Among the plethora of promotion strategies we have available lies an often forgotten technique: SMS marketing. Most commonly thought of as the underdog, SMS marketing is not getting the love it deserves right now. This is understandable, however, considering that this tactic has to compete with other shinier ones like social media and influencer marketing. This begs the question: Are the days of using text messages to promote businesses long gone? Well, of course not! SMS marketing is still as effective as ever. So, here are some tips that will take your SMS campaign to the next level.
1. Get Customers to Subscribe to Your SMS Promotional Program
First things first, you need to build a comprehensive contact list to be able to launch a successful SMS campaign. To achieve this, there are many hacks you can employ. These include creating a loyalty program for SMS subscribers to entice customers to opt-in. You can also incorporate call-to-action buttons into your social media profiles to advertise your new service and help clients sign up. Finally, ensure that an SMS opt-in option is available on your website and at the bottom of the emails you send customers.
2. Use Formulas
Because SMS marketing has been around for a while, it only makes sense that there are some known formulas that businesses use when they opt for this advertising channel. Fortunately, these formulas are no secret, as millions of examples are available online. You can find templates for reminders as well as promotional, confirmation, and survey messages. So, make sure to check them out for guidance. That being said, don’t be afraid to break the mold and create new SMS formulas that suit your company better.
3. Leverage CRM Systems
We’ve already touched on the importance of having an extensive contact list, but how can you actually keep track of your customers’ details and interests to be able to formulate messages that appeal to them? This can be easily done with a CRM, customer relationship management, system, of course. Such nifty software enables you to gain insights about clients’ interactions and past complaints in addition to the impression they have of your brand. By using a CRM system, you will be able to customize the texts you send, increasing your chances of making more sales.
4. Be Clear
When you are sending a text message, you have only 160 characters, so you need to make them count. In this regard, we recommend that you avoid using hard-to-understand jargon or any sophisticated terms your clients may not be familiar with. Similarly, relying too much on emojis and abbreviations to sound hip will only get you so far. Try to strike a balance between sounding approachable and being clear. Your customers should never feel confused after reading your texts but rather have a good idea about the offers you are currently providing.
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