More and more businesses are realizing that using SMS as a marketing strategy can pay off handsomely. By using messages delivered in this mobile atmosphere, you can build brand loyalty and reward your customers as well. Making use of various short-codes will help you build your marketing list and ensure the success of your business as well.

A short-code is a short and memorable string of numbers that people can use to access some type of offer from your company. Mobile SMS gateway solutions from txtnation have developed a reliable platform for businesses seeking cutting edge mobile billing and SMS systems. For example, you can offer a virtual coupon via your customer’s mobile network when they send a text using a particular short-code. You will then be able to have access to your customer’s mobile phone numbers. This allows you to invite people to take advantage of sales offers and other types of marketing techniques.

The use of short-codes is complemented by the use of keywords. Simply informing people that they need to send a text to a particular short-code is only part of equation. Adding in the keyword, such as Offers or Coupons, is also necessary for the communication cycle to be complete.

You can choose to have a dedicated short-code that is exclusively for your company to use. Or you can choose to share a short-code with other companies and register a keyword on that particular short-code. While having your own dedicated number of this type is a very attractive option, most companies find that sharing short-codes and having their own unique keyword attached to it is much less expensive. This is particularly true if your company is small or a start-up venture.

There are typically three types of messages that you can deliver to your customers. With free SMS messages, you will pay the cost of each message you send. When the standard rate is charged, the customer pays for the texts received. Premium rates are charged to the customer in some other cases. In order to determine if the set up and maintenance fees for such rates are a prudent economic move for your company, you should ensure that you have researched the concept in a thorough manner.