Text Message Marketing for business is not as hard as it once was. Before you would have to purchase a dedicated short code. A short code is a 4-6 digit that you give to people to send a text to. It would take about 3 months and a few thousand dollars just to get the short code. Then you would have to go through a process with each cell phone provider to get your short code approved for use on their network. This is still the process if you want to get a dedicated short code, but there are companies now who have made this an easier process than most business are aware of.

Some companies have already gone through this long process for you and will allow you to use their short code for a monthly fee. These companies have to pay fees to have the short code and to keep it operational on all of the cell phone networks. These companies have a 'shared' short code that you and other business can utilize for your text message marketing campaigns. Once you decide which company to go with, they will give you the short code and they will allow you to select your own 'phrase'. The phrase is the word that you will tell people to send to the short code.

Example: A Musician might tell people to "text 'newartist' to '41242' to receive updates on my music". In this example, 'newartist' is the phrase and '41242' is the keyword. As people sign up to his list, he can broadcast a message to them when he/she puts out some new music.

How is it all managed? The company that you choose to use for text message marketing will have a website where you will be able to login and see your list and all of your statistics. You will be able to send messages to your list from the website. If you choose to use more than one keyword, the website will also contain an easy way to manage your different list.

Some companies are going to have more features than the others. Some of the basics that you should make sure that the company has are:

Bulk Messaging - Allow you to broadcast to your list.

Auto-Responder - Automatically send a message to inform people that they have signed up to your list. This message should be customizable.

Online Sign-Up Form - Allow people to sign up to your text list from your website.

Statistics/Account Manager - Allow you to see text list, how many messages were sent, etc.

There are definitely other features out there to consider, it is not hard for businesses to start a text message marketing campaign.