SMS marketing can be a very good strategy for your business. While we’re big proponents of the power of email marketing, consider the stark difference in average open rates for email marketing messages versus SMS marketing messages (about 30% vs. 98%!). Text messaging as a digital marketing strategy is a less-crowded space. Most texts people get are from friends and family, so they’re definitely going to check their phones when they hear that notification, and, if they’ve opted in to hear from you, they’re more likely than not to read what you’ve sent them and take action. 

That last part, taking action, is key. One of the most amazing benefits of SMS marketing is its ability to convert an open to an action! Gartner reports response rates for SMS marketing messages are as high as 45%! Again, compare that to the typical click rate from an email marketing message, which is waaaay down below 10%. 

If you do want to jump onboard the SMS marketing train, here are some ideas to get you started.

Top 3 SMS Campaigns to Jump on Right Now

• Welcome sequence: Who doesn’t love a good welcome sequence? Marketers sure do! Start with a prompt to opt in to texts for 10% off, and then send your customer a coupon code that expires within 48 hours. This builds immediate trust (you did what you said you were going to do!), and it creates a sense of urgency to buy.
• Cart abandonment SMS flow: When someone comes so close to buying but doesn’t, it’s just sad. Save that sale with SMS! A cart abandonment SMS flow could look like this: Remind the customer about her abandoned cart and send her a 10% discount code. On the next day, send a 15% off code! Try one last time by sending a reminder email on the final day to use that 15% off code. Customers often appreciate the reminders (and obviously the discount).
• Post-purchase SMS flow: The relationship doesn’t end with a purchase—in fact, you could say it’s just beginning! Implement a post-purchase SMS flow to cultivate that relationship with your new customer. Here’s an example of what this SMS campaign could look like: After shipment, the customer gets a notification text. A few days later, you text her asking how she likes her new product. Finally, you can suggest another product that would complement the original product. 

These three SMS marketing campaigns are designed to support customer relationships, customer retention, and customer service, while also boosting revenue. They keep you, your brand, and your product top of mind, which is really hard to do using other mediums. 

As marketers, we like to think that we’re leveraging tools like SMS marketing to move prospects from strangers to friends. As a business, you want to befriend your audience, and what better way to do that than to text them! Text them about sales and promotions, remind them about stuff they forgot, and tell them about products you think they’ll like. Always strive to provide value, and your audience will reward you for it.

If you’re ready to take action in your next level of business, book a call with us!