Texting isn’t just for coordinating a meet up with your friends anymore.
Now that more people are accessing the internet on their mobile devices as opposed to their laptop or desktop computers, it only makes sense that you go where your customers are.
That means SMS marketing should be high on the list of your digital marketing strategies.
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your efforts.
Offering “exclusive” deals and coupons to your SMS subscribers. Everybody enjoys feeling like they’re part of the in-crowd.
What’s your first reaction when you hear that ding or feel that buzz that alerts you to a new message?
You look at your phone. So does everyone else.
Check out these stats: According to Forbes, 95% of text messages are read within three minutes. And another study by SinglePoint tells us that 99% of SMS messages get opened.
Here’s the point: You’ve got their attention and you only have 160 characters to move your subscribers to take action.
Short and sweet is the way to go.
Of course, 160 characters doesn’t allow for a lot of gobbledy-gook.
But in case you were tempted to “cute” it up, here’s your reminder: Leave no doubt what action you want your recipients to take.
You’re not limited to just SMS messaging.
You can use Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), too. With this, you can send images, video clips, and even YouTube links with your list.
Don’t miss a major opportunity to connect your recipients with all of your brand’s pages.
When they opt in, enter a contest, etc., be sure to pack your automated reply with value and include links to your website and social media pages.
6. Offer Rewards For Sharing
Use your SMS access to customers to ask them to share your brand. Word of mouth is powerful.
And give your biggest sharers with a prize, like an amazing discount or even a freebie.
An open-ended offer will soon be forgotten.
But when a customer sees an expiration date and knows their time is limited, they’re much more likely to respond with the info you want, take advantage of the deal, etc.
Make them feel the sense of urgency and stoke their desire to not miss out.
When you’re texting your customers about an offer, let them know they’re a VIP.
By subscribing, they’ve become part of an exclusive community who is eligible for top-secret, special deals that other joe-schmoes don’t get.
(It’s not as appealing to get a deal that anyone can have.)
If you’re using your SMS list to give special deals to your subscribers, that’s great. That's the point, right?
You’ve got their attention, so why not get more value?
Ask for your subscribers’ feedback on new products or ideas. And make it fun by sharing the results on your Facebook or Instagram page and link the participants to it.
Don’t send texts during normal working hours. One exception is during the lunch hour.
Your best bet is to stick to times before 9 am and after 9 pm.
It’s harder to ignore an offer that seems like it’s speaking directly to you. Take advantage of that (in a good way!) and use your recipients’ name in your messages.
You want to grow your ecommerce business. Of course.
One of the most effective digital marketing strategies you can employ is SMS.
Use these 11 tips to hone your efforts into a well-oiled machine that delights your customers and keeps them coming back – and telling their friends.
If you’re ready to try SMS – or other digital marketing strategies – but you’re not sure where to begin – we’ve got you covered. Let’s talk about how we can help you grow your ecommerce brand.
