Businesses are increasingly taking advantage of text messages to reach out to their customers. If you want to keep up with the competition and improve the relationship with your customers, you need to utilize this marketing concept.
Obviously, this is easier said than done as it comes with a ton of complexities and intricacies that can be difficult to nail down. So read on to learn all about SMS marketing and how you can use it to monetize traffic.
What Is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing involves contacting customers through SMS text messages. In a world where we constantly text on our smartphones, doesn’t it make sense to communicate with your customers in the same way? After all, we use texting to communicate with close connections like friends and family.
Businesses that use SMS marketing are better able to connect with customers through a more personal method of communication.
When used correctly, SMS marketing can be integrated with other forms of marketing that you’re likely already practicing — such as email marketing or social media marketing.
Marketing should be a multi-faceted approach that allows you to cover all your bases. For example, you can target new customers through social media marketing or search engine optimization (SEO). You can then maintain your customer base through email marketing.
Finally, you can effectively communicate with your customer base through SMS marketing.
What Are the Benefits of SMS Marketing?
If your current marketing strategy is neglecting SMS marketing, you’re missing out. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are some of the benefits of SMS marketing that make it worth implementing.
SMS Message Are More Likely To Be Read
While email marketing still has a role in the 21st century, SMS marketing offers higher open rates than email marketing. For example, 98% of text messages are opened. On the other hand, emails are often filtered out by spam blockers or deleted before they’re even opened.
But SMS messages don’t just offer a higher open rate — they also offer a higher action rate with an average response rate of 45% and an average click-through rate of 20%.
Text Messaging Is More Cost Effective
SMS marketing is extremely cost-effective and is an accessible form of marketing for small and new businesses that may not be able to spend a fortune in this area. This method can work for anyone from local brick-and-mortar businesses to eCommerce sellers on Amazon.
It doesn’t cost much to draft a text since they are so simple and straightforward. It also doesn’t cost much to send out a text.
At the end of the day, SMS marketing is able to offer you an amazing return on investment thanks to low initial costs.
You Can Customize Your SMS Messages
SMS marketing is flexible and customizable to work well with all different types of businesses and marketing needs. For such a simple method that only involves a few lines of text, there is a lot you can do with it!
How to Monetize Traffic Through SMS Marketing
If you’re looking for concrete ways you can utilize SMS marketing to grow your business, you’ve come to the right place! Greg Gillman knows all about SMS marketing and can help you send out clear and effective messages to your customers.
Here are some of the different ways that you can use SMS marketing to monetize traffic:
Abandoned cart notifications
Contact customers who abandon their online carts before making a purchase with SMS text messages. Remind them about the items in their cart and include an extra incentive, like free shipping, to push them to complete the purchase.
Order updates and notifications
Update customers on the status of their orders throughout the fulfillment process. Send them a message right away confirming their order. Send them another message once it has shipped and include tracking information. Finally, send them a message letting them know it has arrived.
Customer feedback
One thing that you can include with order updates is a customer feedback survey. Once the order has arrived, text the customer with a quick satisfaction survey — either in a link or simply through text. This allows you to gather valuable information that you can then use to grow your business.
Contests and sweepstakes
Boost customer engagement by offering contests and sweepstakes. These act as incentives for customers to engage with your business and complete specific tasks like opting into receiving your SMS marketing messages.
Customized offers
Reward your best customers with customized offers through SMS. For example, send out special coupon codes to those enrolled in your reward program to improve customer loyalty.
Sales and events
Inform your customer base about special sales and events to boost traffic. With sales and events, it’s always a good idea to include a time restraint to make it seem urgent and take advantage of people’s impulsivities.
SMS Marketing Best Practices
Although you can monetize traffic through SMS marketing, success isn’t a given. You also need to implement SMS marketing best practices to achieve a solid return on your investment.
Here are some things you can do to ensure that you are going about this concept effectively:
Comply with Federal Regulations
The first thing you need to know about SMS marketing involves the concept of consent. To comply with federal regulations, you need to obtain consent before reaching out to customers via text.
After all, you don’t want to rub customers the wrong way by sending out unsolicited text messages. That can be intrusive. So always receive consent before sending anything out.
Think About SMS Message Timing and Value
Once you have consent, you need to work to keep it. This means not sending out too many messages. This also means sending out messages at the right time of day and not in the middle of the night.
Finally, this means presenting value within your messages so that customers will want to remain subscribed.
Have a Messaging Strategy
When it comes to SMS marketing, you need to come up with a set strategy rather than simply sending out texts at random. Instead, plan your SMS marketing content around things like sales, events, and promotions. Follow up with your customers after a purchase with a survey. Make sure that everything remains cohesive and appropriate within the realm of SMS marketing.
Make Sure Your Messages Are Relevant
Include relevant information in your SMS marketing messages. For example, you should always include your company name. It’s also a good idea to have the customer’s name in the text for a more personal touch.
Finally, make it clear what you want the customer to do after receiving the text with a call to action. For example, include a coupon code to shop your new spring line or include a link to a customer satisfaction survey.
Analyze the Messaging Data
Maximize your investment in SMS marketing by tracking and monitoring all the relevant data. If a specific message isn’t receiving a great response, troubleshoot this issue to develop a better message next time. Use this data in its entirety to find out what your customers respond to and give them more of that type of content for a more effective strategy.
Get Expert Advice
Don’t tackle SMS marketing all on your own. Instead, work with experts who can help you tailor your marketing strategy, draft your messages, and send out appealing offers.
Wrap Up
An effective SMS marketing strategy allows you to monetize your website traffic. If you want the best results, reach out to experts like Greg Gillman. They have helped clients generate nearly $4 billion in annual revenue by implementing omnichannel growth strategies, including SMS marketing.
Sources:
Benefits Of SEO For Businesses | Forbes
