Friday, January 27, 2012
By Ryann T,
Text messaging should be a part of any business’s marketing strategy. With 95 percent of texts being read, SMS text messaging represents the most cost-effective way to break through the clutter competing for your customer’s attention and increase your revenues. Here are some helpful tips to make sure your SMS marketing campaigns grow your business. To read a printable version of the guide click here:

  1. Drive sign-ups through a call to action.

    An SMS marketing call to action invites users to sign up and opt in for your mobile database by texting a unique keyword to a shared short code. Driving these sign-ups can be as simple as displaying your call to action on your storefront window, reminding customers at the checkout, or integrating your mobile call to action into your traditional advertising campaigns.  Whether it’s your existing marketing materials, your Twitter or Facebook page, or your employees telling every customer in the store, promoting your call to action should take the highest priority in your mobile marketing strategy.

  2. Reward customer sign-ups.

    Give the customer a reason to join as a subscriber to your mobile database. This can be as simple as bouncing back a coupon or reward benefit. If you’re a gym, consider something as simple as promoting “FREE complimentary training session in your next membership renewal when you text TRAINING to 67076.” By rewarding customers for subscribing to your mobile database, you’ll raise your opt–in rates. “Buy one, Get One,” “Dollar Amount Off,” “FREE” are the three highest converting offers for mobile marketing.

  3. Set a limit on your offers.

    Rewarding customers with great offers is crucial to an effective SMS marketing campaign. Be careful, however, not to inundate your subscribers with too many offers. The highest redemption rates result from offers sent two to three times a month. This way, when a subscriber misses an offer, they don’t assume that another offer is just around the corner. When businesses extend offers too often, the offers begin to lose their value and customers increasingly choose to opt out.

  4. Allow your customers to push your message.

    People like sharing offers they receive with their friends. Encourage your subscribers to push the offer virally by posting the words “FWD 2 a friend” at the end of the message. By encouraging your subscribers to forward the message, you have the potential to spread your message beyond your own database list.

  5. Don’t waste your time with one-offs.

    SMS campaigns are more about long-term relationship building than the quick hit. While the first few coupon offers may be geared around database building, text-messaging campaigns can become an extension of customer relationship management system. A dry cleaner that keeps track of his customer’s drop off patterns can than text very specialized discounts or reminder messages based on those patterns. If the customer comes in on Monday, for example, and they don’t show for a couple of days, it can automatically text out a reminder: ‘Hi! We haven't seen you in a couple days.’

  6. Make Sure Your Customers Opt-in.

    The FCC is quite stringent when it comes to who you can send text messages to. You cannot simply buy a list of mobile users and start sending bulk text messages. That would be spam. Mobile phones are highly personal devices. Make sure that you are only messaging people who have opted-in by giving you consent to receiving text offers for you. Within your call to action be sure to include a disclaimer that is explicit in explaining what they are opting in for. Failing to comply will damage brand reputation as well as undermining consumer trust in SMS.

  7. Mobile alerts to business.

    Don’t assume SMS text marketing only applies to consumers. Alert businesses of webinars or podcasts, or offer on-site incentives to conference attendees.

  8. Include a disclaimer.

    Call to actions are highly effective in propelling consumer opt ins to your database, but for many customers concerns over charges and spam will dissuade them from subscribing. To address these concerns, be sure to insert a disclaimer on your call to actions.  The disclaimers should address concerns over text charges, privacy issues, and concerns over spam. Also, within the text message, include a way that the subscriber can opt out.
As you can see, there are many aspects of a successful mobile marketing campaign. When done well you can use the power of text messaging to help build brand awareness, increase customer loyalty, and drive up sales. These tips are great place to get started. Feel free to visit our SMS page contact our knowledgeable staff at support@callfire.com.

For more tips and best practices download the printable version of the  guide.

Here are some additional resources to help your business text message marketing campaign:

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