You use various media for your marketing campaigns. If you have a website, your goal is to increase traffic to your site, even before you focus on customer loyalty. You need to make your business known. But rather than relying on a single communication channel, you have adopted a multichannel strategy, notably by using SMS. To make this campaign a success, SMS APIs are your best allies.

What are SMS APIs and why are SMS effective?

As a savvy developer and communicator, you want to increase your traffic by informing the widest possible audience about your site. To do this, you must use every tool at your disposal to drive your audience to your site. And since you know that almost everyone has a mobile phone and can therefore use SMS, you have decided to focus on this medium.

Indeed, SMS has an open rate of over 90% and a response or action rate of over 50%. Furthermore, the rise of smartphones simplifies things, allowing you to direct users straight to your webpage via URLs. The iPhone further expands these possibilities by providing internet access everywhere and allowing SMS to be used alongside other communication channels.

Remember that SMS allows you to deliver a clear and concise message to your target audience. It can be proactive, like a push SMS, or informative, like a pull SMS. In just a few characters, you can advertise in a non-intrusive way while ensuring your message is memorable. Moreover, you allow your recipient to respond, thereby extending the customer-professional relationship.

But whether your target audience is local, national, or international, you are probably wondering how to send SMS to all these people. That is where SMS APIs come into play. Simply put, an API is a programming interface that allows you, as the name suggests, to program and systematize actions. Many online services are available.

For developers, Octopush offers solutions for sending SMS from a PC or other devices. The API integrates in less than a minute, using an HTTP or SMTP protocol. It allows you to send SMS to all your contacts by automating certain messages or systematizing SMS delivery following a specific event, whether individually or in bulk. And this is possible to over 190 countries.

Octopush offers various services, such as two-factor authentication for your logged-in members and a usage alert that allows you to top up your account when it reaches a predefined threshold, ensuring your service remains uninterrupted. You also have mail-merge capabilities, allowing you to tailor your message to customers based on specific information.

Why and how should you use SMS APIs?

To increase your web traffic, you must pay attention to your strategy and presentation. First of all, send SMS containing a URL that directs users to your site. Knowing that 99% of people read SMS and that half will own an iPhone by the end of 2016, imagine the possibilities.

But be careful with the content of your message: it must be short, clear, impactful, and engaging. The announcement should be followed by the link and a call to action. For example: "Click here to get a discount within the next half hour."

It may seem obvious, but you must have an impeccable and functional website or landing page. Imagine the frustration of someone who clicks a link only to land on a 404 error page...

Also, plan to send your messages at the right time. For example, if you want to inform your customers about sales or major discounts, send your messages on Friday or Saturday morning. This way, your advertisement will be fresh in the minds of your audience, who will remember your promotions after a long work week.

You can also use other channels, such as email to thank customers for a purchase or follow up on feedback, social media to build a community, and forums or contests to get your contacts involved in your activities. By doing this, there is no doubt that your web traffic will skyrocket.