A podcast will generate a lot of interest in your brand. Many podcasters have noted that leads and business opportunities can spike when starting a podcast. However, those that are interested in your podcast will often not visit your website, or if they do, there is only a 30% chance that they will come back again.

If you want to improve the odds, then you need to sign visitors up to a mailing list. Email marketing is one of the best sellers online and creates 13% of all online sales, the third best performing platform after organic searching and direct visits.

But you can’t just rely on your website to grow your email marketing list. How can you subscribe a listener that never visits your site? The solution is relatively easy: mobile marketing.

How Is Mobile Marketing A Help?

Mobile marketing could be a big part of your marketing campaigns. 91% of Americans own a mobile and 61% have a SmartPhone. This makes it an important device to target. To further highlight the importance of mobile devices for marketing, Google has recently upgraded its search rank algorithm so sites that are mobile friendly are ranked higher than those that aren’t.

For podcasting, it is almost essential. While the amount of web time spent on a mobile device or desktop are close, 63% of all podcasts are downloaded and listened to on a cell phone.

The benefits for businesses are just too hard to ignore. Over 90% of SMS messages are read within three minutes of delivery and open rates often exceed 99%. In comparison, email marketing open rates are often below 30% and it can take up to 48 hours before the email message is picked up by the receiver.

How Does SMS Marketing Work?

The basic function of SMS marketing is rather similar to email marketing. Your brand sends a message (via a text) to a group of targeted individuals. Those individuals are then invited to take an action i.e. to show interest in or order a product.

The brilliant aspect of SMS marketing is that it works anywhere, just like a podcast. So if your audience are listening to your podcast while on the train, they can use an SMS shortcode immediately. For something on the web, they’ll have to wait until they are at a computer or have access to wifi.

It is very important that you collect phone numbers correctly. Just as with email marketing, there are many different laws pertaining to the collection of consumer information. In this case, the user has to be aware that they’ve signed up to your contact list.

If you don’t follow these rules you can be fined $1,500 per text message and have your messaging privileges suspended by the wireless operator.

Using Them For Lead Magnets

Your goal is to collect their cell number and then their email address. What you then want to do is to use a lead magnet, like an ebook or whitepaper, to entice the reader to send their number to you and then direct them to a webpage where they can collect their free gift and provide you with their email address.

To do this you need a call to action. The best option is to use a script, like the one below, at the end of your podcast.

“Thanks for listening. If you want to join our exclusive Blogging Tips Newsletter and receive top blogging support and a free “How To Blog Guide”, just text BLOG to 38500 and join today. That is BLOG to 38500. Message and data rates may apply.”

It is best practice to mention the keyword and number at least twice and ensure there are no gaps when you say the short number for the SMS.

Conclusion

SMS marketing should be an important part of your business’ marketing campaign. It is highly effective and very accessible to both businesses and consumers. Using a lead magnet, like a free guide or ebook is a perfect way to attract the audience and ensure they are sending you their cell numbers and email addresses.

Do you use SMS marketing in your business? Have you tried SMS marketing in the past?

Let us know in the comments.

Take Action:

• Create a lead magnet for your business.
• Advertise it with the use of SMS marketing.