Text marketing, also known as SMS marketing, is a strategy by which promotional messages and advertisements are sent to a target audience via text messages. This form of marketing is typically used to promote products, services, or events to existing customers or prospects who have chosen to opt in to getting text messages from a business.
Benefits of Using Text Marketing for Small Businesses
Text marketing is a highly effective way for companies to engage with clients due to the immediacy and high open rates of SMS messages. Consumers are more likely to read and engage with SMS messages than email, making it a valuable marketing tool. Conversational messaging enables businesses to see significant returns on their SMS marketing campaigns by delivering messages directly to an engaged audience. In fact, a survey conducted by Mitto found that two-thirds of Generation Z members prefer text messages to email when interacting with a brand.
SMS campaigns are an affordable option for small business owners, as it’s significantly cheaper than other forms of advertising. With prices ranging from just a few cents per message and bulk packages available for a low flat rate, companies can send hundreds or thousands of messages per month at a reasonable cost.
Two-way dialogue with customers is essential, and that’s where conversational messaging comes in. Text marketing promotes interaction between companies and consumers through interactive SMS promotions that are engaging and fun. This can be achieved through various methods: polls or surveys, toll-free SMS reply options, and links to videos or images that provide more information about the promotion. For instance, a platform such as Mitto boasts an impressive 98% open rate and a 30% response rate for SMS marketing.
How to Use Text Marketing for Your Small Business
Choose a text marketing service that fits your company’s needs and budget. Some popular services include EZ Texting, TextMagic, and SimpleTexting. Omnichannel messaging is another great strategy; this integrates apps, social media, phone calls, and websites to reach an audience where they are.
Businesses can build a subscriber list by encouraging clients to opt in to text marketing campaigns; one effective method is offering exclusive discounts or promotions. A sign-up form on a website or social media pages also engages potential buyers.
It’s vital that a company carefully crafts its message. Keep it concise and engaging, and personalize it to make it more relevant to the recipient. Timing is also important. A business needs to determine the optimal time to send messages to its clients, which may depend on the time zone. Too-frequent messages may cause a potential purchaser to unsubscribe. Mitto emphasizes the importance of a consistent customer experience across multiple platforms to increase customer engagement, with 9 out of 10 customers desiring a unified omnichannel experience. This allows businesses to address customer queries from a central dashboard, providing a seamless communication experience that’s especially crucial during high-demand periods like the holidays.
Small businesses can benefit from automated omnichannel messaging using chatbots to respond to customer queries.
Best Practices for Text Marketing for Small Businesses
A company that wants to explore text marketing should start by building a permission-based list — always obtain consent from potential or current customers before adding them to a text marketing list. You can use opt-in forms on your website or have clients text a specific keyword to your short code to join your list.
Keep it short and sweet, with up to a 160-character limit. Send concise and to-the-point messages; use clear and direct language that’s easy to understand and gets to the point. Also, it’s important to send messages when customers are most likely to engage. Avoid sending messages late at night or early in the morning when people are asleep or busy.
Personalize text messages with a customer’s name or other personal information. This can help create a stronger connection with customers and increase engagement.
Test different messaging strategies and measure their effectiveness. This will help to optimize your messaging for maximum engagement and conversion.
It’s essential to follow all regulations related to text marketing, such as obtaining consent, providing opt-out options, and complying with laws related to spamming.
Bottom Line
Conversational messaging is crucial for a business, and texting is a powerful tool to help an enterprise achieve its goals. While social media may be more popular, texting offers undeniable results. Moreover, SMS marketing is a cost-effective solution that can elevate a business above its competitors. With so many advantages at little cost, SMS marketing is a no-brainer for any business looking to gain an edge.
