To choose the right text message marketing service for your business, we recommend following the steps below.
1. Identify your business’s needs and research the market.
The first step when searching for a text message marketing service should begin before your actual search: The very first thing to do is make a list of your business’s needs. What do you want your ideal text message marketing platform to be able to do? What objectives are you seeking to achieve? What features are must-haves and what can you live without? How much can you afford to pay each month and what budget constraints do you need to keep in mind?
Armed with the answers to those questions, you should start scouring the market for text message marketing services that meet your parameters. Consider which of our best picks and alternative options above have the features you’re seeking at the price point you’re eyeing. Select up to five programs to explore further.
2. Participate in vendor demos and free trials.
For the five or fewer text message marketing services now on your shortlist, contact each vendor to set up demos. These are sales presentations where company representatives, yes, will try to sell you on their platform but, more importantly, will give you an up-close look at how the software works. As the term suggests, the providers will demonstrate their service’s functionality, point out its strengths and discuss how it can aid your business.
Based on those demos, pick up to three services you’d like to test. Almost every vendor offers a free trial, which is your opportunity to try the platform yourself. Use the program to the fullest extent the trial allows — build a contact list, create and send SMS and MSM messages, set up workflow automations and generate analytic reports. As you do, make note of which features were easy to use, how intuitive the platform’s navigation was and whether you needed support from the provider’s customer service team.
Following this hands-on testing, try to narrow your service list down to the two platforms you like best.
3. Study customer reviews.
Now that you’ve tried a few services and decided on your top two choices, continue researching those vendors on independent customer review sites like Trustpilot. As you read testimonials from real users, consider whether their experiences match up with your testing. Also make note of any customer service complaints or praise. Keep this information in mind as you move on to the final steps below.
4. Request and compare custom quotes.
While almost all text message marketing services advertise their prices, negotiate with your top two vendors to see if they will customize a deal for you. Explain how you’ve tested their program and are interested in moving forward, but you need the package and price to be right before you can do so. Ask about any discounts or fees that can be waived. Tell one provider what the other is promising and see if they’re willing to match the offer — or do better.
5. Make your final decision.
Thanks to the information you acquired during every step of the buying journey, you’re now ready to make a purchase decision. To put it simply, go with whichever of the two vendors is offering the best value for your dollars and whose platform you believe best meets your business’s needs.
There may still be a learning curve as you implement the program and it’s unlikely you’ll find a service that ticks every single one of your boxes. But you should be able to make an educated choice to suit your business for the near-term and, hopefully, long-term future. Should you end up with buyer’s remorse, take comfort in knowing you can switch to your runner-up’s service or even start your research anew.