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| text message marketing |
Using text messages for marketing has become a popular way for businesses to increase customer engagement and increase sales. Text message marketing is useful for small or large businesses that are interested in being able to send announcements to their current consumers and prospective customers quickly. In this article, we discuss what marketing text messages are, why businesses use text message marketing and 10 text message marketing examples, with explanations for each.
What is text message marketing?
Text message marketing is a strategy where businesses send texts to consumers to convey relevant information such as sales, news or other business-related updates. They are shorter than emails, and businesses can send them instantaneously. Consumers only receive texts from businesses if they opt in to receive them. Typically, they can do this when they purchase a product online or in-store.
Why use text message marketing?
Text message marketing is a great marketing tool when you need to get your information to the consumer quickly. Here are some more reasons why you may want to use text message marketing:
Higher open rate: Because many consumers use their phones throughout the day, the open rate for text messages is often higher than the open rate for emails.
Quicker than email: Companies can send marketing text messages in bulk to their consumers, and within moments, users receive the text. Phones usually notify consumers instantly, which is useful when a company is sending a time-sensitive offer.
Higher engagement rate: Because of notifications, many users can read the text on their screen when their phones notify them without even having to open the text. This can get their attention and make them more likely to open the text
10 text message marketing examples
Here is a list of 10 text message marketing examples you can consider using with your consumers:
1. Welcome message
Example: "Thank you for signing up to receive our text messages! We look forward to sending you promotions, answering questions you may have and offering you occasional tips on how to accessorize your newest items."
Explanation: A welcome text is likely the first text message a user sees from your company once they've signed up. Consider showing enthusiasm for having them join your texting list and include what content you intend to send through texts.
2. Sales and promotions
Example: "We just wanted to say thanks for your continued business by offering you 50% off of one item in your online order by using code FIFTY."
Explanation: Using texts to promote sales or promotions within your business is one of the quickest ways to engage prospective consumers and recurring customers. With this method, they may not need to go online or check their emails to be aware of upcoming sales.
3. Event invitation
Example: "We would like to invite you to our store's Live Q&A Session next Monday 6/3, at 6:30 p.m. EST. Between now and then, text us questions you want to be answered during the Q&A. Follow the link provided and watch the event on your mobile device or stop by our store in Leestown to watch live!"
Explanation: Inviting users to events gives them the opportunity to hear more about your products. This example increases audience engagement even more by allowing them to respond via text with questions. Offering them a chance to ask questions and hear answers to questions from other consumers is a great way to try persuading potential customers that your products are the right choice for them.
4. Confirmations
Example: "You're all booked! See you Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at our New Springs location."
Explanation: Text confirmations can help customers keep reservation details readily available. You can send a follow-up email as well, but a text message confirmation is more likely to reach the recipient the quickest. You could send texts for appointment bookings, flight or hotel reservations and shipping confirmations.
5. Reminders
Example: "Sending a reminder for your appointment with Dr. Phillips tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. He's looking forward to checking out those teeth!"
Explanation: It's beneficial to send reminders for upcoming appointments to ensure the customer arrives on time. Other types of reminders that companies sometimes send include impending bills, reminders of upcoming flights or hotel bookings, or even appointments with local technicians who are coming for house visits. Remember to include important details, such as the appointment time, address or and service type.
6. Limited time offers
Example: "Thanks for being a valued member. To show our appreciation, we're offering a free appetizer from the menu with the purchase of a meal. Offer expires in 3 days!"
Explanation: Putting an expiration date on a promotional advertisement may create a sense of urgency in the consumer. Knowing that a deal is only available for a limited time is more likely to influence them to purchase something than if it was an ongoing advertisement.
7. Customer service
Example: "Hello, valued customer! I'm here to remind you that I'm available to provide customer service and answer questions you have about "Sassy Bags" products. Feel free to text this number from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. if you need me. Thanks!"
Explanation: It might be a great option to offer customer service through text messages so that customers can easily ask questions or express concerns. Some people prefer texting as their primary form of contact, so having the option to reach a business by texting can be convenient for that audience. Larger companies may choose to have a few dedicated employees who answer consumers' questions throughout the day as well. When promoting your customer service through text messages, try to include the name of your business and the times someone is available to help
8. Quiz or test results
Example: "We've picked out some great beauty products for you based on your quiz results. Click on the link below to see your results and use the code QUIZ to get 20% off your entire online purchase!"
Explanation: Quizzes allow users to engage with a website's content and learn more about the business's brand and what products might work best for them. At the end of the quizzes, the directions sometimes prompt users to list their phone numbers in order to receive their quiz results and a discount on products. The business profits by adding a new user to their text message marketing campaign, and the consumer receives their discount and quiz results via text message.
9. Birthday discounts
Example: "Happy Birthday, Theresa! We know your birthday is coming up, and we wanted to offer you a special gift to make your day even better. Here's a 25% off coupon for one purchase during the month of June. Use the code JUNEBDAY at checkout."
Explanation: You can send birthday discounts any time during the month of a user's birthday and include a free product or a discount on their total purchase. Sending birthday texts is a great way to remind customers you remember them and value their business.
10. Abandoned cart
Example: "Hey, Tom. I noticed you left a few items in your cart at Tools n' Tanks yesterday. Here's a link with all the items in your cart so you can keep browsing. If you're still interested, use the code TENTODAY to get an extra 10% off the items you purchase in your cart today."
Explanation: Sometimes customers create a cart online and forget about it or leave without making a purchase. You can send them a reminder text letting them know they still have items in their cart with a link that takes them directly to it. Because some people are undecided when adding items to their online carts, sometimes a reminder is helpful to convince them to complete the order. You can even send a limited offer in the text to persuade them.
Why is SMS Marketing effective?
Text messages are one of the most effective communication channels for several reasons:
The omnipresence of Smartphones: with more than 2/3 of French people owning a smartphone, SMS is a great way to reach them directly. By including a link in your SMS, you can redirect traffic to your site.
Reinforce your existing marketing: As said before, although emails and SMS have similarities in their implementation, you can use SMS to send instant notifications, whereas emails will contain more detailed information.
High engagement rate: The engagement rate of text messages is staggering compared to emails. 90% of text messages are read within 3 minutes! This makes SMS very effective in delivering information.
Relevant for Emerging Markets: If your business operates in countries where WiFi is not common and/or 3G/4G expensive, SMS is a much more efficient and relevant way to communicate with your customers.
What is SMS marketing used for?
SMS Marketing can be used in several ways. Here are some examples of the most common use cases, so you can see how you can use them for your business:
Flash promotions for businesses or e-commerce.
Coupons and promotions are a great way to bring more people to your physical or online store. And if you have any sales or promotions planned – you want your customers to know about it.
SMS is a very effective way to communicate these offers, especially if you want to communicate this information while your customers are on the road, away from home or during the weekend.
Updates about an event or order
Organizing an event is not easy, and you are never safe from a last minute change. What's more, the more people attend your event, the more difficult it becomes to make sure everyone gets the information. The same is true for an order for a product, where several service providers may be involved.
With SMS, you can easily communicate any changes, cancellations or updates with a higher open and engagement rate than any other channel.
Appointment reminder
If your business works by making appointments, then you know the frustration of having customers who forget their appointment time and arrive late (or not at all). This not only disrupts your schedule, but also wastes your time and potentially money.
Sending SMS reminders is a fantastic way to make sure your clients remember your appointment and are on time.
Internal notices
If you have a lot of employees, it can be difficult to communicate urgent messages to everyone at once – office closing time, an update on an incident, etc. You can send them an email, but they might not see it in time, especially if it's out of hours.
An SMS is a great way to ensure that all your employees are informed of the news quickly.
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