Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Sender ID

‘The feeling of being certain that something will happen or something is true’. A nice succinct definition of the word ‘confidence’, from Webster’s dictionary. Keep these words in mind as you read this blog.

There are those who yearn for the days of future past, away from instant access and constant electronic interruptions but the reality is that thanks to the internet and other communication mediums, human beings are only going to get more connected. Check out the sentient AI technology being developed which will allow us to communicate without speaking or writing. A decade or so off admittedly but the importance and influence of the mobile channel on our daily lives cannot be overestimated.

An increasing volume of the goods and services we purchase is now done from the comfort of our own homes. This trend has surged in the past few months, literally forcing many new to the world of eCommerce online.

Ordering remotely, we don’t get to meet the people behind the companies in person, nor do we get to physically see, touch or smell what we are sourcing. Brands today therefore have a huge amount of work to do to truly inspire us, the consumer, with the confidence that they are the best destinations for our hard-earned money. At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships.

Companies need to develop real relationships with us. Any good relationship counselor will tell you that for relationships to really work, connections have to exist and develop on multiple levels. The extent to which these connections deepen and mature over time will have a big bearing on the level of fulfillment the parties experience within the relationship. Engagement between brands and consumers therefore has to take the form of meaningful conversations which add real value to our lives.

It wasn’t so long ago that communications from brands took on very much a one-way disposition. For too long, Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS was regarded as a means for delivering marketing and transactional notifications from companies. But not as a way for consumers to speak with them, for example when seeking support or wishing to provide feedback. Companies like Mitto have done a lot to spread the word though and deliver more two-way A2P SMS connectivity options globally.

For conversations generated by enterprises to drive real engagement, it’s all too easy to overlook the basics. And there is nothing more basic than for the recipient to know who is sending them content. Whilst the humble Sender ID has a huge role to play in inspiring confidence, it is too often overlooked.

Sender IDs provide consumers with the illusion that they have the number of the company stored in their own contact address book on their mobile device. The A2P SMS arrives on the device with (for example) the sending company’s name on the message header. The likes of Amazon, Google, DHL and HSBC all use them. There is nothing stopping all organizations from benefiting from them and if you were to ensure the recipient was personally addressed by name in the message as well, nothing could get more personal than that!

If you are looking to be able to easily differentiate your content between marketing and transactional type content, reinforce your brand and provide instant brand recognition then Sender IDs should be a tool in your mobile engagement toolbox. Our Verified SMS offering is available right now across many countries.

Anything that can be done to reinforce your brand and build/promote that high level of trust all companies strive for has to be a winner. Always remember that respect is earned, honesty is appreciated, trust is gained and loyalty is returned. All values we here at Mitto respect and hold true.