Have you ever realized how frequently you use your phone in a day? When most people are like you, it is likely, too many times. This is precisely why text message marketing has turned out to be one of the best tools that businesses may generate to contact their customers and in the most personalized manner.
This paper will show you how companies can use text messages to market their business, the best methods that really work, and some examples that you can draw inspirational. Let’s dive in.
What Is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing or text message marketing entails the utilization of advertisement or deal messages that get passed straight to the mobiles of the clients. All of them are less than 160 characters, and they usually include special offers, updates, reminders, or alerts.
The open rate of SMS is what can be considered so powerful. Mobile Marketing Watch says that the open rate on text messaging is 98 percent with email marketing averaging at 20 percent. That’s a massive difference!
Now, it is possible that, in case your business is not using SMS, you are missing out on one of the most direct and efficient means of communicating with your audience.
Reasons Why Businesses Should Consider Text Message Marketing
We both know that there is no longer the attention span there was. Individuals do not necessarily open emails and posts on social media can be readily lost in the overcrowded feeds. That is where text messaging comes in, it is instantaneous, personal and there is hardly any way to avoid it.
These are some of the reasons why companies are so fond of marketing with the help of text messages:
- Real-time communication: The message is sent and received in minutes.
- High involvement: When compared to an email, the customers will be more responsive when a text is utilized.
- Low cost: Texting is cheap, particularly when the company aims at thousands of recipients.
- Multipurpose: SMS can be used in promotions, and reminders, among other things.
1. Send Privileged Offers and Discount
Who doesn’t love a good deal? Text messaging is among the simplest methods of promoting sales and rewarding loyal customers by sending exclusive offers to them.
Indicatively, a clothing outlet can dispatch:
Hey Sarah! You now have an extra reason to enjoy your weekend – 20 percent off all dresses. Present this coupon: DRESS20 Check out!
It is intimate, fast, and gratifying. The Forbes claim that customers are four and a half times more apt to redeem mobile than paper coupons. Therefore when you are running a sale, do not necessarily be indebted to email, but send a text to your customers.
2. Send Updates and Reminders of Orders
The text message marketing is not limited to promotion; it is also an excellent means of gaining trust through informing your customers.
Consider a time when you make an order online. A quick text in which you are informed that your order was shipped or you are going to get it today makes you feel special and appreciated.
In addition, you can remind customers of renewals or appointments with the help of texts.
This helps increase customer satisfaction besides minimizing no-shows and cancellations.
3. Run Text-to-Win Contests
Text-to-win contests are an amazing idea in case you want your marketing to be interactive and fun.
For example:
Text WIN to 50505 in order to have a free month of coffee.
Such campaigns create enthusiasm and interest. Human beings enjoy winning things and they would tend to remain subscribed when they are at times caught unawares by contests or giveaways.
4. Respond to Customer Feedback by Use of Text Messages
Customer feedback is one of the most intelligent applications of SMS marketing.
Just after an interaction or purchase, a message such as:
“Thanks for your visit! Your comments are welcome – rate your experience out of 5.
Customers can easily respond to texts and as such, they will be more willing to express their ideas. This assists you to enhance your service and to build relationships with the customer.
According to HubSpot, Feedback is the breakfast of champions. That breakfast is easy to digest through SMS.
5. Advertise New Product Impressions
Texting your customers when you are introducing a new product or service will instantaneously generate buzz.
You have a new branch to open or a new flavor of your brand of snack. Sending a text like:
“It’s finally here! Today we have a new chocolate caramel bar, come into our stores and try one!
… can immediately stimulate both foot traffic or web orders.
Texts are urgent and personal, hence do not need a lot of time to respond to as compared to conventional advertisements.
6. Use SMS for Loyalty Programs
Individuals enjoy being rewarded over their loyalty. That is why SMS promotion of loyalty programs is an ideal idea.
For instance:
“Congrats, Maria! You’ve earned 200 points. Redeem now for a free coffee!”
These messages are also known to reward your customer besides prompting them to make a repeat purchase. You can also send updates when they are on the verge of unlocking a reward – maintaining engagement.
7. Integrate SMS and Email and Social Media
The finest marketers are aware that they should not use a single channel. It is one of the things that would be clever to apply the SMS to other marketing tactics.
For example, you might:
- Provide information by email.
- Send SMS to get immediate notifications or reminders.
- Social media as a channel to tell brand stories and engage the community.
An effective multi-channel approach will make sure that you will be able to meet your audience in the most convenient place regardless of their location, and SMS is the binding factor that keeps it all.
8. Stay Small and Authorization-Only
So, to tell the truth, nobody likes spam. Permission and personalization are the key to successful SMS marketing. Never send unsolicited messages and always remember to use the message sent to the recipient by using his or her name and interests.
For example:
We saw that you enjoyed our summer sale, Hey Sam. Be first, have our winter line!
This will assist in making your audience feel that you have not spammed your audience. Additionally, privacy is fundamental in upholding the boundaries of the GDPR and TCPA provisions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Although SMS marketing apps like Trumpia texting are mighty, the tiniest setback may spoil your work. Make sure you avoid these:
- Too many messages being sent.
- Omission of an opt-out option.
- Capitalizing or overuse of emojis.
- Failure to monitor performance (open or clicks).
Remember to be short, relevant and respectful in your messages. That is the golden rule.
The Future of SMS Marketing
Technology has changed how SMS marketing is done. Businesses are beginning to combine AI and automation in order to provide personalized and timely messages in bulk. Chatbots, predictive messaging, whatever you can think of, it can be.
A research by Statista suggests that the global SMS marketing will be more than $83 billion by the year 2025. That is a sure indication that texting is not going anywhere, but it is becoming a part and parcel of communication in the modern world.
Conclusion
Text messages can be considered as mere simple things but when utilized properly they can totally revolutionize the way you relate with your audience. It can be sending special offers, updating, or sending quick reminders; SMS marketing is fast, personalized, and produces both the results and few other channels can.
Therefore, in case you have been wondering how companies can use text messages to do marketing, now you understand. It has nothing to do with sending random messages but rather making meaningful relationships one message at a time.
Text Messaging Marketing Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often does marketing text that business should send out occur?
In an ideal case, 2-4 texts a month are optimal. Excessive ones will irritate the customers, whereas regular updates will sustain the interest.
2. Is SMS marketing legal?
Yes, but there must be the consent of the recipient. Compliance with TCPA and GDPR regulations always.
3. Does SMS marketing help small businesses?
Absolutely! In fact the small businesses are more likely to get involved faster as the texts are simple and straightforward.