Text messaging is among the most powerful tools in every marketer’s toolbox. Effective SMS marketing strategies can help your business promote products and even turn potential customers into lifetime paying clients. The main difference between a great SMS marketing strategy and an average one is the fine details. Here are some suggestions and tips on using SMS marketing to maximize your success.
1. Write Clear Messages
SMS only allows up to 160 characters. Keeping your messages within this character count will help you redefine your SMS language to connect with your customers. Get to the point and keep your message clear if you want to engage your customers and encourage them to click on your campaign links.
If you write long messages without sticking to the allowed character count, you’ll send your customers multiple texts, driving up your SMS marketing costs. To make the most out of the 160 characters, have a clear purpose, use uppercase letters to highlight important items, avoid abbreviations, and shorten your URLs. Also, ensure your message gives your customers enough incentives and information that encourages them to act on the text.
2. Ensure Your Timing is Right
SMS timing determines the effectiveness of your SMS marketing strategy. On average, it takes people around three minutes to open texts. Sales, promotions, and events advertised through short messages are more effective when they are last-minute impulses. For instance, if you have a dinner promotion at one of your restaurants, send messages at the end of the day instead of during morning hours. However, avoid sending the messages too late at night or early in the morning to get better results. Depending on their previous interactions with your messages, you can also determine the ideal time to send a text to a specific client. This targeting goes beyond demographics and regions, customizing your marketing efforts to optimize results in the long run.
3. Make Texts Actionable
Like email marketing, you should also give your customers a clear call to action to get the most out of your campaign. Besides updating your customer base about new products or a new sale, invite them to participate in a lucky draw contest or text you back to win a prize. You can also send messages to lure potential customers into visiting your website or store by offering them discount codes or freebies that they can get by showing the received message. Plus, if you want your clients to join you on your social media platforms, don’t just request them to follow you. Provide them with the relevant links to do so if you want to see the desired results.
4. Add Value
Not all your clients are your friends, so they’ll not be looking forward to your random texts. Besides, no one likes random messages from businesses that keep their cell phones buzzing at random hours. Always send texts that are important for your customers. Sending messages that only remind customers about your business without offering anything will make you lose people from your subscription list.
Ensure your messages are useful and relevant to the customers. Rather than messaging them randomly, you can send texts to make them aware of discounts, product launches, or upcoming sales. You can also send messages that keep customers aware of the products they’ve ordered, delivery timings, the finalization of their orders, or dispatch of the orders. Consider working with a capable provider who offers customized SMS marketing services to help you create worthwhile connections with your customer base through targeted and action-driving text messages.
5. Offer Exclusive Promotions or Incentives
Special offers are important for the success of your SMS marketing strategy. People love good deals, and providing your customers with text-exclusive offers is one of the best ways to increase revenue. Include a link to your company website with promo codes for online purchases or scannable barcodes for in-store coupons. Whatever you decide to offer, include promotion details and deadlines such as expiration dates or coupon restrictions. Offering exclusive promotions and deals that are only accessible over text messages will go a long way in making your customers feel like VIPs.
Wrapping up
You should have a purpose for every message you send to your customers. Whether you’re updating the customers about a shipment or reminding them about an upcoming new product launch, your customers will read most of your texts. To make every message count, you can implement the above tips.