As a small business owner, you know the importance of finding effective marketing strategies that help you engage with your customers and increase your sales. If you’re looking for a powerful marketing tool to take your business to the next level, look no further than SMS marketing.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to get started with SMS marketing, including how to build a subscriber list, types of SMS marketing campaigns, and how to choose the right platform.
We’ll also share best practices for creating effective SMS messages, timing and frequency, personalization, and how to track your metrics.
Benefits of SMS Marketing for Small Businesses
| SMS | ||
| Cost | $0.032 per message | $ 0.008-$ 0.012 per email |
| ROI | Up to 113x | Up to 40x |
| Open Rate | 98% | 21.5% |
SMS marketing has a lot of benefits, making it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. Here are just a few of the advantages of SMS marketing:
Cost-Effective
Compared to other marketing channels, SMS messages are a cost-effective way to reach your audience. Sending a text message is inexpensive, and it has one of the highest ROIs, making it a great choice for small businesses on a tight budget.
Direct Communication
SMS marketing allows you to communicate directly with your audience where they already spend a lot of their time — on their phones. With a 98% open rate, SMS messages are an effective way to get your message across to your audience.
Perfect for Real-Time Updates
SMS campaigns are received instantly, making them perfect for time-sensitive offers and updates. Plus, with a 90% read rate within the first three minutes, you can be sure that your message will be seen.
Ridiculously High Open Rates
People love SMS marketing, which is why it has such high open rates. With nearly all business SMS messages being read by customers, SMS marketing is a powerful tool for engaging with your audience.
Proven Ability to Sell
SMS marketing has been proven to be effective at driving sales. With a 30% conversion rate among those who engage with the message’s CTA, it’s clear that SMS marketing is a great way to boost your bottom line.
How You Can Get Started with SMS Marketing
Now that you know the benefits of SMS marketing, it’s time to start. Here’s how:
Building Your Subscriber List
Building a subscriber list is the first step to launching successful SMS marketing campaigns. Here are some tips to help you build your list:
Offer an Incentive
Offering an incentive, such as a discount or freebie, is a great way to encourage people to opt into your SMS marketing list. Make sure your incentive is valuable enough to entice people to sign up.
Be Transparent
Be transparent about the types of messages you’ll be sending and how frequently you’ll be sending them. This will help you build trust with your subscribers and reduce the chances of them unsubscribing.
Leverage Your Other Marketing Channels
Leverage your other marketing channels, such as social media and email, to promote your SMS marketing list. Encourage your followers and subscribers to sign up by highlighting the benefits of receiving SMS messages from your brand.
Make it Easy to Opt-In
Make it easy for people to opt-in to your SMS marketing list by providing clear instructions and a simple process. For example, you can use a keyword, shortcode, or web form.
Choosing Your Campaign Type
Once you have a list of subscribers, it’s time to choose the right type of SMS marketing campaign for your business. Here are some popular types of campaigns to consider:
Promotional Campaigns
Promotional campaigns are designed to drive sales by promoting special offers and discounts. These campaigns are great for boosting revenue during slow periods and incentivizing your customers to make a purchase.
Informational Campaigns
Informational campaigns provide valuable information to your subscribers, such as product updates, industry news, and tips. These campaigns help build brand loyalty and position your brand as a thought leader in your industry.
Interactive Campaigns
Interactive campaigns engage subscribers by encouraging them to participate in polls, quizzes, and contests. These campaigns are great for increasing engagement and building a sense of community among your subscribers.
Using the Right Platform
Choosing the right SMS marketing platform is essential for running successful campaigns. Here are some features to look for when choosing a platform:
Automation
Automation allows you to schedule messages in advance and set up triggered messages based on subscriber behavior.
Customization
Customization features allow you to personalize your messages with the subscriber’s name, location, and other relevant information.
Tracking Metrics
Tracking SMS metrics help you measure the success of your campaigns and optimize them for better results.
Popular SMS marketing platforms include Twilio, OtterText EZ Texting, and SimpleTexting.
Crafting Your Message
Crafting a message that resonates with your audience is essential for driving engagement and conversions. Here are some tips for crafting effective SMS messages:
Be Clear and Concise
SMS messages have 160 character limit, so make sure your message is clear and concise.
Personalize Your Message
This ties in with choosing a platform to personalize your messages and make them more relevant and engaging.
Use Humor and Emojis
Using humor, memes, and emojis can make your message stand out and increase engagement. Just make sure they’re appropriate for your audience and brand.
Measuring Your Success
Measuring your success is essential for optimizing your campaigns and improving your ROI. Here are some metrics to track:
Open Rate
The open rate measures the percentage of subscribers who open your message.
Click-Through Rate
The click-through rate represents the percentage of subscribers who click on a link in your message.
Conversion Rate
The conversion rate measures the percentage of subscribers who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.
Example of Effective SMS Marketing You Can Steal for Your Business
Here are some examples of effective use of SMS marketing with sample SMS messages for each example:
- Promotional Offers:
“Get 20% off your next purchase with code SAVE20. Shop now at [link]”
- Event Invitations:
“Join us at our grand opening event on [date]! RSVP now to receive a free gift. Text YES to confirm.”
- Appointment Reminders:
“Don’t forget your appointment with Dr. Smith on [date] at [time]. Reply YES to confirm or call to reschedule.”
- Product Launches:
“Introducing our new product line! Be the first to try it out and receive a 10% discount. Use code NEW10 at checkout.”
- Feedback Requests:
“Help us improve! Please take a quick survey and get a chance to win a $50 gift card. Click [link] to begin.”
- Loyalty Program Rewards:
“Congratulations! You’ve earned a free meal on us. Show this text at our restaurant to redeem your reward.”
- Abandoned Cart Reminders:
“We noticed you left items in your cart. Finish your purchase now and get free shipping with code SHIPFREE.”
Looking to Boost Your Customer Engagement Through Text Campaigns?
OtterText is the all-in-one SMS marketing platform you need. With our powerful software, user-friendly platform, and robust text message marketing services, you can easily grow your audience, make more sales, retain customers, and reach more customers faster and easier with text marketing.
With a 98% open rate and a variety of features like
- Mass group texting
- Two-way texting
- MMS picture messaging
- Unlimited contacts
- Text reminders
- Birthday message series
- Keyword campaigns
- Text surveys
- And smart insights
You can personalize and optimize your marketing campaigns for maximum impact.
Try OtterText for free today and see how easy and effective SMS marketing can be!
