6 Steps to Start Bulk SMS Business in Nigeria

In this post, I will show you the 6 steps to start bulk SMS business in Nigeria and how to make money from it. After reading this post, you will be able to own your bulk sms portal where people can register , pay you and send bulk sms.

Wider range and cheaper rate makes bulk SMS everybody’s desire, especially for businesses, social groups, religious organisations and companies. Although everybody may desire the bulk SMS service, only a few knows how to create and run the business.

You can therefore make good cash running this business to assist those who are ready to pay for the service to save their time, or because they don’t know how to go about it.

In this article, I show you a complete guide on how to start bulk SMS business in Nigeria and make good money. You can only start a bulk SMS business as a reseller because operating as a wholesaler require huge capital, something similar to being a network service provider, which involve a lot of money.

How Profitable is Bulk SMS Business in Nigeria

According to expert analyses, potential for profitability in bulk SMS business is high in Nigeria because its usage is in tandem with the growing numbers of GSM users in the country.

In addition, businesses managers, marketers and advertisers are turning to the regular use of bulk SMS to reach both existing and prospective customers. They prefer the bulk SMS service because of the following reasons:

1.       Bulk SMS reaches individual customers directly and deliver messages to the right target promptly.

2.       In just a few clicks, businesses can pass important and urgent message to specific group or category of customers at the right time, with less stress and low cost.

3.       It is the most popular medium of marketing and advertising business nowadays.

4.       Bulk SMS generate quick sales leads and increase a business’ chances of making profit.

5.       It enables automatic dissemination of information that may be important to groups, customers etc.

6.       Bulk SMS creates room for businesses to have rewarding engagement with their customers.

As businesses need for the use of bulk SMS increase, so is the chances of entrepreneurs to make profit from bulk SMS reselling.

Types of Bulk SMS Services 

1. Promotional Bulk SMS: promotional bulk SMS creates awareness about brands  or product and sends regular updates to customers  about upcoming events, new product, service and launches.

2. Transactional Bulk SMS: this type of bulk SMS sends alerts, reminders of events to customers.

3. Voice call alerts.

4. Missed call alerts.

5. Short codes Solutions, see short code Business in Nigeria: How to Start and Money from it

I believe with the above information so far you have known the basics, potential profit and types of bulk SMS businesses in Nigeria.

Note also that the Nigeria Communications has certain rules and guideline that govern bulk SMS as well other Value Added Services operations in the country.

Get acquainted with them to avoid unwarranted sanctions. Let us now look at the steps you need to follow to start a profitable bulk SMS business in Nigeria.

How to Start Bulk SMS Business in Nigeria

 If you have made up your mind to start a bulk SMS reselling business in Nigeria, follow these steps:

Step 1. Register with a Bulk SMS Whole seller or Service Provider

Since your business is to be trading (i.e. buying and selling) custom SMS units, registration with a custom SMS whole seller is the first requirement.

A good number of the Middlemen create a reselling portal for their customers, whose clients would be buying SMS units from and send them to the intended destinations.

There are certain charges you have to make for registration for the platform provided. The fee varies according to wholesellers. Do your research and choose suitably.

Step 2. Buy Custom SMS Units 

The registration process is followed by a purchase of a specific volume of custom SMS units to get started. Subject to your budget, you can start with 10,000 units, your account will be credited by the number of bulk SMS units you bought.

The wholesaler will then forward your detail and the guidelines for setting up your portal to you. By now, you have taken a stand to do the business proper.

Step 3. Customize Your SMS Reselling platform

Initially your portal will look similar to the website of your bulk SMS service provider.

You therefore need to customise it with a unique domain name, logo, motto or slogan and create reasonable content to get your business off the Middleman’s web, and design your portal to suit your business interest.

At this point, it is important that you add your contact information so that your prospective customers can easily reach you.

Step 4. Promote Your Business: 

Like any other business in Nigeria, if you don’t create awareness, nobody will know about the existence of such a business.

Therefore, you have to promote your bulk SMS business on different online and offline platforms to capture peoples’ attention and convince them to do business with you.

An active facebook page and other social media channels could be of help here. Popular blogs can also help immensely. You can pitch blog Administrators or Editors to help you promote your bulk SMS business on their sites.

Step 5. Reach out to Potential Customers

By now you must have known your potential customers, so start sending them email proposals indicating how bulk SMS can help their businesses grow.

Your target should be religious organisations, socio-political associations, social clubs, businesses etc whose membership base is large enough to profit your enterprise.

Experts say it is better to target organisations or groups with large membership, who can pay good sums and offer sustainable patronage to your business. That properly done, you are set to make reasonable profit from your custom bulk SMS business.

Step 6. Choose your Service Provider:

There are many custom bulk SMS service providers to choose. You make your choice according to their prices offers, prompt response to issues, effectiveness of their support teams etc. 

How to Register With Bulk SMS Service Providers:

i) Open Bulk SMS Account: you do this by simply paying a stipulated amount to the account number provided by your chosen service provider.

The minimum units to buy initially are often 1000, but you can increase the payment according to your capital and need.

ii) Fill and Submit the Signup Form: your account will be activated three hours after you have signed up.

Given the rising number of people using GSM in Nigeria, groups like religious, political, social and business organisations are now using bulk SMS to reach their customers and members.

And over time bulk SMS has become an effective way of disseminating important information to customers and group members.

The interesting story is that most of these businesses or groups do not have the time or the technical expertise of setting up a bulk SMS platform, hence, an opportunity for you to make money by helping them.

Such assistance automatically becomes a business that will fetch you reasonable money.

I have painstakingly analysed everything you need to know and every step you need to take to establish a profitable bulk SMS business in Nigeria. I am sure it was helpful.

If you have a comment, let’s hear from you.

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