Text messaging has proven to be one of the quickest and most effective ways to market today. 98% of all text messages are opened, and the average conversion rate for texting campaigns is 14%. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight – here are eight steps you can take so you can see these results too!
0.5 Gamify signups
How do you convince customers to opt-in and become part of your mailing list? Make them an offer they cannot refuse! In one study, businesses that offered an incentive saw their emailing lists grow 520% faster.
Try a free product or discount on a service. Let’s say your business is a bar; you might offer a 2-for-1 margarita for signing up with text alerts about specials at the establishment. If you are a Pizza truck, try offering 15% off of the first order by texting updates about when it will arrive or where it will be located from time to time.
1. Upload a list from your POS
If you have collected customer phone numbers with consent, export your customer list and upload it into OtterText for marketing purposes.
2. Website SMS
Add the OtterText website chat plugin to talk to your customers in real-time through SMS and two-way communication. No matter how a customer reaches out, you can always speak back instantaneously with messaging app integration.
3. Website Opt-in forms
Let people subscribe via text message by telling them it is available on your website. Display banners and pop-ups so they know the benefits of signing up, such as discounts or one-time offers just for being a subscriber.
4. Email Promotion
Promote your VIP text signup to your current email list. Emails typically receive a 2.5% click-through rate, so send out monthly blasts or add a banner at the bottom of your regular newsletter for signup.
5. Social Media Signup
Social media is a great way to promote your mailing list growth through services such as Instagram stories with direct links or Facebook posts. Analyzing the percentage of views per post will allow you to gauge how often to promote your signup form; keywords and direct links to opt-in forms are great for this medium.
Templates:
6. Print
Many of you have either laminated QR codes or stickers with your menu. Follow the same process for list sign-up. Create marketing campaigns such as sticker printing and/or flyers that offer promotions such as scanning a QR code today and receiving a free margarita on your birthday. We recommend QR-Code-Monkey for making a QR Code with an image.
7. Keywords
Each keyword corresponds to an audience segment or demographic, so there’s no question about who receives what message when the Campaign goes live. Example: Text LadiesNight to XXX-XXX-XXXX for free entry this Friday.
8. TV Display
If you already have a tv display of upcoming events, show your advertisement for VIP signups.
Now what?
Once you start building your customer list, you never stop growing it. The more people subscribe to your mailing list, the greater your chance of success when boosting sales or reducing slow days.
Remember:
- Give VIP treatment.
- Send early access to sales.
- Send rewards and special offers.
- Giving exclusive access to events.
- Send one message a month.
