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February 5, 2020
5 Ways to Incorporate Texting into Your Small Business
Marketing to your target audience can feel overwhelming – between all of the social media platforms, print, email, and other options to choose from. Thankfully, something that you’re likely using everyday can be an easy marketing tactic that your customers and leads will appreciate: text messaging or SMS marketing.
Whether you want to communicate with them one on one or send them promos and deals, this form of communication is a non-invasive, disruption-free way to get in touch.
What Are the Benefits of Using Text Messaging for My Business?
As compared to other communication channels, people are much more likely to open and read text messages. In fact, one study found that 98% of text messages are opened, as compared to a measly 22% of emails. Also, text messages have a 209% higher response rate than phone, email, or Facebook.
With those kinds of rates, not incorporating text messaging is a missed opportunity to get in front of your target audience.
Engaging with customers doesn’t have to be a boring, text-only message. You have a few options when it comes to how you communicate over text – either with just words (SMS) or via media (MMS). MMS lets you stand out from the crowd, and you can send pictures, videos, .gifs, memes, and more to interact with your customers.
The most common reasons consumers opt-in to a business’ texting campaigns are as follows:
- To take advantage of coupons and deals (71%)
- To track personal orders or updates (50%)
- To stay in the loop about company updates and activity (48%)
- To receive and read more meaningful content (33%)
- To avoid visiting a physical location, website, or app for information (31%)
If you think your customers would benefit from any of these elements, then consider incorporating one or more of the following texting campaign strategies.
1. Coupons, Deals, and Steals
Of course, one of the most popular types of text messaging campaigns is when a business sends exclusive discounts and coupons to its customer list. Recipients can either click a link right in the text, use the coupon code provided, or show the text message in store to redeem their discount.
It’s so convenient for customers to pull up the business’ text message and start saving money. In fact, as compared to printed or online coupons, consumers redeem SMS coupons 10 times more.
2. Appointment and Payment Reminders
Especially for service-based businesses, appointment and payment reminders are helpful to ensure no one’s time is wasted. What better way than to shoot them a quick text reminding them of an upcoming event or bill?
Plus, SMS reminders give the customer the opportunity to confirm, cancel, or reschedule an appointment, or pay instantly via text without having to make any phone calls or be put on hold.
3. Make Customers Feel Special
Whether you want to celebrate their birthday or their anniversary with your company, sending a quick text message adds a personal touch to someone’s day.
What’s better is text message marketing platforms will automate this for you. You don’t have to worry about manually scanning your customer list for important dates.
When you add a contact to the customer base, you can easily enter in the date you want them to receive a special message, and the technology will send it for you.
4. Job Openings and Recruiting
Who says that SMS marketing only has to be promotional? Reaching out to your customers and leads about job openings at your company is an excellent networking opportunity. Perhaps a contact isn’t the right fit for a job, but they may know someone that is.
Plus, this type of communication won’t get lost in a sea of other similar posts, like they do on job boards. This unique approach to recruiting may land you the perfect candidate.
5. Customer Service
Typically, when someone thinks of text messaging for a business, they assume it means sending marketing deals and promotions, but this isn’t always the case. With a virtual phone service app, like Ninja Number, you can actually have one-on-one conversations with customers, all without mixing your professional and personal texting conversations.
A majority of people, 68% to be exact, would prefer to be able to communicate with a company over texting to get questions answered about billing or other concerns. This level of personal communication can make a lasting impact on customers, helping them feel valued and improving their loyalty.
Consider your customers’ preferences by giving them the option to communicate about customer service concerns via text message with an app like Ninja Number. Contact us today to learn more about our business texting feature!
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