The world of marketing is changing. In the past, marketers were forced to rely on traditional methods like print ads and TV spots to reach their target audiences. Today, however, businesses have many more options available to them—and one of those options is SMS marketing.
What Is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing is a type of direct marketing that uses text messaging to send promotional and transactional messages to subscribers.
The basic idea behind SMS marketing is to offer a fast and easy way to reach your customers through a medium they’re already using: their mobile phones.
The immediacy and convenience of SMS messages make them perfect for alerting customers about sales and new products, providing instructions on how to use your product or service, requesting feedback about customer satisfaction, and more.
Why Is SMS Marketing Important?
SMS marketing is a great way to get your business in front of customers on their phones. That’s because SMS messages are still one of the most frequently used forms of communication, and they’re delivered directly to recipients’ inboxes. But SMS marketing can be an effective strategy for more than just getting a message in front of someone.
SMS marketing can also be used as a lead generation tool since you can use it to collect information about your customers’ preferences and behaviors.
That’s why it’s crucial to consider SMS marketing as part of your digital marketing strategy.
6 Benefits Of Using SMS Marketing
SMS marketing is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. Here are five benefits of using SMS marketing to boost your business:
1. It’s simple
SMS marketing can be set up in minutes, and it’s easy to send out messages on a schedule or on demand.
2. It’s cheaper
You can send one text message to thousands of people for less than ten dollars per month.
3. It has high engagement rates
Your customers will read your messages and click through to your website—which means more leads and sales!
4. It’s effective
Since SMS messages are delivered directly to potential customers’ phones, they can only be noticed or deleted with notice, like WooCommerce email marketing messages.
5. It’s personal and direct
SMS marketing lets you connect with your customers in real time, sending them information relevant to their needs. This makes it easier for them to understand what you’re offering and how it could benefit them.
6. It works across all smartphones
SMS messages work on all popular smartphones, tablets, and computers—so your customers will always have access to your messages no matter what device they’re using at any given time
SMS Marketing Best Practices
SMS marketing is a great way to connect with your customers and drive your business forward. But it can also be a bit of a beast, especially if you’re new to the game. Here are five ways to make sure your text messages are effective and efficient:
1. Make it personal
When sending out your texts, try to make sure they’re personalized. Otherwise, they’ll feel like the same old spammy marketing messages people have been getting for years. Try using tools like Mailchimp, which allows you to personalize like this example, “Hi [first name]!” in the body of the text—it’s simple and effective! However, there are some learning curves with the tool; in that case, you can go for Mailchimp alternatives.
2. Keep it simple
The best SMS marketing strategies are the ones that don’t require you to read a book or watch a video to understand them. Make sure your message is as clear and straightforward as possible, and don’t make people go through a maze of information before they can get what they need from you.
3. Use emojis
Emojis are a great way to make your messages more personal and engaging, which is the whole point of marketing via SMS. You can use emojis to convey emotions or to make a joke. They’re also helpful for conveying tone and context, so you can be sure that your audience understands what you mean.
4. Send messages at the right time
It can be challenging to know exactly when people are ready to receive your message, so it’s essential to be patient and send messages at the best possible time. If you need help figuring out the best time, try sending messages at different times during the day to get a sense of what works best for your audience. You can also use tools like Google Analytics to see which days and times have the highest engagement rate for your audience.
5. Make sure you have permission
You should always get permission before sending a text message to someone’s mobile device. The best way to do this is by using an opt-in form, which can be accessed by the user when they click on a link in your email or website. You can also ask for permission through a checkbox at checkout or by adding an SMS opt-in button on your website.
Wrapping Up!
That’s it for our look at SMS marketing.
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not it’s a good idea to use SMS marketing for your business, the answer is a resounding yes! It’s a powerful tool that can help you reach out to customers and make them feel like they’re part of your community.
If you’ve never used SMS marketing before, this guide has given you all the information you need, and you can even seek the help of an eCommerce email marketing agency to get started. Just remember: always be ethical and give your customers opt-in options, don’t spam people with text messages, and be sure to have fun with it!
Author Bio
Janani H is a Content Marketer at TargetBay, an Ecommerce Marketing Cloud used by thousands of online stores across the globe. She enjoys writing about the power of emails in marketing, and when she isn’t writing, she can be found riding the Metro and trying out new local foods. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
Published on November 3, 2022 under digital marketing, marketing, SMS marketing.
