To ensure your business grows, it is vital to expand your contact list. A well-crafted SMS newsletter is a great way to grow your email database and capture new leads. Here are a few tips for developing your SMS newsletter.

Choosing the right technical language

The Octopush technical documentation provides a wide range of code samples for numerous languages, including Ruby.

Written in C, Ruby is an open-source language. It is interpreted (like Python), meaning code execution is highly dependent on the libraries installed on your system. Its code is geared toward object-oriented programming, making it highly efficient. For industrial application development, Ruby is ideal for several reasons: the official documentation is detailed, the language is cross-platform, and, most importantly, it is rich in external modules. Ruby comes with an Apache server and PostgreSQL (database). However, Ruby is not necessarily recommended for designing web applications, and you should consider using a specialized framework: Ruby on Rails, which is specifically designed for website creation. Ruby on Rails will streamline your application development by providing a foundation of pre-built resources and functions tailored for the web.

Using SMS as a call to action to invite subscribers to sign up for email

For example, send an SMS newsletter inviting your subscribers to participate in a contest with no purchase necessary. This could be a sweepstakes where each participant must provide their email address to confirm their entry, or simply a sign-up form to reserve a sought-after item. Your SMS subscriber should feel personally targeted, so don't hesitate to include a unique code for each one. The Octopush Ruby SMS API offers a very practical feature for message personalization: mail merge! This service allows you to insert custom fields.

Showing your subscribers the value of being on both lists

Do you have an SMS mailing list? Then show your users the value of being on both lists! Of course, you shouldn't approach your subscribers the same way; instead, target your users differently. The two lists should be complementary. SMS subscribers are generally more reachable than email subscribers, but you shouldn't abuse this by sending overly aggressive promotions. The information shared across the two lists should be complementary.

Keep it simple

One technique is to ask your SMS subscribers to reply with their email address. You can then use a program written in Ruby to intercept their responses. To do this, the Ruby SMS API has a highly versatile feature: the SMS reply service, which allows you to intercept SMS subscriber responses via a specific URL (callback). Your code can then intercept the response, parse it, and capture the email address. To comply with anti-spam legislation, you must have the recipient's permission to send emails, so be sure to request an email confirmation for the subscription.

Offer a reward for email sign-ups!

Most people are reluctant to sign up for emails without getting something in return. If a user subscribes to your mailing list, they expect a reward. This doesn't just mean a simple discount coupon; you could offer an e-book, a premium service, or advice related to your business. For maximum effectiveness, try to tailor the reward based on gender, age, or any other data you have on the user. To do this, simply leverage the potential of the Ruby SMS API, which features a message personalization service known as mail merge. This special service allows you to insert up to three custom variables into each message, as well as the recipient's first and last name.