SMS marketing is not dead. On the contrary, text messages are an effective communication tool to reach and interact with your customers and meet their expectations. Industry analysts predict that by 2025*, about 50% of text messages will be from businesses to consumers. So, if you haven’t incorporated SMS to your marketing strategy, read on and find out why it is an important investment for your business.
Consumers turn to their devices for almost everything, even they are in the I-want-to-know or I-want-to-buy micro-moment. They use their smartphones to search for information, products, communicate with others, play, use applications or make purchases online.
Consumers today, especially the younger generations, are always connected and expect you to deliver a seamless experience. Especially when customers share with you personal details (phone number), opting to receive messages from your brand, you need to be very careful on how and when you are going to interact with them.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when building your SMS marketing strategy.
Pay attention to time
It’s all about timing, so make sure you reach your customers at the right moment. When launching SMS campaigns, be aware of time zones if your campaigns are not targeted locally. No one likes receiving a promotional text message during the night or very early in the morning.
Also, avoid sending discount SMS campaigns near to shops closing time; customers will not have enough time to use the discount and will end up dissatisfied. Provide them with enough time to respond and visit the stores.
Frequency matters
Frequency is another key factor that determines the success of SMS campaigns. Companies usually send loads of text messages to their customers within a small timeframe, leading to customer complaints. On the other hand, messaging your client once every 2 or 3 weeks is also not recommended.
Find more tips about your SMS campaigns frequency here.
Send personalized texts
With a variety of marketing automation tools available today, brands are able to precisely target their audience and shorten the distance between what customers want and what they actually get. Mobile is a personal channel and in order to win your customers’ attention, you need to personalize your text messages. A good example of personalized SMS is when you include their name in the body text.
Be relevant
By simply sending text messages to your customer base, and your message is opened and read, it doesn’t mean that your consumer is going to convert. Identify your customers, understand what they expect from you and send them the right content. Messages that tailor their needs and preferences, will reward you with more conversions and customer loyalty.
To meet consumers’ expectations and make them come back to you, you should offer them incentives that add value to the customer journey. When used properly, text messages can be an effective marketing tool and help you not only meet but also exceed these expectations.
Here in QIVOS, we help brands build unique long-term relationships with their customers through our expertise in customer engagement strategy. Want to learn more about SMS marketing solutions and campaign management? Contact our team or visit our website here.
*survey on mobile marketing watch
