Why You Should be Doing SMS Marketing Right Now

By
Daniel Morel
-
83
30

What does your marketing mix include?

If you’re like most local businesses, you’re probably doing a mix of online and offline marketing. You might be engaging with customers on social media, hosting local events, blogging, and advertising in the local paper. Perhaps you’ve even targeted mobile customers by using Facebook’s “Call Now” button on your ads.

But guess what? There’s one thing that you’re probably not doing that could help you connect with customers when they’re most likely to stop by your business. And you might not even have considered it.

I’m talking about SMS messaging, more commonly known as text messaging.

More than 2.5 billion people worldwide own a smartphone that’s capable of text messaging. That’s a staggering number – and it begs the question:

Why aren’t more small businesses using text messaging for marketing?

Texting by the Numbers

Text messaging has the potential to be a marketing superstar for your business. To get an idea of just how effective it can be, check out these statistics:

  • 89% of people always have their smartphone accessible
  • 97% of Americans text at least once a day
  • Texting is the #1 communication method used by people under 50 years old
  • 82% of text messages are read within 5 minutes of receipt

That last statistic is particularly important, especially when you consider that consumers open only about 25% of the emails they receive.

People send and receive text messages. They give them priority over other communication, and they spend more time texting than they do talking on their phones.

In other words, text messaging is arguably the best way to ensure that the people in your target audience read what you send them.

Advantages of SMS Marketing

You know people are likely to read your text messages – but what are the other advantages of incorporating text messages into your marketing mix? Here are five that I think are key:

  1. You can track SMS messages the same way you would any other marketing campaign using web-based tools like SlickText.
  2. You can collect data about your text list by creating interactive content that allows them to reply to your messages quickly and easily.
  3. Text messaging provides nearly instantaneous results and stats for you to use to fine-tune your campaigns.
  4. Text messaging can be casual and personalized with direct language and even emoji to build a relationship with the people you text.
  5. Text messages are a great way to connect with your audience when they’re most likely to be in your area or in the market for what you’re selling.

A good example of time-sensitive text messaging might be a restaurant or bar texting out a Happy Hour coupon at about the time most people are getting out of work. They might be planning to head out for a drink or a bite anyway, and you can provide them with a nudge to choose your establishment over others in the area.

How to Get Subscribers for Your SMS List

By law, you cannot send a text message to anybody who has not signed up for your list. That means that you must find ways to attract new subscribers. Here are some helpful suggestions to get started.

The first and potentially easiest way to find new subscribers is to add a cell phone field to your existing opt-in form on your website. You can include a message letting people know that if they choose to provide you with a cell phone number, they’re agreeing to receive text messages from you.

Another option is to promote your SMS list in store with large print posters, flyers and other print media encouraging your customers to sign up for exclusive discounts & offers.  Make sure to mention what some of those exclusive offers might be.

You may also want to send out an email to your current email list and give your subscribers a link to sign up to receive text messages from you. Here again, it’s a good idea to tempt them by letting them know you’ll be sending out special coupons and deals via text message.

Using these methods, it shouldn’t take you very long to build up a sizable SMS messaging list.

Tips for Successful SMS Messaging Campaigns

Text message marketing has a lot in common with other forms of marketing. To be successful, you must conceptualize a strong campaign based on your knowledge of your subscribers, create compelling content, and track your results. Here are some tips that may help you.

  1. Understand your audience. You may want to create a quick survey for your email list or social media followers to find out what kind of content they would like to receive via text message.
  2. Keep your messages short and sweet. People are more likely to read your messages if they’re brief and compelling. A good rule of thumb is to make them about the same length as a Tweet – no more than 280 characters.
  3. Offer mobile-exclusive deals to your subscribers. These might include exclusive coupons, discounts, and sales, especially for your mobile customers.
  4. Use casual language that speaks directly to the recipient. Most important, use “you” and “your,” which underscore that the exclusivity of your list and make customers feel valued.
  5. Don’t be afraid to bring some humor into your texts. It’s a casual form of communication and people like to laugh – but of course, keep it PG-rated and steer away from controversial topics.
  6. Add a few emoji to your texts. People use them in their personal texts and they can add personality and fun to your marketing campaign.  
  7. Track your results and tweak your campaigns as needed.

Some text messaging providers to try include SlickText, SumoText, and SimpleTexting. You want a provider with affordable prices, an intuitive dashboard, and great analytics.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you’re not using SMS messaging to reach your audience, you’re missing out on a chance to build brand loyalty and increase your sales. Text messages are inexpensive to send and easy to write – and they can help you grow your business.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

83 COMMENTS

  1. Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Opera. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Cheers

  2. Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice practices and we are looking to trade techniques with others, be sure to shoot me an e-mail if interested.

  5. Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast provided bright transparent concept

  18. Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!

  22. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. thank you

  24. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  30. I used to be recommended this blog via my cousin. I am now not certain whether or not this put up is written by means of him as no one else understand such distinct about my difficulty. You are incredible! Thank you!

  32. Good – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, website theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task..

  40. Thank you for another informative site. Where else may just I am getting that kind of info written in such a perfect means? I have a mission that I’m just now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.

  43. Great website you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get feedback from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks a lot!

  45. Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and precise effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances appear to get one thing done.

  50. I do love the way you have framed this situation plus it does indeed offer us some fodder for consideration. However, through what precisely I have seen, I just simply trust when the actual feedback pack on that individuals continue to be on point and in no way embark on a tirade involving the news du jour. Yet, thank you for this fantastic piece and even though I can not really concur with it in totality, I regard your standpoint.

  52. xqtnjacifgr,A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more on this topic, it may not be a taboo qdlvhzcj,subject but generally folks don’t talk about such subjects. To the next! All the best!!

  53. Thanks for your entire effort on this site. My aunt loves setting aside time for internet research and it’s really easy to see why. My spouse and i hear all of the compelling tactic you deliver efficient steps by means of this website and even boost response from the others on that area then our favorite princess is now learning a whole lot. Enjoy the remaining portion of the new year. You’re conducting a great job.

  58. I cherished up to you’ll receive carried out right here. The cartoon is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you want be delivering the following. sick indisputably come further formerly again since precisely the similar nearly very continuously inside case you defend this increase.

  63. Can I just say what a aid to search out somebody who truly is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know how one can convey an issue to mild and make it important. More folks must learn this and perceive this aspect of the story. I cant believe youre not more widespread because you undoubtedly have the gift.

  65. Thank you for any other informative web site. Where else may I am getting that type of info written in such an ideal manner? I have a undertaking that I am just now running on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.

  67. Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  73. I am writing to let you understand what a impressive discovery my cousin’s child gained going through yuor web blog. She learned lots of things, with the inclusion of how it is like to have an ideal helping character to get others without problems fully understand some grueling issues. You actually surpassed my expectations. Many thanks for producing such insightful, trustworthy, educational and fun tips about the topic to Ethel.

  75. hey there and thank you to your information – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did then again experience some technical points the usage of this website, as I experienced to reload the website many instances previous to I may just get it to load correctly. I were brooding about in case your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, however slow loading cases occasions will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality ranking if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I’m including this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..

  77. hello!,I like your writing very so much! share we keep in touch more approximately your article on AOL? I require an expert on this house to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Having a look ahead to look you.

  79. After I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any manner you’ll be able to take away me from that service? Thanks!

  81. Great beat ! I would like to apprentice whilst you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a weblog web site? The account aided me a applicable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vivid clear concept

LEAVE A REPLY