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In today’s internet-savvy world, there’s no dearth of ways to stay connected with your <\/span>target audience<\/span>. The options are aplenty, from <\/span>social media<\/span> platforms and instant messaging apps to email and push <\/span>notifications<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n But here’s the thing\u2014<\/span>small businesses<\/span> often lack the resources to stand out from <\/span>well-known brands<\/span><\/a> on channels like <\/span>social media<\/span> and search engines.<\/span><\/p>\n Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to cut through the clutter? That’s precisely where <\/span>SMS marketing<\/span> steps into the picture.<\/span><\/p>\n But <\/span>text message marketing<\/span> isn’t the same as sending <\/span>bulk SMS<\/span> campaigns to people who don’t know about your brand. This article outlines a few clever ways to use this technique to grow your business. <\/span><\/p>\n Also known as <\/span>text message marketing<\/span>, <\/span>SMS marketing<\/span> helps you nurture <\/span>active leads<\/span><\/a> with <\/span>personalized messages<\/span>, collect feedback from new customers, or re-engage inactive customers, among other things.<\/span><\/p>\n The initialism stands is short for using <\/span>Short Message Service<\/span> (SMS) messages to market your business. You can send <\/span>SMS text messages<\/span> to inform prospects and customers about your brand, products, promotional offers, company news, and other updates.<\/span><\/p>\n The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Associations (CTIA) <\/span>guidelines<\/span><\/a> require businesses of all sizes to obtain consumer consent before sending commercial <\/span>SMS messages<\/span>. Once a consumer opts in, you can send them a wide array of messages, from low-stock alerts to order updates.<\/span><\/p>\n But in a world where consumers have many communication options, is <\/span>text message marketing<\/span> even effective?<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s<\/span> an eye-opening stat for you\u2014<\/span><\/span>82 percent of consumers read texts within five minutes and 90% of texts are read within three minutes,<\/span><\/span><\/a> confirming SMS <\/span>remains<\/span> vastly faster than email<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n As a communication channel, text messaging is popular across all age groups. On average, <\/span><\/span>53 <\/span>percent of<\/span> consumers<\/span><\/span><\/a> in the <\/span>US<\/span> prefer receiving branded messages and promotions via SMS.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Other platforms, such as <\/span>social media<\/span> or <\/span>email<\/span><\/a>, don’t enjoy the same popularity across different age groups. For instance, <\/span>social media<\/span> platforms like <\/span>Facebook and TikTok<\/span><\/a> are better for connecting with Gen Z and millennials. On the other hand, email or TV ads are the preferred communication channels for reaching boomers. <\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, <\/span>SMS marketing<\/span> for businesses doesn’t rely on internet connectivity. That makes it suitable for reaching consumers in remote locations. <\/span><\/p>\n What does that mean for <\/span>small business owners<\/span>? <\/span><\/p>\n With <\/span>SMS marketing<\/span> for your business, you can cater to a broader audience, regardless of their age and location. That makes it more <\/span>cost-effective<\/span> and boosts your reach.<\/span><\/p>\n Text message marketing<\/span> also offers the following benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n 71% of consumers<\/span><\/span><\/a> now prefer texting over email or phone calls for customer service. <\/span><\/span>The unique benefits of text message marketing make it an excellent fit for small businesses.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few <\/span>SMS marketing strategies<\/span> to help you get started and harness these benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n The “text” in your messages decides the fate of your <\/span>SMS marketing campaigns<\/span>. You must ensure it grabs the recipient’s attention when they open a message. And you have to do that within a limited number of characters. <\/span><\/p>\n The best way to do it is to use clear and crisp copy that quickly gets to the point. Mentioning your brand name in the first sentence is a good idea, as it helps connect with the recipient and retain their attention. <\/span><\/p>\n While you can play with colloquial words, slang, and emojis, use them with discretion. Make sure the language and tone align with your <\/span>brand persona<\/span><\/a> on other platforms. <\/span><\/p>\n While you’re at it, don’t forget to add a snappy <\/span>call-to-action<\/span> (<\/span>CTA<\/span>) to the message. It could be as simple as “SHOP NOW” with a link to your online store. Or you could ask them to reply to the message with a specific keyword. <\/span><\/p>\n SMS marketing campaigns<\/span> usually include <\/span>incentives<\/span> like free gifts and <\/span>pricing<\/span> discount <\/span>coupons<\/span>. This creates a sense of urgency and compels the recipient to take the desired action. It can be a clever way to boost conversions. <\/span><\/p>\n However, overusing offers can affect your product’s perceived value. For instance, a discount on a <\/span>new product<\/span> can diminish its novelty. In such cases, giving recipients early access to the product may be wiser than offering a discount. <\/span><\/p>\n Cookie-cutter marketing campaigns don’t appeal to shoppers. Consumers demand personalization at every step, from consideration to post-purchase. <\/span><\/p>\n According to a <\/span>McKinsey report<\/span><\/a>, 78 percent of consumers will likely make repeat purchases from a brand that prioritizes personalization. The same percentage of consumers are also likely to refer the brand to friends and family. <\/span><\/p>\n So, how do you personalize your SMS campaigns? Simple touches, such as addressing the recipient by their first name, or acknowledging <\/span>birthdays<\/span> and <\/span>anniversaries<\/span> can impress.<\/span><\/p>\n You can take things up a notch by segmenting your contacts into different groups based on their purchase history, SMS activity, demographics, and other factors. Then, target each segment with <\/span>automated messages<\/span> with tailored promotions and product recommendations. This approach can be instrumental in helping your <\/span>text messages<\/span> stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n Most <\/span>SMS marketing platforms<\/span> offer segmentation and personalization features. But using an <\/span>SMS marketing service<\/span> that integrates with a <\/span>CRM<\/span> is wiser. A platform like <\/span>SMS4Act!<\/span><\/a>, powered by Message Media, lets you use <\/span>CRM<\/span> data to segment <\/span>contact lists<\/span> and personalize SMS campaigns. With Act!’s <\/span>marketing automation<\/span> capabilities, it’s also easier to integrate <\/span>SMS marketing<\/span> with other channels.<\/span><\/p>\n As with any <\/span>marketing strategy<\/span>, you must monitor the performance of your text marketing campaigns. Use an <\/span>SMS marketing platform<\/span> to track <\/span>metrics<\/span> like <\/span>open rates<\/span> and <\/span>click-through rates<\/span>. Also, watch the most-used keywords for a deeper understanding of consumer behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n Measuring campaign results can provide you with detailed insights to improve performance. You can even run A\/B tests and assess the results to decide on the right <\/span>CTAs<\/span>SMS marketing: A quick overview<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSMS marketing benefits: A closer look<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSMS marketing tips for small businesses<\/span><\/h2>\n
Focus on the copy<\/span><\/h3>\n
Use discounts with caution<\/span><\/h3>\n
Don’t forget to personalize<\/span><\/h3>\n
Monitor and improve<\/span><\/h3>\n