-up on popcorn can help offset that decrease and keep profits high.
- Discounts on sweets, drinks or popcorn. These types of offers might be enticing to those who want to go see a film, but are worried about the total cost including all the goodies they’ll buy there. Everyone loves a good deal, so they’ll jump at an offer to see a film and get a bargain on the drinks and sweets.
- Free item or buy one, get one offers. What’s better than a good deal? Getting something for free of course. This isn’t one you might not want to use too often, but could be just what you need when the weather is good and the latest film is a total flop.
Reward - and Remind - Loyal Customers
Many cinema brands are offering loyalty programs and exclusive clubs to benefit their customers. But did you know you can use them to drive customers into the cinema?
Members of a reward program should also be asked to opt into the reward SMS list. Messages can be sent as conveniences to them (updates on points totals for example) which they will love. But SMS can also be used at the convenience of the cinema. Here are a couple of ideas:
- When admissions are low, send out a message to rewards members offering extra points for ticket or food purchases. Again, people love free stuff (even if it’s virtual points!)
- Alert members who are close to a reward level (like a free ticket) to encourage them to see a film sooner than later. Most people belong to multiple reward programs (not just cinemas) so they can’t be expected to know their point balances offhand. So, a short reminder SMS message might be the gentle nudge they need to get back in for another film – just when you need them to.
The above are just a few ideas on how to use SMS marketing to increase admissions at cinemas. It’s important to know, too, that besides being effective, it provides great ROI. That’s because you can send messages for just a few pence each, and response rates are often double digits.
If you’re interested in how SMS messaging could work for your business take a look at our industry guides, SMS Buyers Guide, or Mobile Marketing Guide. We’re also happy to answer your questions directly via live chat, phone or email.
Related Articles
How to Use SMS and The Olympics to Boost Business
Almost any business, or even a not-for-profit company, can take advantage of the frenzy of sporting events, like The Olympics. Especially when you combine it with mobile marketing. That’s because there are plenty of fans, and their devices, here in the UK.
Creative SMS Crowdfunding Campaigns for Independent Film Productions
No matter what the task is, any campaign can be boosted by SMS marketing. It's great for businesses and charities but could be especially utilised for the creative industry. From the largest scale (mainstream TV shows, Hollywood blockbusters) to low budget independents, there is an SMS campaign to fit all needs and perform a vital profile-boosting function.
How to Use SMS Messaging to Keep Your Club Members Healthy
In a report released last week by Nielsen, it turns out people want more than just to see a lower number on the scale. In their study, 75% of people worldwide plan to lose weight by changing their diet. And another 72% plan to exercise – that’s where your health club and SMS comes in.
5 Reasons You Want to Use SMS Messaging in Your Business
Are you looking to grow your business? Get more customers? Have larger profits? Of course you are. Isn't every business looking to improve, grow and generate more sales? More and more businesses are realising how SMS messaging can help them do all those things. But it's nice to have some facts to back up what most people seem to assume is true.
What Political Parties Can Teach Us About Great SMS Campaigns
SMS marketing has come to be a crucial element of most businesses’ marketing strategies, and there is plenty of received wisdom within the marketing world as to how to get the most out of your SMS messages. So it might seem like there is not a lot that the world of politics can teach the world of business about SMS. But then again, there probably is.
Event Promotion : Use SMS Marketing to Fill Empty Seats
If you run paying events - music, drama, sport or even fine dining, training courses or workshops, you'll know the hardest seats to fill are the last few and they are also the most profitable if you can sell them. SMS is an immediate and compelling means of event promotion that can shift those last few places.
Why SMS and Mass Participation Sports Events are Made for Each Other
Most major sports teams in the UK and US already know the power of SMS for engaging fans via scores, stats and other data. But the power of SMS can extend far beyond the world of the major leagues. SMS is ideal, not only for communicating with participants but to coordinate teams of volunteers across the event.
Why SMS Marketing is Perfect for the Automotive Industry
Most car dealerships and garages already have almost everything in place to start an effective SMS marketing campaign. When customers go into a car garage to have a service or a MOT done, they almost always give the dealership their mobile phone number. The reason for this is simple: if a customer is bringing their car in to get checked and they don't want to wait around for any work to be carried out, they'll simply head into town or run a few errands, until the garage gives them a call on their mobile to let them know the work has been done. That means most garages will have a healthy amount of mobile numbers already in their database, but quite often a garage will overlook the potential that their database of contacts presents.
Build Brand Loyalty with SMS Messaging
In a world where your competition can be found in just a few seconds, instilling brand loyalty in customers is a greater challenge than ever. One way to proactively reach out to customers is via SMS. The personal nature of SMS messages, combined with high read rates, gives you the opportunity to develop relationships with each customer.
How SMS Messaging can Boost your Social Media Marketing
Is your social media struggling? Read this article to learn how businesses of every shape and size can use SMS messaging to drive social media engagement and generate revenue from increased brand exposure. Whether the goal is to support a one-off sales campaign or a long term drive to increase reach, SMS messaging offers an unparalleled opportunity to make your brand's voice heard in the increasingly noisy social media space.