Understanding the Basics of Radio Station Text Messaging

Text messages are a great way to build up a radio station's brand. Each SMS that they send out is an opportunity to promote the station's brand and build up its reputation. If you're not building a texting list for your radio station, you're missing out on a massive opportunity to connect with your listeners. Here's everything you need to know about radio station text messaging.

What Is Radio Station Text Messaging

Radio station text messaging is a service that allows listeners to text to request songs, enter contests, or simply interact with the station. Typically, radio stations will display a short code on-air, along with a keyword, that listeners can text to. For example, a listener might text the word “SONG” to the short code 46645 to make a song request.

Also known as short code messaging, this type of text marketing became popular in the early 2000s as a way for listeners to interact with their favorite shows. They could text in questions or comments, and the DJs would read them on the air. It was a great way to connect with the DJs.

This can be an incredibly powerful tool for radio stations. It can allow them to communicate with listeners, connect with them, boost their ratings, and increase their advertising revenues.

How Text Message Services for Radio Stations Work

Radio stations that offer SMS services usually do so as a way to increase audience engagement. This can be a useful tool for promoting giveaways, polls, or other interactive content.

To use the service, listeners would text a keyword to a short code, which is a five or six-digit number. The keyword would be something like “CONTEST” or “VOTE.” The listener would then receive a response with further instructions. For example, they might be asked to vote for their favorite song or to enter a contest.

Listeners must first opt in to the service to send a text message. They have to provide their mobile phone number. Once they have subscribed, they will be able to text the radio station at any time.

How Do Radio Stations Make a Profit With SMS

There are a few different ways that radio stations can make a profit with text messaging. One way is by charging a small fee for each text message that is sent to the radio station. Another way is by selling advertising space on the text messaging service. And finally, some make a profit by charging a monthly subscription fee for their text messaging service.

Benefits of Radio Station Text Messaging

1. Connect With Listeners

Radio stations that use text marketing can stay in touch with their listeners and get their feedback in real time. They can use SMS to send out surveys to listeners, news, and information about upcoming events.

2. Boost Ratings

SMS can benefit radio stations to boost their ratings by allowing listeners to text in their votes for their favorite songs. This can paint a picture of what songs are popular with their listeners and what songs to play more often.

3. Increase Advertising Revenues

By sending out text message coupons to their listeners, radio stations can increase their advertising revenues. Radio stations can also use text messaging to send out promotional messages about upcoming events.

4. Generate New Content

Make your program more dynamic and engaging by having regular breaks so that listeners can participate in a contest or choose the songs for the upcoming hour. You can also gather anecdotes, opinions, and requests from the audience with mass texts to help guide the subjects of upcoming shows by encouraging them to participate.

5. Improve Bottom Line

If you're a commercial radio station, you can use text messages to drive listeners to your advertisers' websites or special offers. This is a great way to generate revenue and help out your advertisers at the same time.

Downsides to Radio Station Text Messaging

Due to sending out mass SMS messages in a way that didn't follow the rules, several radio broadcasting businesses have been charged with fines. Particularly with text messaging, there are "trolls" who subscribe to lists in the hopes that a business will break the law and can demand compensation in return.

To make sure your station does not encounter any problems, always consult your legal staff before beginning any text messaging campaign for your radio station.

Use Cases of SMS for Radio Stations

A text message service for radio stations is a system that allows listeners to text a radio station and receive a response back. This service can be used for a variety of purposes—here are a few.

1. Contest

Listeners can text a radio station to enter contests. The station will then randomly select a winner from all of the entries.

To enter a contest, listeners will need to text the keyword announced on the radio. They will then need to provide their name, age, and contact information. The station will then randomly select a winner from all of the entries.

2. Voting

Listeners can text a radio station to vote on a particular topic or issue. The station will then tally the results and announce the winner.

To vote, listeners will need to text in the keyword that is announced on the radio. They will then need to provide their vote on the particular topic or issue. The station will then tally the results and announce the winner.

3. Feedback

A radio station can use listener feedback to make changes to its program. To provide feedback, listeners will need to text in the keyword that is announced on the radio. They will then need to provide their feedback on the particular show or song.

4. Directions

You may also receive directions to a particular event or location with the help of radio station text messaging. The station will then send back a text message with the directions.

To receive directions, listeners will need to text in the keyword that is announced on the radio. They will then need to provide their location. The station will then send back a text message with the directions.